‘SEACONNECT’ Regional Initiative to Boost Marine Protection, Livelihoods, and Regional Collaboration in the Sulu-Sulawesi Seascape

Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines launch a joint initiative to protect the Sulu-Sulawesi Seascape and support climate-resilient coastal livelihoods

WASHINGTON (June 2, 2025) – A new regional initiative launched today to safeguard the Sulu-Sulawesi Seascape — a globally significant marine ecosystem home to more coral species than anywhere else on Earth.  

Conservation International has secured USD $6 million in funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for the five-year SEACONNECT project, which will strengthen marine governance, support sustainable livelihoods and build climate resilience for coastal communities in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. 

“The Sulu-Sulawesi Seascape is a marine jewel of global significance, and SEACONNECT exemplifies the kind of integrated, country-led approach the GEF is proud to support,” said Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, CEO and Chairperson of the GEF. “By aligning national priorities with regional action, this initiative contributes to building a sustainable blue economy and ensuring the long-term health of one of the most critical ocean ecosystems on the planet.”  

Spanning over 1 million square kilometers, the Sulu-Sulawesi Seascape includes vital transboundary marine corridors linking Mindanao (Philippines), Sabah (Malaysia), and North Sulawesi (Indonesia). This unique ecosystem supports over 76% of the world’s known coral species and 37% of reef fish species, making it critical to global biodiversity, food security, and climate resilience. 

By 2030, SEACONNECT aims to improve the management of 200,000 hectares of marine habitats, directly benefit over 3,000 fishers and coastal community members, and support the recovery of at least 600 metric tons of overfished species. The project also contributes to the global goal of protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030. 

Conservation International will serve as SEACONNECT's GEF Implementing Agency, with the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security Regional Secretariat (CTI-CFF RS) and the University of Queensland as the GEF Executing Agencies, providing critical technical assistance throughout the project.  

SEACONNECT will deliver results through five key components:  

• Strengthening climate-smart marine resource management and regional collaboration 
• Supporting resilient "blue" economies through sustainable tourism and fisheries 
• Expanding training and knowledge-sharing across Coral Triangle countries 
• Scaling successful solutions to other marine ecosystems 
• Creating an inclusive, gender-responsive system to measure progress and impact 

“SEACONNECT is more than a conservation project—it’s a blueprint for collaborative marine governance of one of the planet's important places for marine biodiversity--the Coral Triangle,” said Wilson Barbon, Philippines Country Executive Director, Conservation International.  “Together with our partners, we are helping to align national actions with regional goals, ensuring lasting benefits for people, biodiversity, and the climate.” 

SEACONNECT also builds institutional capacity within the CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat, enabling more effective coordination and knowledge-sharing across national boundaries. With more than USD $49 million in co-financing, the project represents a flagship investment in marine protection and regional collaboration, supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals —especially SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). 

“The launch of this exciting new project, SEACONNECT, marks a major milestone in translating our shared vision into action,” said Dr. Frank Griffin, Executive Director of the CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat. “This initiative directly aligns very well and supports the goals of the Regional Plan of Action 2.0 by strengthening ecosystem-based management of our blue natural capital and enhancing cooperation across national boundaries. It’s a powerful example of what multilateralism through regional collaboration can achieve for our ocean and our people.” 

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ABOUT CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL: Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, for biodiversity and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples and local communities to help people and nature thrive together. Visit Conservation.org for more, and follow us on Conservation News, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. 

ABOUT THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT FACILITY: The Global Environment Facility (GEF) includes several multilateral funds working together to address the planet's most pressing challenges in an integrated way. Its financing helps developing countries address complex challenges and work towards meeting international environmental goals. Over the past three decades, the GEF has provided more than $26 billion in financing, primarily as grants, and mobilized another $148 billion for country-driven priority projects.