The Indonesian Embassy in Washington, D.C., announced plans for a global collaborative forum to be held in spring 2027 in Washington, D.C. The event, organized in partnership with Indonesia’s Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, will bring together key multilateral institutions and conservation NGOs, including the World Bank, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the World Resources Institute (WRI), Conservation International, and the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
In a statement received on Sunday, Indonesian Ambassador to the United States Indroyono Soesilo said that “coral reef preservation extends far beyond safeguarding marine ecosystems, directly impacting food security, the sustainable blue economy, and the welfare of coastal communities. Therefore, robust international collaboration is imperative to ensure that Indonesia’s marine wealth is preserved and continues to deliver sustainable benefits for future generations.” He added that the forum will seek to bridge conservation priorities with economic development and food security goals.
The meeting aims to translate discussion into tangible outcomes by linking conservation efforts to blended finance programmes, knowledge‑sharing platforms, and on‑the‑ground initiatives that benefit coastal communities and marine ecosystems.
Why the Coral Triangle Matters
The Coral Triangle is a marine region that covers more than six million square kilometres of ocean and is shared by Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands, and Timor‑Leste. Often called the “Amazon of the Seas,” it hosts over three thousand species of reef fish and nearly 76 per cent of the world’s reef‑building coral species. The area contains some 75 000 square kilometres of coral reefs, the majority of which – about 60 000 square kilometres – lie within Indonesian waters, making the country the largest custodian of reefs in the region.
More than 120 million people in the six nations depend on these marine resources for food and livelihood. The coral reefs generate an estimated U$3 billion annually from reef fisheries, U$1.5 billion from tuna fisheries, and U$12 billion from nature‑based tourism. Beyond its economic value, the reef network serves as a natural buffer, protecting the vulnerable coastlines of the region from storm surges and erosion.
Given the ecological fragility and the high dependency of local communities, the forum’s focus on blended finance is seen as a way to mobilise private capital for conservation, while the involvement of organisations such as WWF, TNC, and Conservation International is expected to bring expertise in best‑practice management and ecosystem restoration.
Blended finance models, as articulated by participants, aim to combine public funding and private investment, ensuring that conservation projects achieve measurable ecological outcomes while delivering socio‑economic benefits to coastal communities. Knowledge sharing is expected to include the latest scientific research on coral resilience, climate‑adaptive management strategies, and innovative blue‑economy business models that supply sustainable livelihoods without degrading reef health.
While the exact program details will be fleshed out when the forum convenes, the Indonesian Ministry expressed confidence that a multi‑sidereal coalition would advance protection of the Coral Triangle’s biodiversity, support climate‑resilient fishing practices, and enhance community resilience to climate change.
The initiative comes amid growing international calls for stronger stewardship of marine biodiversity hotspots. By convening a high‑profile assembly of financiers, scientists, and conservation NGOs, Indonesia seeks to demonstrate that safeguarding marine ecosystems can go hand in hand with sustaining human wellbeing and the blue‑economy.
