Harapan Samudra: saving Indonesia's coral reefs
February 09 2026From April to August 2026, four environmental and health science students, currently on a gap year and members of the Misi Karang association, will roll out the Harapan Samudra (“Hope of the Ocean”) project, an ambitious project to protect marine ecosystems in the Gili Islands in Indonesia, in partnership with the local association Gili Eco Trust.
When passion meets the urgency to act
Passionate about marine ecosystems, these four students were brought together by their desire to work to preserve coral reefs, which are now greatly threatened by human activity. In the Gili Islands, corals are suffering the consequences of mass tourism: reefs being trampled by swimmers, pollution from hotel infrastructure, and warming waters causing coral bleaching. Faced with this situation, they decided to take action.
A project dedicated to science and awareness
The project is structured around three complementary areas:
- Research and restoration: mapping the health of reefs according to ReefCheck and CoralWatch protocols, identifying anthropogenic pressures, building Biorock structures, and planting corals to promote ecosystem regeneration
- Field actions: participating in local clean-up initiatives, monitoring anchorages, and engaging with island communities on a daily basis
- Communication and education: creation of educational posters, facilitation of awareness-raising workshops for tourists and local stakeholders, production of a documentary film giving a voice to all stakeholders in the region, which will then be screened in universities and schools in France.
A call for support
To carry out this mission of public interest, the four students are appealing to the generosity of the AgroParisTech community and beyond. Your contribution, whether material or financial, will enable them to bring this wonderful project to fruition, helping to preserve the marine environment and promote responsible tourism.
Together, let’s turn hope into action for the future of our oceans.