Every day, Ikraam Ali dives underneath the waters of Dharavandhoo in Maldives to tend to young corals growing in one of the many underwater nurseries of Muraka Farm. There are no crowds watching him, and there is no dramatic rescue mission unfolding. Just rows of small corals fixed carefully in place and the steady work of helping reefs recover, one coral at a time.
For Ikraam, the co-founder of NGO Muraka Farm, this work has become part of his daily life. It is also great evidence to the world that while coral reefs across Asia and the Pacific are facing increasing pressure from rising ocean temperatures, communities across the region are not standing still.
Ikraam has witnessed the impact firsthand. “Over the past decade, we’ve seen noticeable changes. Some areas that were once full of healthy coral have been affected by warming seas and bleaching events,” he says. “Many corals lost their colour, and some didn’t survive. It was difficult to witness, but it strengthened our commitment to helping them recover.”
These restoration efforts matter because coral reefs are much more than underwater landscapes. Although coral reefs occupy less than 0.1 per cent of the ocean floor, they support more than 25 per cent of marine life. For millions of people living along coastlines in Asia and the Pacific, reefs are directly linked to their daily life. Healthy reefs help support fisheries, protect coastlines from waves and storms, and contribute to local economies that largely depend on marine ecosystems.
In Fiji, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands, communities are doing everything they can by combining their traditional knowledge with science to protect reef areas and trying to help them have enough space to heal. Across the region, six governments are already working together through the Coral Triangle Initiative to protect reefs, manage fisheries and keep food on the table for coastal communities.
To support countries with better preparations, ESCAP is tracking reef heat stress through different sources such as NOAA Coral Reef Watch data for seasonal impact-based forecasting and long-term projections to understand what the future could look like. This data helps identify the areas most at risk and supports more targeted action. This helps governments and communities act early, before things get out of hand.
Despite the efforts, these ecosystems continue to face growing pressure. As El Niño, a weather pattern that warms the ocean, grows stronger in 2026, the worst heat is moving across the Pacific. When the water temperature rises, even by a degree or two, corals push out the tiny algae living inside them. These algae give corals their food and colour. Without them, the coral starts to starve and turns white. If the water temperature drops in time, recovery is possible.
The fourth global coral bleaching event, which began in 2023 and likely ended in 2025, affected reefs across 83 countries and territories. This is why the work happening underwater and keeping track of existing restoration programs is becoming increasingly important right now.
However, for people like Ikraam, work usually comes back to something much simpler. It is about the belief that reefs can recover when given time and care. It is about patience and consistency. That means returning to the water day after day, checking young corals, protecting fragile sites and trusting that these efforts can help give reefs a better chance of survival.
“Through years of protection and restoration, we’ve stepped back and watched nature beautifully heal itself,” he says.
Coral reefs in Asia and the Pacific are often in the news because of bleaching and loss. But beneath the surface, another story is unfolding. It is the story of people like Ikraam and communities across the region who continue to restore and protect the reefs they depend on. These efforts cannot undo everything that has already been lost, but they show that recovery is possible. One coral at a time, one dive at a time, and one community at a time, people across Asia and the Pacific are giving coral reefs a better chance for the future.
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