Nautika Foundation Launches Adaptive Conservation Programme to Strengthen Coral Reef Management in Alor

A group photo of participants, partners, and stakeholders during the TFCCA Program Kick-Off, Symbolizing their shared commitment and multi-stakeholder collaboration in advancing adaptive and sustainable coral reel ecosystem management in Alor Regency.

Kalabahi, 29 June 2026 — Nautika Foundation has officially launched the programme titled “Strengthening Coral Reef Ecosystem Management in the Alor Archipelago and Surrounding Seas Marine Park through Technology-Based Adaptive Conservation and Community Collaboration.”

Supported by the Tropical Forest and Coral Reef Conservation Act (TFCCA), the programme will be implemented over an 18-month period. It is designed to strengthen the management of the conservation area through the use of technology, community capacity building, data utilisation, and collaboration among various stakeholders in Alor Regency.

The programme was officially launched through a Programme Kick-Off and District-Level Multi-Stakeholder Forum held in Kalabahi. The forum provided an initial platform for developing a shared understanding of the programme’s objectives, aligning the roles of the participating stakeholders, and strengthening coordination to support the long-term sustainability of coral reef ecosystems in the Alor Archipelago and Surrounding Seas Marine Park.

Starting the Programme with Local Communities

Before conducting activities at the regency level, Nautika Foundation organised programme outreach sessions and a Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) process in three target villages.

The activities were held in Munaseli Village on 22 June 2026, Ternate Village on 23 June 2026, and Alor Besar Village on 25 June 2026.

The FPIC process is an important part of the programme’s implementation. Through this process, community members received information about the programme’s objectives, benefits, potential risks, and planned activities before voluntarily giving their consent.

Nautika Foundation believes that conservation cannot be implemented solely through approaches developed outside the community. Coastal communities that live alongside and interact directly with marine resources must be involved throughout the programme, from planning and implementation to evaluation.

For this reason, the village-level outreach sessions and discussions involved village governments, Village Consultative Bodies, Community-Based Marine Surveillance Groups known as Pokmaswas, fishers, customary leaders, community leaders, women, and young people.

The activities were also supported by the Alor Archipelago and Surrounding Seas Marine Park Management Unit, the Alor Regency Marine Affairs and Fisheries Office, Tribuana Kalabahi University, and the Nautika Foundation team.

Listening to the Needs of Village Communities

The village-level forums were organised not only to explain the programme, but also to listen to community members’ experiences, needs, and perspectives regarding the management of the conservation area.

Several needs were identified during the discussions, including strengthening the capacity of Pokmaswas, improving systems for monitoring marine conditions, providing oceanographic information that can be understood and used by local communities, and establishing stronger coordination among communities, government institutions, academic institutions, and supporting organisations.

The feedback received from the communities will play an important role in refining the programme’s implementation plan. The process also demonstrated the communities’ commitment to actively participating in the protection of the marine areas that are closely connected to their lives and livelihoods.

Nautika Foundation believes that local knowledge, community experience, scientific data, and technological support must be integrated within a complementary management framework.

Strengthening Collaboration at the Regency Level

Following the series of village-level activities, Nautika Foundation organised the Programme Kick-Off and District-Level Multi-Stakeholder Forum.

The forum brought together representatives from the Alor Regency Government, the East Nusa Tenggara Provincial Marine Affairs and Fisheries Office, the Alor Archipelago and Surrounding Seas Marine Park Management Unit, the Alor Regency Regional Development Planning, Research and Innovation Agency, the Alor Regency Marine Affairs and Fisheries Office, the Community and Village Empowerment Office, the Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics, the Alor Regency Police, Military District Command 1622/Alor, the Alor Island Naval Post, subdistrict governments, village governments, Pokmaswas, Tribuana Kalabahi University, and several development partners.

During the forum, the results of the FPIC process conducted in the three villages were presented to the stakeholders. Participants also discussed the programme’s implementation direction, the forms of support required, and potential opportunities for collaboration throughout the programme.

The meeting established an important foundation for developing a more coordinated, participatory, and responsive approach to managing the conservation area amid changing environmental conditions.

An interactive discussion between participants and partners during the TFCCA Programme Kick-Off, providing a platform for feedback, clarification, and strengthening collaboration in the programme’s implementation.

Integrating Technology, Data, and Community Participation

The programme adopts an adaptive conservation approach based on technology and community collaboration. Adaptive conservation means that the management of the conservation area is not carried out in a static manner, but is continuously adjusted based on data, changes in ecosystem conditions, community experience, and field evaluation results.

Over its 18-month implementation period, the programme will focus on four main areas. First, the development of a technology-based oceanographic monitoring system by the Bandung Institute of Technology, led by Dr Iwan Pramesti Anwar, S.Si., M.Si., to help generate information on marine conditions. Second, strengthening the capacity of Pokmaswas as community-based groups that play an important role in monitoring and protecting marine resources. Third, improving the use of data as a basis for decision-making in the management of the conservation area. Fourth, strengthening multi-stakeholder coordination to support more effective and sustainable management of the Alor Archipelago Marine Park.

Hansen Oei, Director of Nautika Foundation, emphasised that successful conservation does not depend solely on technology and policy. The involvement of communities that live alongside and depend on the sea is a key element in the effective management of the conservation area.

The technology introduced through this programme is not intended to replace the role of local communities. Instead, it is expected to serve as a supporting tool that helps communities and conservation area managers access information, understand changes in marine conditions, and make better-informed decisions.

Towards More Adaptive Marine Management in Alor

Presentation of the Programme Outreach and Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) process to local communities as part of building a shared understanding of the objectives, benefits, and implementation of the TFCCA Programme at the village level.

With the support of TFCCA and collaboration among all stakeholders, Nautika Foundation hopes that this programme will contribute to the development of a conservation area management model that integrates science, technology, governance, and community participation.

Efforts to protect coral reef ecosystems are not only concerned with preserving biodiversity. The health of marine ecosystems is also directly linked to the social and economic resilience of coastal communities that depend on these resources.

This kick-off marks the beginning of an 18-month collaborative process. Nautika Foundation is committed to implementing the programme in an open, participatory, and data-driven manner, with local communities serving as key partners in safeguarding the sustainability of the seas surrounding the Alor Archipelago.

Through collective action, we hope that the seas of Alor will continue to provide a healthy living environment for marine ecosystems, coastal communities, and future generations.