30x30 Coral Garden

Over 95% of Indonesian coral reefs are under threat (Coral Triangle Atlas, 2023). With nearly 25% of Indonesia’s 270 million people living within 30km proximity to coral reefs, these ecosystems are critical to sustaining livelihoods (Razak et al., 2022). It is increasingly urgent to employ active reef restoration in the face of anthropogenic threats, one method being through coral gardening – considered one of the most effective restoration approaches (Rinkevich, 2015). Many reef restoration projects have commenced nationwide, yet only 16% of 533 surveyed sites implement a post-installation monitoring framework that evaluates its progress (Razak et al., 2022).

The 30x30 Coral Garden is an artificial reef advocating for protected areas through the global goal to protect 30% of the planet by 2030 (30x30). Located in Tulamben (±4-hour drive from the capital city of Denpasar), this village is visited for its popular diving sites within the Karangasem Marine Protected Area. With >33,000 tourists annually, many rely on the ocean as a source of livelihood and income through marine tourism (Dethan et al., 2020). The ‘30x30’ shape acts as a public-facing message that sparks curiosity, conversation, and commitment within the community and beyond. 

This artificial reef aims to attract more marine life, restore reefs, and contribute to a healthier ecosystem. Monthly monitoring and maintenance is conducted to ensure its progress is tracked and communicated. By continuing to build this artificial reef, we are conserving local reefs and improving marine life, which will reap long term benefits for the local community. It is also a medium to educate and spark interest in conservation for local communities.

The “30x30 Coral Garden” restores coral reefs in Tulamben – a small fishing village in Bali – whilst educating local fishermen, dive guides, and youth to ensure a durable restoration project. It is located next to the US Liberty Shipwreck, which is likely to gain the attention of recreational divers. The design of this coral garden is also one-of-a-kind because the reef-bar structures will spell “30x30” on the ocean floor to advocate for the global goal released by the United Nations to protect 30% of the world’s ocean by 2030. The initial phase (one number “30”) has been deployed in May 2022, and evaluation has shown the need for more frequent monitoring to inhibit the rapid algal growth on the corals.  The 30x30 Coral Garden serves as both a restoration site and a marine recreation site for local and foreign divers. Most importantly, this project will be a leading example of incorporating a long-term monitoring framework by leveraging local stakeholders.

30 coral frame structures were deployed as part of a new coral garden in Tulamben – a small fishing village off the north-east coast of Bali – in celebration of Earth Day. During this event, children from two local villages took part in a sharing session about the ocean, a beach clean-up, a demonstration of how corals are transplanted, along with snorkelling and scuba diving activities.