Author: Novita Eka Syaputri (Sunda Banda Seascape/SBS Communication and Campaign Assistant)

The beginning of June was a good start for the initiation of the establishment of a network of Marine Protected Areas that has long been encouraged by WWF-Indonesia. Precisely on June 7, 2016 at the Morrissey Hotel, Jakarta, a meeting was held to discuss the initiation of the Marine Protected Area Network in the Lesser Sunda Ecoregion. The meeting resulted in the formulation of an agreement that was used as coordination material towards the drafting of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF), the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK), and three provinces (Bali, NTB, NTT). The MoU is what will later authorize the formation of the Marine Protected Area Network in the Lesser Sunda Ecoregion.

The event, which was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF), the Maluku Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Office (DKP), partners in Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)-such as WWF-Indonesia, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)-was closed by the Director of Small Islands Utilization of MMAF Ir. Agus Dermawan, M.Si. and resulted in several points of agreement. The formulation of the agreement includes directions related to the preparation of an MoU between two ministries and three provinces; ensuring clarity of marine spatial arrangements based on the Coastal Zone and Small Islands Zoning Plan (RZWP3K) and Fisheries Management Areas (WPP) to support the establishment of a network of marine protected areas, especially the Lesser Sunda ecoregion; and affirmation of synergies between KKP, provincial and local governments, and NGO partners in facilitating the conservation area network forum.

WWF-Indonesia supports the establishment of the Lesser Sunda Seascape Marine Protected Area (MPA) Network as a pilot model for the national level Marine Protected Area Network. The establishment of the MPA Network is mandated by the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Regulation No. 13/PERMEN-KP/2014 on MPA Network, which aims to further optimize the management of MPAs. The establishment of the network, which covers three provinces, namely Bali, West Nusa Tenggara, and East Nusa Tenggara, has also been agreed upon and produced a biophysical and socio-economic study document. This document will later be used as a reference in the establishment of the Marine Protected Area Network in Indonesia. The results of the study are currently at the Directorate General of Marine Biodiversity and Conservation (DG KKHL) of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries to obtain input and direction regarding the follow-up to the establishment of the Marine Protected Area Network.

In accordance with the Roadmap The Establishment of the Marine Protected Area Network agreed on February 24, 2015, after the signing of the MoU - which is planned to be carried out in December this year - there are still stages of signing a cooperation agreement and socializing the cooperation agreement. Hopefully the plan according to the roadmap can be implemented smoothly, so that at least early next year we can welcome the New Marine Protected Area Network: Lesser Sunda.