Wakatobi
Indonesia · Southeast Sulawesi
A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve at the heart of the Coral Triangle, Wakatobi is one of Indonesia's most intact reef systems. Operation Wallacea has run continuous scientific monitoring here since 1998 and documented steady coral recovery following a 2010 bleaching event. Hard coral cover held at nearly 30 percent park-wide in 2019 surveys while destructive fishing declined. In 2024 when 84 percent of the world's reefs experienced bleaching-level heat stress, Wakatobi showed no significant bleaching — an anomaly researchers attribute to locally evolved heat tolerance in the coral colonies.
Reef condition
This reef has lost much of its live coral since 2009. The water is around its usual temperature for now.
Coral cover over time
Live coral has fallen from 35% to 29% since 2009. If the decline holds, little would remain by around 2067.
Heat right now
Around usual
No heat stress
Fishing
Limited
Some fishing allowed in zones
Reef state
Under pressure
A reef in transition
Gear