CTC hosted the third Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR) Regional Workshop for the East Asian Seas and Pacific Islands from 6 to 9 October, bringing together 56 participants from across the region for capacity-building in coral reef monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and reef-positive finance solutions.

CTC Executive Director, Rili Djohani, welcomed participants alongside Indonesia’s Deputy Minister for Environmental Pollution and Degradation Control, Rasio Ridho Sani, emphasizing CTC’s role in regional collaboration that began in 2009. She highlighted CTC’s ongoing work in 10 communities across Indonesia and Timor-Leste, supporting efforts toward the global 30X30 conservation goal.

With 50% of coral reefs lost in the past 30 years and the region home to over 3,000 fish species and 600 coral species, the urgency for collaborative action has never been greater. The workshop addressed this crisis by strengthening regional capacity and fostering partnerships among practitioners, policymakers, and conservation finance experts.

The workshop, co-organized with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA), and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), featured two sessions. The M&E session focused on building capacity in using the MERMAID platform for standardized coral reef data collection and analysis, aligned with the GFCR M&E framework. Meanwhile, REEF+ facilitated a rich knowledge exchange on conservation finance, blended finance approaches, and sustainable financial models for coral reef protection.

During the M&E session, CTC Senior Marine Conservation Advisor, Marthen Welly, presented the developing Data Repository for capacity building for the Coral Triangle Region.”The repository will be functioning as a digital platform or library that provides up-to-date data and information on coral reefs, marine protected areas, as well as coastal and marine resource management. This digital platform will be useful in strengthening the capacity to protect marine ecosystems and biodiversity in the Coral Triangle region,” said Marthen.

On 8 October, the workshop culminated in a field visit to Nusa Penida Marine Protected Area (MPA), one of CTC’s flagship learning sites. All participants, including six from CTC, engaged in discussions with local practitioners from the Bali MPA Management Unit, the Satya Posona Nusa (SPN) community, and Ceningan Divers, exploring collaborative approaches to public-private partnerships for reef monitoring and zoning enforcement.

At the invitation of the COBSEA Coordinator, Mahesh Pradhan, Sandu Care—a grassroots enterprise that processes seaweed into organic skincare products—shared how seaweed farming has evolved into an important economic sector in Nusa Lembongan, alongside tourism development. The presentation demonstrated practical models of reef-positive enterprises that support local livelihoods while protecting marine ecosystems.

Participants then experienced the ecosystem firsthand, canoeing through mangrove forest and snorkeling at Mangrove Point, seeing in action the collaborative management practices discussed during the workshop.

Participants praised CTC’s facilities and interactive exhibitions, including the coral reef-themed escape room. The workshop strengthened partnerships with GFCR, COBSEA, UNEP, UNDP, and WCS, opening opportunities for future regional collaboration and funding support as CTC continues to lead coral reef conservation efforts in the Coral Triangle.

Writers: Jaling Sim, Marthen Welly

Photos: Adam Putra/CTC