The world's largest archipelago nation, with 17,502 islands, Indonesia is an important habitat and eco-balance center for marine life including corals. Indonesia possesses the richest assortment of coral species in the world (450 species) from fringe and barrier reefs to atolls and patch reefs. Estimates are that Indonesia's reefs cover 85,700 sq km, constituting 14 percent of the world's coral reefs.

However, today, only 6 percent of these reefs are in healthy condition. Destruction has come from human activities, such as dynamite and cyanide fishing, pollution, global warming, increased turbidity, over-exploitation and environmentally-unfriendly tourism.

Immediate economic gains do not offset the loss and destruction of reefs. Damaged coral reefs take years to recover naturally. Protected artificial reef regeneration speeds nature's process in restoring coral growth and in even shorter order, providing a protected environment for fish regeneration. The Pemuteran Karang Lestari Coral Conservation project, off West Bali National Park, is Indonesia's first step in the right direction.

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The Pemuteran Karang Lestari Coral Conservation project
is in the February 2004 issue of Scuba Diver Magazine
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Awards and Developments
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