On the afternoon of January 24, 2025, Coral Triangle Center (CTC) welcomed the new year with a heartfelt celebration at Kedai Kopi Hilly (KKH)—our coffee shop located at the CTC Center for Marine Conservation, Sanur, Bali. This gathering brought together CTC staff and partners in a warm and welcoming environment, where guests enjoyed great conversations, tasty snacks made from our very own permaculture garden, and a moment to reflect on shared achievements. 

During this event, we introduced our Adopt A Mangrove program. To encourage environmental stewardship, each guest received a baby mangrove to adopt. This initiative symbolizes our collective commitment to restoring and protecting our environment. 

More than 60 people attended the gathering, bringing together longtime partners, collaborators, and supporters dedicated to marine conservation. Among them were our valued partners, BNI, as well as key organizations in Marine Protected Area (MPA) management, planning, and training—including YKAN, WWF, Yayasan Pesisir Lestari, and ATSEA. Our partners in sustainable fisheries, such as Starling Resources, MDPI (Masyarakat dan Perikanan Indonesia), Photovoices International whom we work with in the Banda Islands, Rembang and Lampung, and Blue Ventures in the Asia-Pacific, also joined the celebration. We were honored to welcome consultant representatives from Timor-Leste and Australia along with our collaborators, Made Griyawan from Studio Gelombang, Ade Waworuntu from Jenggala, and Ari Bayuaji, whose inspiring artworks continue to raise awareness about marine conservation.

Additionally, representatives from our reef restoration initiatives—LINI and Bali Blue Harmony as well as Westerlaken Foundation—took part, contributing to the vibrant discussions. The private sector was well represented, with attendees from Hotel Tandjung Sari, Kura Kura Property, Livingseas, Intrepid Foundation, and WHSmith.

To round off the celebration, every attendee took home a Nasi Kuning dinner basket and a small herb seedling as tokens of appreciation. These thoughtful gifts not only expressed our gratitude but also embodied our commitment to sustainability and fostering community connections. We are deeply thankful to all our partners for their support in making this event meaningful.

As we embark on another year, we are excited to continue fostering partnerships and making strides in marine conservation. Here’s to a year of growth, collaboration and positive impact!

Writer: Kayla Azzahra/CTC
Photos: Kayla Azzahra/CTC