Federico Prado

Raja Ampat: A Marine Paradise Under Threat The Fragile Future of the World’s Most Pristine ReefsRaja Ampat, known as the “Crown Jewel of Marine Biodiversity,” is home to over 75% of the world’s coral species and a vast array of marine life. However, this underwater paradise is under severe threat due to climate change, overtourism, […]

Trouble in Paradise. In the biodiversity oasis of Raja Ampat, cyanobacteria pose a serious threat to the region’s abundant coral reefs. Is tourism to be blamed? “It would be heartbreaking to see the most biodiverse reefs in the world succumb under the weight of preventable anthropological stressors like wastewater and overtourism” Read More To learn

Raja Ampat, the last stronghold of healthy coral reefs: In this video, you can watch some of the efforts taking place in the Four Kings to maintain coral reefs healthy. Coral reefs are often described as the rainforests of the seas, and for good reason. While they account for less than one percent of the

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgQpD1Q03rM The unthinkable is happening. The current world wide bleaching event is affecting Raja Ampat. In the past few weeks (late December 2024 to early January 2025), some areas have been significantly impacted while others, thankfully, show little damage. To learn more about the causes of coral bleaching, check out my book “Biodiversity in Paradise. A

Some good news from the Four Kings: Over the last decade, manta ray populations increased significantly in Raja Ampat archipelago in Indonesia, highlighting the importance of long-term conservation and management measures such as well-enforced Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and fisheries regulations, says a researcher. Read More To learn more about this wonderful place, check out

The New York Times just placed Raja Ampat at number 28, among the 52 Places to Go in 2025. To learn more about this amazing archipelago, check out my book “Biodiversity in Paradise. A Natural History of Raja Ampat“.  Surrounded by the Coral Triangle, the world’s most diverse marine ecosystem, the Raja Ampat Regency — a

Here’s an interesting blog about the reintroduction of Indo-Pacific leopard (or zebra) sharks (Stegostoma tigrinum) to Raja Ampat waters. At one point, the population of this beautiful fish was estimated at fewer than 20 individuals across the archipelago. Since January 2023, more than 20 young leopards have been successfully released into the waters of the

Check out the latest article by Don Silcock on ‘Understanding Conservation in Raja Ampat – Part 1: Mark Erdmann.’ In this article, Don describes the unparalleled role Dr. Mark Erdmann has played in the conservation of Raja Ampat. Dr. Erdmann was kind enough to write the forward for my book “Biodiversity in Paradise. A Natural History of Raja Ampat”

https://youtu.be/Wv2rAR0vuxs Welcome to our blog, where we invite you to explore the beauty of Raja Ampat through the lens of Biodiversity in Paradise, the first book by Federico Prado. This captivating book takes readers on an intellectual journey through one of the most biodiverse and pristine corners of the planet. In the promotional video, Federico