Raja Ampat: The Last Stronghold of Healthy Coral Reefs | National Geographic

Coral reefs are the rainforests of our ocean, supporting millions of marine species and human livelihoods. But according to UNESCO, they could collapse by as soon as 2100. Scientists have identified several super reefs that could withstand ocean warming and acidification, if we give them a chance.

I grew up in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean, on a tiny pearl farm. There were nothing but corals. There were sharks, fish, turtles. That was my first playground, and that's where I discovered the underwater world for the first time. I really believe those childhood experiences inspired me to dedicate my life to ocean conservation.

Growing up, I always heard stories about this place Raja Ampat in Indonesia. Raja Ampat is the epicenter of marine biodiversity on our planet. There are single reefs in Raja Ampat which contain more biodiversity than the entire Caribbean. This is the one place where coral reefs are still thriving. If nothing is done, coral reefs could become the first global ecosystem to entirely collapse from our planet.

When I was a little girl I really loved swimming. My dad made me some goggles; with them I could dive three meters. I used to love seeing these healthy, beautiful corals. I would see people diving near my village Arborek; they were wearing Buoyancy Control Devices (BCD), oxygen tanks that was so cool for me. I was intrigued, so I decided to study to become a diver. I wanted to protect the nature that we have here.

Usal, I heard that 20 years ago there were a lot of problems happening here in Raja Ampat. Before, many people in the community fished for sharks and turtles because there was an outside market for shark fins and turtle shells. And also, there were some people who used bombs. It all starts with that healthy tiny piece of coral. We need a healthy reef in order to continue having healthy oceans.

One, two, three. The community has already changed. Our ancestors created customary laws called Sasi to conserve our marine ecosystem. We use these customary laws working alongside NGOs, government, and scientists so that together we can protect Raja Ampat. Raja Ampat is an inspiring conservation success story built on collaboration between local communities, scientists, and government developing a shared understanding of the crucial role coral reefs play not just in our ocean’s health, but for we as humans too.

Really getting to know that intimate world and to learn from those species, it's such a beautiful experience. SEA BEYOND is a Prada Group educational program in partnership with IOC/UNESCO aiming to teach ocean literacy in schools around the world and to build positive social impacts. To fund this initiative, Prada donates one percent of profits from its Re-Nylon collection to support scientific research and inspire younger generations to dedicate their lives to marine conservation. Because to protect our ocean, we need to understand it.