One of the most essential actors in marine ecosystem is coral reef. Unfortunately, coral reefs around the world are now under urgent threat of extinction. As the home of millions of marine species consumable by human, it is high time for us to start taking conservation measures more seriously. As climate change drives up sea temperatures and human waste massively pollutes the sea, coral reef has much less chance of survival than it used to. These corals will undergo discoloration, a phenomenon called “coral bleaching”. According to WWF, currently 85% of coral reefs in the Coral Triangle are under massive stress due to pH and temperature changes, toxic waste and illegal fishing practices. At the moment, World Resource Institute reports that only 27% of total world population is protected by governments and this is certainly not enough to stop the number from declining.

More importantly, coral reefs offer refuge for around 9 million species of marine creatures. Most are creatures on the lower level of the food chain and some actually need corals as their source of nutrition. These creatures are also what we human consume. Without healthy corals to live in, they cannot thrive and their population will decline as well. At the rate we are going, 60% more of our corals are going to be destroyed lest we exert more preservation efforts to sustain their number.

Yet, not many people are aware of this issue and the urgency it posed, especially young people. Sahabat Alam believes that raising more awareness is necessary to increase more preservation efforts. That is why, on 26 October 2008, Sahabat Alam along with friends from SDN 01 Pulau Panggang planted coral reef around Pulau Pramuka, Thousands Islands of Indonesia. Aside from including them directly in preserving corals, we also shared more knowledge about the importance of coral reefs and the urgency of their declining population. It is hoped that young generations would be more aware of the environment they live in and thus be friendlier towards nature in their activities.