Sukding, the head of Gili Air Village in the Gili Matra National Marine Conservation Area in West Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia, has vivid childhood memories of diving in the ocean near his village and playing with fish among the reefs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the 1980s, Sukding recalls, the area had abundant coral reefs, serving as a home to fish, lobsters, hawksbill turtles and white reef sharks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe entire coastline of this island (Gili Air) was packed with coral reefs,\u201d Sukding told The Conversation<\/em> in August, when we travelled more than 1,100 kilometres from Jakarta by plane and boat to meet Gili communities and see the reefs up close.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Four decades later, the situation has changed completely. The coral reefs in Gili Matra \u2013 short for three Gili islands, Gili Meno, Gili Air, and Gili Trawangan \u2014 are nearly wiped out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Data from Indonesia\u2019s Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries in 2022 stated that only about 247 hectares<\/a> or approximately 10% of the total area of coral ecosystems in Gili survives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rising sea temperatures are the main reason behind the destruction. The area has experienced several extreme over the past 15 years, resulting in massive coral bleaching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 1998, extreme heat from El Ni\u00f1o decimated the coral reefs. The reefs used to cover 60-80% of the oceans\u2019 floor<\/a> in Gili Matra. Subsequent bleaching in 2010 and 2016<\/a> exacerbated coral damage in Gili Matra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The problem remains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n