With support from foreign donors, including the Asian Development Bank and World Bank, the central government launched the 15-year Coremap program in 1998, which was designed to run in three phases.

The first phase, from 1998 to 2001, included community-based development and community awareness. During the second phase, from 2001 to 2007, several specific support programs were designed and implemented. Phase three, was orginally planned from 2007 to 2013, to focus on institution building.

However, the program, which was initially run by the Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI) has been handed over to the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries with some revisions. The initiation stage was held between 1998-2003, the decentralization and acceleration stage was planned for 2004-2009. The institutional development stage is now planned from 2010 to 2015.

The program runs in 15 regencies, including Raja Ampat in Papua Barat province, Biak in Irian Jaya, Natuna, Batam and Bintan in Riau, Selayar and Tangkep in South Sulawesi, Buton and Wakatobi in Southeast Sulawesi and Sikka in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

Based on data from the National Institute of Sciences (LIPI) and Coremap, coral reef distribution in Indonesia covers around 60,000 square kilometers and most of these are in critical condition.

LIPI's Center for Oceanological Research and Development discovered in its latest study that 6.2 percent of the country's coral reefs are in excellent condition, 23.72 percent are classed as normal, while 28.3 percent are damaged and 41.78 percent are severely damaged. -- JP/Matheos Viktor Messakh

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