Reef Guardian promotes the safeguarding of tropical reefs and focuses its activities on Indonesia. The non-profit association is based in Leipzig, Germany, and was founded in 2020.
Since 2021 the association collaborates closely with the Forum Intelektual Suka Ma’ya (FISM) based in Waisai, Waigeo. The partnership is rooted in the belief that efforts to protect Raja Ampat’s coral reefs should mutually benefit local communities to ensure their enduring support. Funding and donations collected by Reef Guardian finance FISM activities to support indegenious communities on Waigeo and Batanta islands to market sustainable local products. Their sale reduces the dependence of local village people on tourism and generates additional resources for local coral reef protection efforts.
In the longer term Reef Guardian aims to raise awareness among budget travellers visiting Raja Ampat for their environmental footprint from the use of normal cosmetics and to make biodegradable cosmetics more accessible. Furthermore the association promotes the ban of reef-toxic sunscreen in Raja Ampat.