TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia’s coral reefs that are in poor condition was reflected in the study done by the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI). It states that there is only 6.56 percent that is in a good condition.

LIPI came to the conclusion that the global climate change is the perpetrator of the coral reefs’ declining condition.

“Generally speaking, the coral reef damage is caused by the global climate change. It can also be caused by natural elements and anthropogenic, such as earthquakes, tsunamis, high population of polycarang predators and the global climate change,” said Giyanto, Head of LIPI Oceanography Research Center today, Nov. 28.

Read: Only 65 Percent Coral Reefs in Indonesia are Healthy LIPI

Furthermore, LIPI Oceanography Research Center studied that any activity involving fishermen or businesses taking natural coral reefs are considered in the non-detrimental finding (NDF) set by CITES and does not significantly contribute to the current damage.

Giyanto explained that damages caused by anthropogenic are; overfishing that causes imbalance, the use of explosives and toxin, mining, sedimentation, tourism, the construction of beaches.

Meanwhile, another LIPI researcher Suharsono explained that Indonesia is the center ecosystem of coral reefs and revealed that Australia does not experience reef damages caused by humans, only because of tourism. He said that coral reef bleaching only happens at Indonesia’s Western region while the country’s Eastern area never experiences this.

MOH KHORY ALFARIZI