In the remote waters of Gili-Noko, East Java, a group of Indonesian university divers has embarked on a mission that goes beyond coral reefs. A student expedition was created through a collaborative initiative known as Dwipantara VII, composed of students from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP) that are merging marine conservation efforts with grassroots environmental advocacy. This initiative aimed to address important issues such as coral degradation and island waste management. From April 28th to May 4th, 2025, this week-long expedition was conducted to focus on coral reef transplantation, monitoring, and community engagement in the Gili-Noko marine area, just off Bawean Island. The expedition reflects a growing movement across Southeast Asia, which is youth-led environmental action rooted in both science and social accountability.
As the world grapples with the accelerating impacts of climate change, the degradation of coral reefs has become a reminder to all of us of an environmental vulnerability. Rising sea temperatures, ocean acidification, and destructive fishing practices have pushed nearly half of the world’s coral reefs to the brink of collapse. These vital ecosystems, which cover less than 1% of the ocean floor, are home to 25% of all marine species (NOAA, 2025). These serve as natural breakwaters that protect coastal communities from storms and erosion.
Against this global backdrop, the Dwipantara VII expedition in Gili-Noko acts as a powerful reflection of how local action can contribute to a global resilience. Using scientific survey methods such as Underwater Photo Transect (UPT) and Underwater Visual Census (UVC), student divers assessed reef health and fish populations in four cardinal zones around Gili Island. This survey documented 760 fish across various reef-dwelling species, dominated by the Pomacentrus, Abudefduf, and Chromis species. This highlights both the richness of marine life and the fragility of its habitat. However, the true significance of this expedition lies in its coral transplantation initiative, in which 151 coral fragments were planted using spider web frames. While coral gardening is not new, what sets this project apart is its community-centered design. The expedition team emphasized a long-term ecosystem recovery instead of viewing it as a one-off scientific effort by ensuring that local actors, such as Hijau Daun, a community-based conservation group in Bawean, take ownership of post-expedition monitoring and maintenance.
Besides the underwater work, the team also made a conscious effort to listen by interviewing locals in the Gili Islands. The communities raised a famous struggle that the world is facing every day: plastic pollution. There are two major sources of marine waste identified by the team: debris brought by ocean currents from nearby regions like Kalimantan and Bawean, as well as the household waste from within the island itself. Lacking a waste
This model of localized stewardship directly responds to the global call for climate adaptation that is inclusive, participatory, and context-sensitive (UNFCCC, 2025). International frameworks like the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) and the Paris Agreement stress that climate resilience must be built from the ground up. According to this approach, Dwipantara VII embodies it by a grassroots, youth-led effort that doesn’t just restore corals but also strengthens social capital, promotes knowledge sharing, and empowers island communities to reclaim their role as custodians of the ocean. It highlights a critical question for international audiences: how can youth-led initiatives become powerful actors in shaping localized climate adaptation strategies?
In a world where climate-induced loss and damage disproportionately affect small island communities, many of whom are at the front line of rising sea levels and biodiversity loss, this expedition reminds all of us that solutions do not need to wait for high-level summits or billion-dollar projects. Sometimes, it begins with a small group of students, some diving gear, and a shared belief in the power of collaboration.
