© CI/Photo by Sterling Zumbrunn
The Bird's Head Seascape sits at the epicenter of the Coral Triangle region. It is located in northwest Papua, Indonesia, stretching from Cenderawasih Bay in its eastern reaches to the Raja Ampat archipelago in the west and the FakFak-Kaimana coastline to the south.
Recording over 1,500 species of reef fishes and experiencing increasing threats from resource extraction and unsustainable development, the Bird’s Head Seascape unquestionably ranks as a global priority for marine conservation. Blue whales, manta rays, and humphead wrasse add to its diverse and unique marine wildlife, much of which scientists have yet to discover.
Despite its obvious wealth of species, only 11 percent of this magnificent seascape is protected. Already, the coral reefs are showing the consequences of human activity.
While the region’s overall population is low, people living on the peninsular coast depend heavily on the sea for their livelihoods. To keep those livelihoods intact, we’re helping build a regional network of community and government-endorsed marine protected areas that conserve Bird’s Head’s remarkable biological diversity and ensure the future of those who rely on it.
Just five years ago, Rudy Dimara was a fisherman, using dynamite and other destructive methods to make a living off of the coral reefs in Indonesia’s Raja Ampat archipelago. Over time, Dimara began to notice that fish populations were steadily decreasing, and he approached CI to ask for help restoring the reefs.
Raja Ampat is often cited as the "crown jewel" of marine biodiversity in the Bird’s Head Seascape. As the MV Kalabia visits villages in Raja Ampat, the boat usually receives a warm reception from communities, though it isn’t delivering food or medical supplies. Instead, it brings an education for local children that teaches the true value of natural systems for healthy human lives.