Plenary Speakers
Dr Jane Hawkridge
International Implementation Co-Team Leader
Jane is a Team Leader at the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC). An alumnus of Newcastle University, Jane has a PhD in coral biology. Her interests include use of applied research to support policy, regulatory and management authorities to make informed and effective decisions that support the environment and communities. Jane leads JNCC’s UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs) work programme, including coral reef conservation projects. Jane represents the UKOTs on the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network Steering Committee, NOAA’s Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease Caribbean Cooperation Committee and Disturbance Advisory Committee, and UK Focal Point for the International Coral Reef Initiative.
Taking science to policy: insights into the workings of a public body supporting the UK Overseas Territories with nature conservation and coral reef management
Have you ever wondered what role a UK advisory body plays in coral conservation? The Joint Nature Conservation Committee has had a role providing advice on coral reefs for many years, cold water and tropical, nationally, and internationally. Our advice covers national policies for cold water corals, international policies and Conventions such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and CITES, and of course our Overseas Territories (OTs) and Crown Dependencies. Recently, we have been working with the OTs to support their coral reef conservation efforts, especially in the Caribbean, where they are battling the dual threats of coral disease and bleaching alongside increased development and tourism pressures and threats from climate change. Advising governments on the development and implementation of policies for, or affecting, nature conservation requires the latest science and collaboration. Using examples, I will discuss how JNCC works with its partners to develop coral reef advice for UK Governments and the Overseas Territories and identify some ways you may be able to support their priorities. I will also illustrate how we support the OTs to manage their wider environment for better reef resilience, enhanced economic security and disaster resilience, drawing on the role of coral reefs and associated ecosystems.
Dr Tries Razak
Research Fellow, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, IPB University, Indonesia
Dr Tries Razak is a global expert on coral reef conservation and restoration. She has worked for decades on coral reef research programmes across Indonesia, generating a prolific record of impactful research. She received her PhD from the University of Queensland, Australia; MSc from Leiden University, the Netherlands; and BSc in Marine Science from IPB University, Indonesia. Tries co-founded the Indonesian Coral Reef Foundation in the 1990s to raise awareness about coral reef conservation and management in Indonesia. In 2021, she received the prestigious Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation for her research on improving coral reef restoration practice in Indonesia. Recently, she received the ASEAN Research Fellowship in 2023 for her work on the effects of urbanization on coral reef ecosystems in Jakarta Bay.
Rehabilitating reef rehabilitations: Applying scientific knowledhe to improve reed restoration practice in Indonesia
Many of Indonesia’s coral reefs have been severely damaged by global and local stressors, and a range of active restoration techniques are now being used in attempts to rebuild degraded reefs. While Indonesia stands out for its high number of reef restoration initiatives, many lack proven effectiveness due to the absence of a solid scientific foundation for optimal site selection. Between 1990 and 2020, a total of 533 reef restoration projects were initiated across Indonesia, comprising over 170,000 units of artificial reefs, coral nurseries, and nearly 1 million out-planted fragments of hard coral. Despite Indonesia's policy encouraging diverse practitioners, there is a notable lack of coordination with wider restoration networks or scientists. Only 16% of projects incorporated a post-installation monitoring program to understand how marine organism populations respond to restoration; the remaining 84% have become one-off installations of artificial reefs with unknown long-term outcomes. Indonesian reef restoration shares many of the growing pains experienced globally in coral reef restoration, where poorly-designed projects in sub-optimal locations and a lack of appropriate methods for out-planting, monitoring, and maintenance have failed to deliver genuine conservation benefits. Incorporating clear objectives and long-term monitoring programs in project planning stages, while prioritizing knowledge exchange and engagement with the international scientific community, will significantly enhance restoration outcomes in Indonesia. This will allow the country to fulfill its considerable potential as a global leader in rebuilding damaged coral reefs.
Dr Tries Razak
Research Fellow, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, IPB University, Indonesia
Dr Tries Razak is a global expert on coral reef conservation and restoration. She has worked for decades on coral reef research programmes across Indonesia, generating a prolific record of impactful research. She received her PhD from the University of Queensland, Australia; MSc from Leiden University, the Netherlands; and BSc in Marine Science from IPB University, Indonesia. Tries co-founded the Indonesian Coral Reef Foundation in the 1990s to raise awareness about coral reef conservation and management in Indonesia. In 2021, she received the prestigious Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation for her research on improving coral reef restoration practice in Indonesia. Recently, she received the ASEAN Research Fellowship in 2023 for her work on the effects of urbanization on coral reef ecosystems in Jakarta Bay.
Rehabilitating reef rehabilitations: Applying scientific knowledhe to improve reed restoration practice in Indonesia
Many of Indonesia’s coral reefs have been severely damaged by global and local stressors, and a range of active restoration techniques are now being used in attempts to rebuild degraded reefs. While Indonesia stands out for its high number of reef restoration initiatives, many lack proven effectiveness due to the absence of a solid scientific foundation for optimal site selection. Between 1990 and 2020, a total of 533 reef restoration projects were initiated across Indonesia, comprising over 170,000 units of artificial reefs, coral nurseries, and nearly 1 million out-planted fragments of hard coral. Despite Indonesia's policy encouraging diverse practitioners, there is a notable lack of coordination with wider restoration networks or scientists. Only 16% of projects incorporated a post-installation monitoring program to understand how marine organism populations respond to restoration; the remaining 84% have become one-off installations of artificial reefs with unknown long-term outcomes. Indonesian reef restoration shares many of the growing pains experienced globally in coral reef restoration, where poorly-designed projects in sub-optimal locations and a lack of appropriate methods for out-planting, monitoring, and maintenance have failed to deliver genuine conservation benefits. Incorporating clear objectives and long-term monitoring programs in project planning stages, while prioritizing knowledge exchange and engagement with the international scientific community, will significantly enhance restoration outcomes in Indonesia. This will allow the country to fulfill its considerable potential as a global leader in rebuilding damaged coral reefs.
