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Bird's Head Seascape > Berita Terkini > Introducing Reef-Guardian, their projects and “Tales of Mayalibit”
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Introducing Reef-Guardian, their projects and “Tales of Mayalibit”

11 May 2026
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The Reef-Guardian association, is a licensed German non-profit that aims to promote the protection of marine flora and fauna, with a focus on coral reefs. Its activities include environmental education to advance understanding of the ecological importance of tropical coral reefs, as well as the initiation of local projects to conserve and improve the condition of reefs while providing alternative non-extractive revenue for villagers, primarily in Indonesia.

Current projects include:

The Matenhun store:

Tourism is an important source of income for many people in Raja Ampat. Since 2021, Reef Guardian has been supporting the marketing of ecologically sustainable products made in various villages of Raja Ampat, such as coconut oil, cacao beans, chocolate, sago, and handicrafts, i.e. handmade textiles and jewelry. Matenhun means “from Nature.” The initiative was founded by and for the people of Raja Ampat, especially the Maya community, as a response to the collapse of tourism during the pandemic. Its goal: to create new, independent sources of income. The marketing of local products is managed by a social enterprise operating under the umbrella of a local non-profit foundation (Yayasan Kamtabai Raja Ampat; YKRA). Promoting sustainable local products indirectly contributes to the protection of Raja Ampat’s unique flora and fauna by reducing pressure on tourism as the primary source of income, while ensuring that local production does not harm the natural environment. The marketing of local products also generates additional resources for local marine and coral reef protection efforts. To underscore this commitment, village heads (“kapela desa”) have signed letters of intent on behalf of their communities, pledging to protect nearby reefs. In addition, YKRA’s team regularly uses transport runs to monitor reef conditions.

The welcoming community team at Matenhun: Asnita, Gabriella, Leni and Keysa

Beyond being a store, Matenhun serves as a central hub for local activities: boats transport goods and agricultural products between villages, machines such as oil presses are shared for small-scale production, and finished products are collected and brought to market.  In this way, Matenhun has become a network for collaboration and creativity across Raja Ampat – inspiring new ideas, business models, and ways of working together.

A small sample of locally made products available at the Matenhun store.

There are two shops in Waisai, so if you are looking for souvenirs for friends and family Matenhun is THE place!

Coral reef revitalization

Dayan is a small island off the north coast of Batanta, one of the “Four Kings” from which Raja Ampat derives its name. The island is inhabited by only a handful of families. Diving liveaboards stop at Dayan almost daily because of its manta point, and the chance of seeing dugongs.

The western tip of the Dayan island is home to Konstantinus Saleo and his family, who also run a small homestay for visitors. Most of the coral reef that once protected the western shore of the island has perished. Unrestricted surf now erodes the shoreline, which was previously lined with mangroves. Konstantinus aims to restore the reef and stabilize the shoreline by nursing corals and planting new mangroves.

Reef-Guardian supports Konstantinus with the purchase of tools and materials for his project.

Watch the award winning film about Konstantinus and his family.

Environmental education of youth and Child Aid Papua

Since 2024, Reef-Guardian has been supporting the school of Child Aid Papua, where high school and vocational school students attend environmental education classes to learn more about the nature and ecology of Raja Ampat. Acting as multipliers within their families, these students help raise overall environmental awareness among the local population. This unique school—the education centre of Child Aid Papua—run by an Indonesian foundation (Yayasan Cahaya Anak Papua) and supported by a Swiss association is located on Gam island near the village of Sawainggrai. This school is the only high school outside Raja Ampat’s main town and district capital, Waisai. It is also West Papua’s first officially recognised bilingual high school and the first certified to award vocational qualifications in “Marine and Eco-Tourism”. Around 60 students aged between 13 and 18 attend the school.

Projects in progress:

The project “Tales of Mayalibit” focuses on collecting traditional stories from the Ambel/Ma’ya communities in Raja Ampat, who live surrounding Mayalibit Bay. The goal is twofold.
First, Reef-Guardian aims to preserve the language itself. The Ambel/Ma’ya language is at risk of disappearing, with only around 1,500 speakers remaining. In many contexts, including schools, it is no longer actively used. To address this, they are documenting stories in their original language through audio recordings collected directly in the villages.
The second aim is to keep the cultural narratives alive and accessible. The recorded stories are transcribed with a high level of linguistic accuracy and then translated into Indonesian and English. This ensures both preservation in their authentic form and accessibility for a wider audience.
To support this work, they have equipped their local partners with recording equipment and trained them to collect stories within their communities. A significant part of the work is the careful transcription and translation process. For this, they collaborate with Dr. Laura Arnold, a linguist who has conducted extensive research on the Ambel language.
In addition, Reef-Guardian plans to develop a curated collection of these stories—particularly traditional bedtime stories—into a book for an international audience. This will help raise awareness for the culture and language while creating a tangible output that can be shared in Europe and potentially in other English-speaking regions.
In parallel with efforts to preserve their language, Reef-Guardian is working on a broader tourism concept for Mayalibit Bay. This includes the development of a website that consolidates and presents local tourism and cultural offerings. The goal is to improve visibility and coordination, enabling more structured and community-driven tourism development in the region.
Another Reef-Guardian project is the creation of an ecological field guide for local fauna and flora, with a focus on marine ecosystems. This guide is intended for both tourists and local residents to increase awareness and understanding of biodiversity. The guide is currently being prepared for print and distribution through local channels, including a small community-supported shop.

Reef-Guardian is currently supporting several additional initiatives:
These projects are the result of the brilliantly conceived “Local Idea Competition”, where the villagers suggest worthy projects that support environmental sustainability and provide income revenues.

One of these projects focuses on sustainable lobster farming. This initiative brings together experts and local communities to establish environmentally responsible aquaculture systems. The aim is to reduce pressure on natural reef ecosystems by avoiding wild capture and instead enabling controlled, sustainable breeding. This creates an additional income stream for local communities while aligning economic incentives with conservation.
Another initiative supports the village of Waifoi. Following their participation in the idea competition, the community built a traditional Ambel/Ma’ya house as a cultural focal point.
Lastly (Reef-Guardian is tireless!):
Reef-guardian continues to support the development of a small-scale, community-based tourism ecosystem. This includes guided hikes, birdwatching experiences, and cultural exchange formats that allow visitors to engage with the local environment and traditions in a sustainable way. They provide selected equipment and resources based on the community’s needs.

 

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