Submitted by Brigitta Maria Andrea Gunawan, the Founder of 30×30 Indonesia and a member of the Youth Leadership Council at EarthEcho International. This blog is the third in a series from three youth participants sponsored by the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas to attend the Asia Parks Congress held in Sabah, Malaysia in May 2022.
A deep breath, then a farewell to the breeze as I descend into the depths of a majestic underwater city – the ocean’s melody whispering in my ears. In the distance, vibrant corals glow against the glistening beams of sunlight, yet just as vivid are the white patches crying for help. A cry so loud yet so often unheard. This is where it all started for the 17-year-old me: the love for nature and the urge to protect it.
That day, having just learned about coral bleaching, I saw the reef with a new set of eyes – one that exposed the anthropogenic effects of human misconduct. For the first time, the ocean became more than a site for me to explore but a desperate call to action. Now, nearly a year later, I am pioneering the 30×30 ocean movement in Indonesia, utilizing education to address marine issues, restore habitats, and inspire real action.
When I first embarked on my journey and launched 30×30 Indonesia – a movement aiming to educate and mobilize public support towards protecting 30% of the world’s ocean by 2030 – there was little to no conversation about 30×30 in my community. Restless for change and unwilling to wait, I initiated events centered on education, policy advocacy, and restoration, reaching over 10,000 people. This movement has garnered the attention of Bali’s Provincial Government’s Marine and Fisheries Service, where they posted a picture holding the sign #30x30Indonesia as part of an article published on their official website.
The restoration events I hosted well reflect the experiences 30×30 Indonesia aims to provide to the community: positive memories, impactful ocean solutions, and inclusivity through intergenerational collaboration. In celebration of Earth Day, we planted 30 frame structures as part of a new coral garden in Tulamben, a small fishing village off the coast of Bali, in collaboration with local diving community Jaladharma. These structures form the number 30 on the ocean floor in hopes to grab the attention of visitors towards 30×30. During this event, children from two local villages took part in a sharing session about the ocean, a beach clean-up, a demonstration of how corals are transplanted, as well as snorkeling and scuba diving activities. More recently, to celebrate World Ocean Day, a group of 15 students planted 200 mangroves after learning from experts in the field.
Another key aspect of this movement stresses ocean literacy, where I hosted school outreach events reaching over 750 teachers and students from junior school to university across over 10 schools. These events emphasize the critical need for youth engagement in the ocean conservation space, with activities catered to their age groups. Following the fun discussions in each class, students created 30×30 posters to express their support for the global target. This spirit of learning was also prominent in the webinar I hosted – Inspiring the Youth to Protect Our Ocean – with guest speakers from the Coral Triangle Center and ASEAN Youth Organization’s AYO Enviro, involving participants from across South East Asia.
Among other activities launched as part of this movement was the distribution of free, reusable 30×30 masks inspired by a traditional Batik motif called Batik Parang, which embodies the spirit of never giving up, just like the ocean waves that never stop moving. I also collected pictures of people holding #30x30Indonesia signs to show their support for the global goal of implementing marine protected areas to achieve a healthy ocean. Through these images, over 400 people have voiced their support for 30×30, with hopes for many more to join us in this journey.
This past year has taught me that young people are eager to be involved – we have the will but often lack the way. For this reason 30×30 Indonesia aims to provide youth with the opportunity to gain experience, minimizing barriers to exposure in order to spark a long-lasting emotional connection with nature. As I reflect on the critical state of our planet and the code red for humanity, I know that the answer lies in youth-driven movements worldwide who catalyze change and take action now. Today, I strive to establish a “for nature” mindset through my work by investing in nature-based solutions for our generation – the future of our planet.