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Addressing community needs or aspirations is critical for the success of marine protected areas (MPAs). However MPA design based on the results of systematic conservation planning tools alone does not fully represent important information on socioeconomic factors. This is because of the reliance of conservation planning tools on spatial data which is better suited to ecological rather than socioeconomic factors which are predominantly non-spatial. We present a case study from Raja Ampat in Indonesia, to demonstrate how we developed MPA zoning plans for six multiple use MPAs that encompass more than 1 million ha of the world's most diverse coral reef ecosystems. These were developed by combining analysis of ecological and spatial socioeconomic data using decision support tools (Marzone), and incorporation of non-spatial socioeconomic data from experts, stakeholders, and local communities. By explicitly including socioeconomic criteria and data into MPA zoning, the final zoning plans recognize community use and governance of resources, maximize equity and access to traditional fishing grounds, and better support long-term food security and livelihoods of local communities. These plans also met recommended guidelines for resilient MPA design and were supported by the community and MPA managers (i.e. Raja Ampat Regency and Indonesian National Government). This case study can act as a guide to other MPA managers and conservation practitioners to better incorporate socioeconomic considerations into MPA zoning plans and systematic marine conservation planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coral reefs in Indonesia are threatened by destructive fishing including the use of bombs and cyanide. Reefs in eastern Indonesia are particularly affected including reefs within 17 Islands Marine Recreation Park (MRP), Riung, Flores. Coral reef ecosystems that have been damaged can recover when the threat is stopped but the ability to recover will depend on several factors including status of herbivorous fish stocks, availability of suitable substrate for coral larval settlement, larval source, water quality and local oceanography. This research focuses on assessing the recovery potential of coral reefs 17 Islands MRP by assessing these factors at 12 sites including [i.e coral emergence, herbivore fish biomass and abundance, oceanographic factors]. This research showed that South Tiga Island has the highest recovery potential, due to the high population of herbivorous fish that will assist in opening a new substrate for the settlement coral larvae and limit the growth of algae. This site also has good conditions for coral growth indicated by the highest cover of live hard coral, high available substrate and sheltered position. Furthermore this research really important to know site potential for reef recover. Also improve management prioritization of reef sites based on reef resilience factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Seagrass beds are of exceptional economic, ecological and social value in the Coral Triangle. The large number of people who live close to the coast and rely directly on marine resources for food and income paradoxically increases the value of, but also the threats to, these ecosystems. A key strategy of the Coral Triangle Initiative is to protect shallow coastal ecosystems through the design and implementation of resilient networks of marine protected areas (MPAs). This strategy requires accurate spatial data on the distribution and extent of coastal habitats (coral reef, seagrass and mangrove) at scales which match conservation planning decisions. In the Coral Triangle, seagrass distribution maps are not readily available at ecoregional scales. The Lesser Sunda ecoregion, extending from Bali, Indonesia to Timor-Leste, is one of 11 ecoregions of the Coral Triangle and a high priority for conservation and sustainable management of marine resources. To support the design of a resilient MPA network for the Lesser Sunda ecoregion, a seagrass distribution map was generated based on Landsat imagery, literature review and groundtruth data. Seagrass beds were estimated to cover an area of 273 km2 at an overall accuracy of 78%. Use of the seagrass distribution map in the MPA design improved the habitat representation and connectivity – key criteria for resilient MPA design. The final MPA design included 80 km2 of seagrass beds, with more than half the beds adjacent to coral reefs and mangroves. This study demonstrates the effective use of Landsat imagery and remote sensing techniques to derive ecoregional scale seagrass maps supporting MPA network design. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Marine protected areas (MPAs) are often managed using several management zones, each of which allows different human-uses. Decision support tools can be applied to provide advice on potential zoning configurations. However, few studies used decision support tools to systematically determine good locations for different types of zones that accommodate multiple and often conflicting objectives. Previous studies have mostly used scores to integrate multiple objectives and identify different zoning configurations or explored priority areas for each zone separately. Neither of these approaches ensure that solutions meet both biodiversity and human-use objectives. Nor do they deal with the fact that in zoning plans the whole is not the same as the sum of the parts, the importance of a site depends on how the rest of the sites are managed. The aim of this study was to identify different zoning configurations for the Raja Ampat MPA network in Eastern Indonesia that address biodiversity, sustainable fisheries and community resource access objectives. Identifying zoning configurations is particularly difficult here given the importance of protecting high biodiversity reefs and other conservation values, and the high reliance of local communities on their marine resources. Potential areas for no-take zones were identified that have a small and equitable impact across the fishing grounds of different fishing communities whilst ensuring each community has access to a ‘sustainable fishing zone’. Access to fishing grounds for each community is complicated due to marine tenure restricting where individuals can fish and reliance on traditional types of fishing vessels that restrict long distance travel. This approach for zoning was compared to three others. The first focused on identifying areas only for the no-take zone, a traditional systematic planning approach, and the second on both zones without explicitly accounting for the issue of resource access for each community. The solutions unfairly impacted particular communities. Finally, it is demonstrated how a pre-existing zoning proposal, driven by negotiation can be integrated into systematic planning. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Bird’s Head Seascape located in eastern Indonesia is the global epicenter of tropical shallow water marine biodiversity with over 600 species of corals and 1,638 species of coral reef fishes. The Seascape also includes critical habitats for globally threatened marine species, including sea turtles and cetaceans. Since 2001, the region has undergone rapid development in fisheries, oil and gas extraction, mining and logging. The expansion of these sectors, combined with illegal activities and poorly planned coastal development, is accelerating deterioration of coastal and marine environments. At the same time, regency governments have expanded their marine protected area networks to cover 3,594,702ha of islands and coastal waters. Low population numbers, relatively healthy natural resources and a strong tenure system in eastern Indonesia provide an opportunity for government and local communities to collaboratively manage their resources sustainably to ensure long-term food security, while meeting their development aspirations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]