Marine biodiversity and coastal livelihoods in Sulawesi/Coral Triangle

Our main activities:
o In Aceh, we supported the Provincial Office of Conservation of Natural Resources (BKSDA) to develop integrated activities to sustainable manage coastal areas, important for the conservation of 4 turtle species and community’s livelihood. The workplan, signed in September 2023, also included capacity support to strengthen the governance of Panglima Laot, a traditional system that has been practiced over many generations to collectively manage marine resources in Aceh.
o In WNT, In WNT, we supported BKSDA conducting ecological and socio-economic surveys along the Saleh Bay, a buffer area to the newly set up Moyo-Satonda National Park. The data serves as basis for our government partners to develop an integrated and sustainable seascape management system.
o In North Sulawesi, In North Sulawesi, we supported BKSDA in enhancing conservation area monitoring activities. This included 2 ecological surveys of coral reefs (T0¬ and T1), more than 8 trainings on SMART Patrol monitoring methods, and training 10 staff on operating Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) to improve data collection and enforcement.

Target 1: Evidence that at minimum 4 ecologically and economically important marine resource use commodity are improving.
o Collaborate with local stakeholders to implement participatory sustainable management practices within the project areas. This includes capacity building on data analysis, community awareness, and enforcement to strengthen local fisheries management institutions and government collaboration.

Planned efforts: We will maintain collaboration with local stakeholders and conduct regular capacity-building sessions to improve data collection. Additionally, we will explore and address challenges in evaluation, increase participant numbers, and actively involve local government and communities in developing science-based policy in related areas.

o Develop small-scale, community-based tourism initiatives to fund MPA management and monitoring and establish voluntary payments through partnerships with marine tourism enterprises in WNT and North Sulawesi. We are currently in the process of developing and improving mechanisms that link livelihood activities to marine tourism development, fisher outlets, and processed marine products. This includes support for local communities in engaging with private sector to improve catch quality and value.

Planned efforts: We will continue to support local communities in engaging with the private sector and provide training to improve catch quality and value.

Target 2: At least 8 out of 15 MPAs in North Sulawesi and WNT are labelled with “green” and 2 labelled with “gold”. The adjusted target: (1) In WNT: 2 MPAs at Sustainable Management level (85%) and 10 MPAs at Optimum Management level; (2) In North Sulawesi: 1 MPA at Sustainable Management level (90%) and 2 MPAs at Optimum Management Level (70%).

o Strengthen community MPA institutions and managers’ skills through essential training and assisting in developing patrolling SOPs with POKMASWAS groups.

Planned efforts: We will continue to maintain close coordination with MPA-related institutions and provide support for facilitating training sessions.

o Collaborate with government agencies, local communities, and stakeholders to enhance MPA protection and management in WNT and North Sulawesi, including training MPA managers, raising community awareness, building capacity for community-based monitoring groups (Pokmaswas), and fostering inclusivity of women and youth in MPA management.

Planned efforts: In order to improve the effectiveness of conservation areas in our assisted MPAs, we will continue supporting Natural Resources Conservation Agency/Balai Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam (BKSDA) and Marine and Fisheries Agency/ Dinas Kelautan dan Perikanan (DKP) by gathering community input on the utilization of the conservation area, facilitating discussions on the draft management plan, raising awareness about three important coastal ecosystems, and undertaking other related efforts by conducting socialization and produce publication materials.

• Target 3: At least 4 policies or regulations at the provincial or national level that provide the legal foundation for co-management of marine resources are improved.
o Developing and enhancing policy frameworks for managing climate change and / or conserving biodiversity.

Planned efforts: Assisting the local government in policy development and implementation and conducting awareness-raising activities to enhance its effectiveness.

o Support on the development of long-term financing from government through building capacity for MPA budgeting at provincial levels and linking MPA management to village finance systems.

Planned efforts: We will continue to support the drafting of WNT Governor Regulation concerning the establishment of BLUD status for the MPA Management Units in WNT and made considerable progress. For North Sulawesi, we will support the UPTD development through several Focus Group Discussions (FGDs).

o Strengthening sustainable/ customary fisheries management systems to allow local communities to have better control over their local resources and to participate in fisheries management decisions through developing village rules through Indonesian customary rules (adat) or other mechanisms.

Planned efforts: Strengthening the institutional capacity of Panglima Laot in 8 lhoks in Aceh and facilitating the dissemination of the local customs called awig-awig in West Nusa Tenggara (WNT), evaluation of joint regulations, assist the development of customary laws namely seke in North Sulawesi.

o Develop small-scale, community-based tourism initiatives to fund MPA management and monitoring and establish voluntary payments through partnerships with marine tourism enterprises in WNT and North Sulawesi. We are currently in the process of developing and improving mechanisms that link livelihood activities to marine tourism development, fisher outlets, and processed fisheries products.

Planned efforts: We will engage our assisted communities and provide tourism management training. Additionally, we will continue establish partnerships with marine-based tourism enterprises, explore the tourism potential of our assisted MPAs, and implement sustainable financial and monitoring plans to ensure the success and sustainability of community-based tourism and MPA management.


• Target 4: 1800 ha avoided habitat loss.

o Establish and maintain biological and socio-economic monitoring to influence and improve MPA management effectiveness, including collaborative activities with government and communities. Based on our calculations in 2023, the total mangrove and seagrass coverages in our assisted MPAs in WNT and North Sulawesi were 249,04 ha and 4522,82 ha, respectively.

Planned efforts:
• We will continuously conduct regular biological and socio-economic monitoring, engaging communities in collaborative management activities. The data gathered will inform and improve MPA management strategies, enhancing the preservation of the conservation areas and preventing habitat loss.
• We will conduct a reanalysis to assess the loss of mangrove and seagrass coverage in WNT and North Sulawesi during the project implementation period. The result can be used as database and recommendation for management to the relevant government authorities.