Where We Work
Coral Triangle Hub
Protecting the World’s Most Diverse Coral Reefs
The Coral Triangle is home to 76% of the world’s coral species and supports more than 120 million people across six countries. But warming oceans, pollution, and coastal development are putting these extraordinary reefs at risk.
CORAL is working alongside local partners to strengthen marine protection, improve water quality, and help coral reefs adapt to a changing climate. Beginning in Indonesia, our Coral Triangle Hub will help bring science and local knowledge together to support healthier reefs across the region.
Impact at a Glance
76%
of the world’s coral species live in the Coral Triangle
120M+
people rely on the region’s reefs for food and livelihoods
6
countries make up the Coral Triangle (Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands)
Our Work in the Coral Triangle
Our work begins in Indonesia’s Maluku Province, where we’re collaborating with local communities, scientists, and conservation partners to address some of the biggest threats facing coral reefs.
Planning for Climate-Resilient Reefs
Not all coral reefs respond to climate change in the same way. Some may be better equipped to survive warming oceans, while others play important roles in helping nearby reefs recover.
Through research and local partnerships, CORAL is helping identify these reefs and understand how they are connected. This science will help inform marine protected area planning and management in Maluku, including traditional conservation practices known as sasi.
Improving Water Quality
Coral reefs need clean water to thrive, but untreated wastewater from coastal communities and tourism can threaten their health.
Working with the Coral Triangle Center (CTC) and local partners, CORAL is identifying priority sites for wastewater solutions in Maluku. Our goal is to begin implementing small-scale projects in 2027, creating practical examples that can inform clean water solutions elsewhere in Indonesia.
Supporting Local Conservation
Lasting reef conservation depends on the people who know these ecosystems best.
Alongside CTC and regional partners, CORAL is supporting local researchers, reef managers, and coastal communities with science, training, and practical resources. This includes work to strengthen climate adaptation in fisheries, support fisherwomen’s livelihoods, and share conservation knowledge across the Coral Triangle.
Building on Science and Strong Partnerships
CORAL’s work in the Coral Triangle began in 2023, laying the groundwork for a larger regional presence.
In 2025, our regional assessment identified Maluku Province as a promising place to expand our conservation work. Through a long-term partnership with the Coral Triangle Center, we’re now building on those early relationships to strengthen marine protection, improve water quality, and support local conservation efforts.
Climate REEFS Initiative
Climate REEFS brings together researchers and conservation organizations to understand how coral reefs and coastal communities can adapt to climate change.
Working in Indonesia and the Philippines, the initiative combines ecological, social, and genetic research to identify reefs with greater potential to withstand climate change and help communities build resilience.
What’s Next for the Coral Triangle?
2027
Launch wastewater pilots.
Begin implementing small-scale wastewater solutions in Maluku.
2030
Expand clean water solutions.
Aim for three operating pilots in Maluku and two additional interventions ready elsewhere in Indonesia.
Long-term
Scale regional impact.
Use lessons from Maluku to inform conservation across the Coral Triangle.
Our Coral Triangle Hub is just getting started.
By bringing together conservation science, local leadership, and regional partnerships, we’re working toward a future where healthy coral reefs and clean coastal waters are the standard.
CORAL TRIANGLE STORIES
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Where We Work – The Inside Scoop on Our Reef Conservation Sites
How do we decide where to focus our efforts in saving coral reefs? It’s a question we get asked a lot, and the answer is both strategic and deeply rooted in our mission. So let’s get into it! We consider three main factors when choosing where to work – climate adaptation needs, local leadership and…
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“Climate REEFS” Initiative Launched to Advance Equitable Pathways to Climate Adaptation in Asia Pacific
(OAKLAND, CA – November 10, 2023) Today, a consortium of universities, development agencies, and NGOs announced the launch of Climate REEFS, a collaborative project to advance socially equitable climate change adaptation for coastal communities that depend on coral reef resources in Indonesia and the Philippines. Climate REEFS is a project under the UK-Canada Climate Adaptation…
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Coral Reefs in a Changing Climate: Expanding to the Coral Triangle
Coral reefs are some of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet, providing critical habitat for countless species of fish, invertebrates, and other marine life. Unfortunately, coral reefs are also highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including rising sea temperatures, ocean acidification, and more frequent and intense storms. This has led to a…
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More People, More Trash
By Naneng Setiasih, Coral Triangle Regional Manager The small-fishing village of Tulamben in Bali struggled with poverty for decades, but that changed with a series of unfortunate events a few decades ago. The USS Liberty beached along its rocky shore after being torpedoed by a Japanese submarine in 1942. And in 1963 the eruption of…
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Preparing the Pacific Region for CITES Shark Protections
On February 11 and 12, 2014, in Nadi, Fiji, The Pew Charitable Trusts, CORAL, and the Fiji Government hosted the Oceania Follow-up Regional Workshop on the Implementation of CITES Appendix II Shark Listings. With representatives from 11 countries in the Pacific and over 60 participants and observers, significant progress was made toward ensuring these newly…
