Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Cilun Djakiman during Wallacea ecological survey in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia in 2021. Researchers are working with communities to study the reefs of Indonesia's "Coral Triangle" under threat from population pressure and climate change. Wallacea , a mega-biodiverse chain of islands in Sulawesi, the Moluccas, and Lesser Sunda in Indonesia and Timor Leste, also has a growing population of over 33 million people.
Cilun Djakiman , a marine biologist at Pattimura University in Ambon, Indonesia says there are over 400 species of coral found in the Wallacea region, with some of them found nowhere else. "Preserving the Wallacea region with its high biodiversity could enhance the resilience of coral reef ecosystems, as some corals possess unique adaptations to climate change," she says, adding that some heat-tolerant corals, such as Porites, are more resilient to temperature stress and bleaching, which requires more in-depth study. Djakiman explains that since 2019, her work has primarily focused on coral reef ecosystems and her first project, the Wallacea project, contributed new foundational data; enhanced understanding, and informed effective management of the Wallacea region's biodiversity and ecosystems.
"This work balances the need for conservation with economic development, supporting the region’s social and economic stability," she says, "However, current management strategies often target reefs less exposed to thermal.
