Climate change is the biggest threat to the future of coral reefs. While tackling climate change happens on the global stage, finding local protection mechanisms and supporting natural coral resilience is vital to the preservation of reef ecosystems. Dr Rodney Salm, the senior adviser emeritus for The Nature Conservancy’s Pacific Division Marine Program, spent a week with the CTC team to share his experience in coral reef conservation over the last 50 years. With his focus on coral resilience, Dr Salm has seen coral colonies adapting and changing over time, and believes that there is still much we are learning about their ability to resist the impacts of climate change.

Dr Salm shared his research from across the world with a gathering of over 50 people, who came from across Bali to our Talking Underwater Session 3 public lecture at the CTC Center for Marine Conservation on February 5. The event was sold out, as people from the dive industry, marine conservation, fisheries management, and the Sanur community joined in. Dr Salm addressed the potential of Indonesia, sitting at the heart of the Coral Triangle, to protect and manage its coral reefs for climate change resilience. He has seen individual coral colonies change their behaviour to survive bleaching events, and believes that with careful management of areas that show natural resilience, coral reefs will survive well into the future. With such incredible diversity of coral, and such widespread reef ecosystems, Dr Salm said Indonesia brought him hope for the future of coral reefs.

“I do think that we will see the loss of coral reefs in some areas. But I think what we will also see is the change in the communities of coral reefs in other areas, and we will see the expansion in the range of corals, and coral reef formation in yet other areas,” says Dr Salm.

Keep an eye on our Instagram and Facebook pages for upcoming Talking Underwater events. These events aim to open up dialogue on marine ecosystems and conservation with the wider public. By bringing together art, culture and science, the CTC Center for Marine Conservation is spreading the love for our oceans to all people.