By: Masayu Yulien Vinanda
Jakarta (19/03)-The government has targeted 20 million hectares of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) by 2020. Of the target area, 13.9 million hectares have been established and managed by the Ministry of Forestry, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, and District/City Governments. However, in reality, the management of these MPAs is still not effective. One aspect of management that is currently under scrutiny is funding.
As a first step to discuss appropriate strategies in developing a sustainable funding mechanism for MPA management in Indonesia, WWF-Indonesia together with the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries held a workshop at Manhattan Hotel, South Jakarta, Thursday (17/03).

Also attending the workshop were Director of Conservation of Fish Areas and Species (KKJI), Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Agus Dermawan, Director of Marine and Fisheries, BAPPENAS Dr. Sri Yanti, Executive Director of WWF-Indonesia Dr. Efransjah, and Executive Director of Sumatra Sustainability Fund (SSF) Cici Mariati.

On that occasion, WWF-Indonesia's Sustainable Financing Coordinator Budi Wardhana shared experiences about WWF's strategy in developing sustainable financing both in WWF's own network and experience in Yayasan Dana Lestari Sumatera (trust fund initiated by WWF-Indonesia and other NGOs to support efforts to save the ecosystem of Sumatra island.
According to him, 60% of the sustainable funding models carried out by WWF are in the form of trust funds. Although, he believes that this mechanism is not the only option for sustainable funding.
"Trust fund that has been developed by WWF in a number of its network is a foothold for sustainable funding strategies through the management of various long-term funding sources or self-acquired funds from the region," he explained.

More than 50 Trust Funds that WWF has built around the world, he added, are key actors for conservation capacity building at the local, regional, and national levels. "The trust fund does not only act as a grant maker but also builds the capacity of grantees to be able to manage the grants both in the management of target setting activities and conservation strategies, financial management, how to make activity reports, material production, as well as public awareness efforts on the importance of conservation," Budi added. The workshop is expected to generate a new generation of trust fund grantees.
The workshop is expected to produce a road map for the establishment of a sustainable funding mechanism for MPA management in Indonesia and to kick-start the establishment of a working group responsible for implementing the agreed-upon document.