Indonesian Government Launches 2025 National Coral and Seagrass Map

The Indonesian government has achieved a significant milestone by launching the 2025 National Coral and Seagrass Map. The map was officially introduced during the Technical Working Meeting of the Directorate General of Marine Management on 4 December 2025. This initiative is a collaboration between the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) and the Indonesian Seagrass Mapping Partnership (ISMP), which includes KKP, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), the Geospatial Information Agency (BIG), Universitas Hasanuddin (Unhas), and The University of Queensland, Australia, with funding support from The David and Lucille Packard Foundation. It is also supported by the Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN) through the Koralestari Program, funded by the Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR).

“The 2025 National Coral and Seagrass Map is a foundation for us to address climate change challenges with the right strategies. It is also the basis for implementing blue carbon management in accordance with Presidential Regulation No. 110 of 2025 on carbon economic value instruments and greenhouse gas emission control. This is not just about numbers; it is about ensuring that every policy is based on accurate data,” said Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries.

Director General of Marine Management at KKP, A. Koswara, added that this achievement is a crucial cornerstone for strengthening Indonesia’s ocean governance. “Updating the coral and seagrass maps reinforces the government’s commitment to building a science-based blue economy. These data will improve ecosystem protection and coastal management to enhance the welfare of coastal communities,” he said in an official statement in Jakarta on Saturday (6/12).

Coral reefs and seagrass beds are not only ecological assets but also economic and social foundations for millions of coastal communities in Indonesia. They provide essential habitats for various marine species, supporting both capture and aquaculture fisheries. Structurally, complex coral reefs and seagrass meadows dissipate wave energy, protecting coastlines from erosion. Economically, these ecosystems can generate hundreds of billions of rupiah per hectare annually, particularly through marine tourism, which creates jobs and income for local communities.

Seagrass beds also play a vital role in long-term carbon storage, making them an essential component in ocean-based climate change mitigation. National mapping in 2025 revealed that Indonesia has approximately 2.3 million hectares of coral reefs, with 838,000 hectares of hard coral and 660,000 hectares of seagrass meadows distributed across the archipelago, according to Prof. Dr Pramaditya Wicaksono of UGM, representing ISMP.

Eastern Indonesia boasts a more extensive distribution of coral and seagrass ecosystems compared to the western regions, solidifying Indonesia’s status as the global hub of tropical marine biodiversity. This revised mapping serves as a crucial tool for advancing the blue economy and aligning climate policies with national development objectives.

Enhanced Mapping Resolution

Pramaditya explained that the 2025 map is a major update from the previous version released in 2013, increasing the mapping resolution from 1:250,000 to 1:50,000. The new map uses higher-quality satellite imagery and extensive ground-truthing across the country. Since 2022, hundreds of thousands of primary data points have been collected to ensure accurate habitat classification and satellite interpretation.

This effort involved capacity-building programs, technical consultations, and public validations with participation from numerous institutions, KKP regional offices, provincial marine and fisheries agencies, universities, NGOs, and development partners. The entire process from 2022 to 2025 aimed to perfect the national coral and seagrass map.

According to KKP’s Director of Ecosystem Conservation, Firdaus Agung, the ecosystem distribution data will serve as a reference for sustainable blue economy planning, including marine protected area designation, ecosystem-based fisheries management, and environmentally friendly marine tourism development. “This information also provides the scientific basis for setting national carbon emission reduction targets as part of Indonesia’s global climate commitments,” he added.

This cross-sector collaboration exemplifies the synergy of science, technology, and policy for the future of Indonesia’s oceans. The 2025 National Coral and Seagrass Map is expected to accelerate an inclusive, science-based, and sustainable maritime economic transformation.

Muhammad Ilman, Marine Program Director of YKAN, stated, “The National Coral and Seagrass Map is a vital foundation for sustainable ocean management. YKAN fully supports this initiative as a strategic step to safeguard coastal ecosystems critical for food security, biodiversity, and community livelihoods.”

Following the launch of the map, KKP has planned various follow-up actions, including institutional strengthening, network development, routine data updates, the development of an integrated national data infrastructure, improved model accuracy, and the establishment of long-term monitoring systems.

The map will also support cross-sectoral policy integration, aligning with the blue economy framework championed by Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, which prioritises ecological sustainability alongside community economic growth.