On August 20, 2025, Coral Triangle Center (CTC) convened a provincial-level Workshop and Dissemination of the Climate REEFS Project at Zest Hotel, Ambon. Organized in collaboration with Pattimura University, the event provided an overview of the project and highlighted findings from a study on the resilience and vulnerability of coral reef ecosystems and community socio-economics to climate change, using case studies from the Lease Islands MPA and Ambon in Maluku Province.

Implemented in partnership with scientists, NGOs such as CTC, and universities including Pattimura University, Climate REEFS aims to integrate inclusive, climate-smart reef management into conservation networks, strengthen community resilience, and sustain both biodiversity and the coastal communities that depend on it. The initiative also carries potential for global application once adaptive reefs can be mapped worldwide.

The workshop brought together 32 participants, including representatives from the Department of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of Maluku Province, Lease Islands MPA Management Unit, Department of Environment of Maluku Province, Department of Agriculture and Food Security of Maluku Province, Regional Disaster Management Department of Ambon, Department of Village Community Empowerment of Maluku Province, local NGOs such as Sahari and SKALA Maluku, as well as village leaders from Negeri Haruku and Negeri Rutong. The discussion was engaging, with participants sharing their institutions’ ongoing and planned climate change-related programs. These exchanges provided valuable insights to align with and enrich the implementation of Climate REEFS.

Climate REEFS is a collaborative initiative between the Philippines and Indonesia that seeks to identify “adaptive” coral reefs from space and reduce climate vulnerability for nearly one billion people who rely on reef ecosystems for food and livelihoods. With marine heatwaves driving widespread coral die-offs, the project addresses urgent knowledge gaps by linking reef geomorphology, thermal regimes, and genomic diversity with social and gender dimensions of vulnerability. By combining ecological, social, and gender-smart approaches, Climate REEFS guides evidence-based adaptation strategies, ranging from local village actions to national and regional spatial planning, while prioritizing the needs of women and marginalized groups.

The Ambon workshop reaffirmed CTC’s commitment to advancing science-based and inclusive solutions for reef resilience. The lessons from Maluku will not only guide local action but also contribute to global efforts to safeguard coral reefs and the communities that depend on them.

Writers: Adam Putra, Purwanto
Photos: Kasman, Gerald Istia/CTC