Enabling University Researchers to Help Protect the Coral Triangle

Coral reef ecosystems in Baucau Municipality, Timor-Leste, are vital for biodiversity, fisheries, and coastal livelihoods but face threats from overfishing, coastal development, and climate change. Limited baseline data on reef health, fish populations, benthic composition, and water quality hinder effective management and protection. The SOA hub in Timor Leste has been led by Delio Da Costa since he founded it as an undergraduate student in 2021. He will train six hub members and two others—all final-year undergraduate students—in marine data collection so they can complete their thesis research and fill data gaps in government-managed marine areas in the Laga Administrative Post. Delio joined Conservation International in 2024 as the Project Coordinator for SEMACORE, an initiative to support community-led fisheries, climate resilience, and sustainable marine governance across six countries in the Coral Triangle. In 2025, Delio was among the 40 people representing 34 countries selected to the SOA Ocean Leaders Fellowship, and was featured in our Impact Report.

In Baucau Municipality, the average hard coral cover is estimated to be only 9%, based on the most recent available assessment conducted in 2013. Since then, no comprehensive ecological survey has been undertaken, resulting in significant gaps in baseline information on the condition of marine ecosystems.

This research will focus on the coastal waters of Laga Administrative Post, an area with high ecological and socio-economic importance. An estimated 851 households depend on marine resources in this area for their livelihoods, yet there is limited information on the status of coral reefs, reef fish abundance, and overall marine biodiversity. These data gaps hinder evidence-based planning and effective marine resource management.

In addition to supporting local livelihoods, the area serves as an important habitat and migratory corridor for marine megafauna, including marine mammals and sea turtles. Generating updated scientific data on coral reef health, fish abundance, and marine biodiversity will provide the evidence needed to guide conservation planning, inform government decision-making, and support the establishment of effective and sustainable marine conservation measures in Laga Administrative Post.

With this grant, Delio will train eight undergraduate students at the Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa Department of Fisheries and Marine Sciences in ecological survey methods and field protocol training. These students will then be able to complete their theses, and contribute biodiversity data that is missing from efforts to protect marine areas. The results will be published in a technical report and policy brief delivered to decision-makers at ministries of tourism and fisheries, and disseminated via a workshop with local students and community members.

Environmental & Conservation KPIs

• Availability of baseline ecological dataset for Baucau reefs: 1 integrated dataset established and documented
• Identification of priority conservation areas (at least 2–3 priority reef zones) based on ecological indicators
• 3-5 actionable recommendations included in the policy brief and technical report produced
• Contribution to conservation planning processes with data shared with municipal authorities and relevant stakeholders

Operational KPIs

• 1 site with 3 transects in Baucau Municipality
• 250-300 data records across multiple parameters (fish, benthic, coral health, invertebrates, water quality)
• 12-18 days of fieldwork (depending on weather conditions and site accessibility)
• 5-6 standardized methods (UVC, Reef Check, Underwater Photo Transect, Manta Tow, BRUV, Belt Transect)
• 1 technical report and 1 policy brief

Social Impact KPIs

• 50-100 participants (including community members, students, NGOs, and government representatives)
• 1 workshop of the dissemination workshops will conducted
• 2-5 schools or educational groups reached (through outreach and engagement activities)