Indonesia – In a vibrant online gathering, the School of Coral Reef Restoration (SCORES) officially launched as a national platform dedicated to building capacity, sharing knowledge, and strengthening community-based coral reef restoration across Indonesia.
Hosted via Zoom and attended by researchers, academics, and conservation practitioners, the session set the tone for a long-term collaboration between science, policy, and coastal communities.
From Academic Vision to Shared Ecosystem
Dr. Hawis Maduppa, Head of the Department of Marine Science and Technology at IPB University, opened the session by emphasizing the urgent need for solutions that are collaborative, not fragmented. “We must build more than methods—we must build networks,” he said.
Echoing this message, Dr. Fredinan Yulianda, Dean of the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science at IPB, highlighted the pivotal role of coral reefs in Indonesia’s marine economy. He encouraged the use of research as a practical tool to empower coastal communities and ensure the sustainability of reef ecosystems.
Dr. Neviaty Zamani, also from IPB, reminded the audience that coral reef restoration is not just an ecological effort—it is a social, economic, and intergenerational one. Her remarks stressed the need to include local actors in every step of the process, from planning to implementation.
Global Voices for Local Innovation
International perspective was brought by Dr. Lisa Boström-Einarsson of Lancaster University, who has long studied coral restoration in Indonesia and beyond. She shared reflections on the need to balance technological innovation with simplicity and cultural context. “There is no silver bullet,” she explained. “But there are countless local solutions waiting to be supported.”
The session also featured insight from Dr. Tries B. Razak, the national coordinator of SCORES, who outlined the long-term vision of the platform: to serve as an ecosystem of knowledge, connecting reef restorers across islands and institutions.
What Comes Next?
The launching event ended not with a conclusion, but with a beginning. SCORES is not just a webinar series—it is a movement, rooted in research and grown through collaboration.
Future sessions will feature restoration practitioners from across Indonesia, explore regulatory frameworks, showcase monitoring strategies, and promote inclusive education for the next generation of reef stewards.
As Dr. Fredinan said in his closing: “Let’s not just restore coral reefs. Let’s restore our relationship with the ocean.”