Coral diversity in the Kepala Madan District Reefs, South Buru Regency, Maluku

The abundance of coral genera is crucial for the coral reefs and determines biodiversity. The Kepala Madan district, located in the southern part of Buru Island, is isolated and far from human activities due to limited transportation access and a balanced approach to community resource utilization. In this observation, we aim to assess the abundance and diversity of coral genera in the waters of Kepala Madan to enhance conservation efforts by the Maluku government. The observation of coral reefs in the waters of Kepala Madan District, South Buru Regency, took time in September – October 2024. At each observation point, a 50m of Underwater Photo Transect with three repetitions was laid along reef contours at 8-10 m depth, to determine coral diversity. The observations found that there are in total 85 coral genera that have been observed, of which 67 genera are hard corals and 18 others are soft corals. The genus Porites is the most commonly found type of hard coral, while Sinularia dominates soft corals.