Asian Diver – March 2018

(Steven Felgate) #1

FEATURE CORAL SOS


Coral reefs are some of the most
diverse and valuable ecosystems on
Earth. Our reefs occupy 1.5 percent of
the world’s ocean surface, yet provide
a home for at least 25 percent of all
marine animals, including the seafood
that we eat.
However, not all is well underwater.
Recent studies found that 85 percent
of reefs in the Coral Triangle – which is
considered the epicentre of biodiversity
in the world – are directly threatened
by local human activities, substantially
more than the global average of
60 percent.
The greatest local threats to
reefs in the countries that make up
the Coral Triangle – Indonesia,
Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the
Philippines, Solomon Islands,
and East Timor – are overfishing,
pollution, coastal development, and
unsustainable tourism.
When these threats are combined
with coral bleaching prompted by
climate change, the proportion of
threatened reefs increases to more
than 90 percent. Coral reefs are also
impacted by the growing problem of
plastic pollution. A study conducted in
2017 amongst coral reefs in the Asia-
Pacific region has shown that 11 billion
pieces of plastic are stuck in the reefs,
increasing their likelihood to develop
diseases by 89 percent.
Coral reef threats are varied and
come from an accumulation of
human activities, thus requiring
multiple creative actions. Dedicated
to protecting the world’s bull’s eye
of marine biodiversity, the Coral
Triangle Center (CTC) combines
tried-and tested-technical solutions
with innovative concepts to inspire
and amplify the message of marine
conservation to millions around
the world.
“Since we began operations in 2011,
we have developed 25 training modules
and trained over 3,000 front-liners such
as marine protected area managers,
fisheries officers, local government


executives and community leaders,
to provide them with the knowledge
and tools needed to sustainably
manage their marine and coastal
resources,” said CTC Executive
Director Rili Djohani.
Apart from building capacity,
CTC also supports on-ground action
by helping establish new marine
protected areas and ensuring
that existing ones are effectively
managed. CTC conducts annual
reef health monitoring surveys in
Nusa Penida in Bali and the Banda
Islands in Maluku, providing the
latest scientific data that protected
area managers can use to manage
these high biodiversity islands
populated by vast reefs and
charismatic marine animals such as
manta rays, sunfish, hammerhead
sharks, and blue whales. In 2017,
CTC began working to develop new
marine protected areas in Atauro
and Liquica in East Timor and Buano,
Lease Islands, and Sula Islands in
northeast Indonesia.
In August 2017, CTC embarked
on a new chapter and opened its
Center for Marine Conservation in
Bali. It is a unique facility, providing
an integrated learning space for
marine professionals and managers,
school children, youth groups,
families, tourists and entrepreneurs
to learn about and be inspired to
protect our oceans.
“Awareness, education, and
training are the keys to effecting long
term, sustainable change. Through
innovative and hands-on learning
exhibits, visitors to the Center for
Marine Conservation will learn
about the Coral Triangle region’s
unique biodiversity, its people’s
well-being and livelihood, and
the vital importance of marine
protection,” says Djohani.
Inside the centre is Indonesia’s
first ever ocean conservation themed
escape room called “Escape Room
SOS from the Deep”. The escape room

By: Coral Triangle Center


provides an interactive experience
where teams of between two and six
people enter a simulated underwater
ocean scenario and complete a series
of puzzles to gain access to the
next stage and eventually the exit. A
game master guides the players and
provides clues and hints to help them
solve puzzles inside the room within
60 minutes. As players complete the
puzzles, they will be exposed to the
dynamics of ocean environments, and
the issues impacting the health of
marine ecosystems along with facts
about the Coral Triangle.
“Escape Room SOS from the
Deep’s message is aligned with our
mission to inspire people from all over
the world to care for our oceans and
those that depend on it. All proceeds
from the escape room will support
marine conservation projects in
Indonesia and the Coral Triangle so
players are not only having a great
time but also contributing directly to
conservation on the ground,” says
Djohani. “It also enables us to reach
a wider audience such as millennials,
school children, and tourists to care
about marine conservation.”

Protecting


the Coral Triangle

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