Indonesia Partners with OceanX to Enhance Marine Park Protection

Indonesia is joining forces with the international research organization OceanX to bolster the conservation and management of its vital marine national parks. This strategic partnership aims to leverage scientific data and research to enhance protection efforts across seven key marine protected areas.

The collaboration aligns with President Prabowo Subianto's directive to improve conservation management through robust scientific data. Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni emphasized that marine conservation must be grounded in solid research. His ministry is committed to improving park management, expanding baseline data, mapping underwater topography, and conducting biodiversity inventories.

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Marine conservation management must be based on strong scientific data and research. The Ministry of Forestry is fully committed to improving the management of Indonesia's marine national parks, including expanding baseline data, mapping underwater topography, and conducting biodiversity inventories.

Indonesia's marine national parks are renowned for their rich ecosystems and high biodiversity. The seven parks included in this initiative are Wakatobi, Thousand Islands, Takabonerate, Cenderawasih Bay, Togean, Karimunjawa, and Bunaken. The ministry also oversees Komodo National Park, which includes both terrestrial and marine conservation zones.

OceanX will play a crucial role by assisting in the collection of spatial and biodiversity data within these conservation areas. All data generated through this collaboration will be owned by the Ministry of Forestry, serving as a foundational resource for evidence-based policymaking. OceanX has already conducted two research missions in Indonesia and is currently focused on marine biodiversity research in North Sulawesi. The ministry is also actively pursuing marine ecosystem restoration, including coral reef rehabilitation.

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We are the Ministry of Forestry, but our authority also covers marine areas, such as Komodo, Wakatobi, Thousand Islands, Cenderawasih Bay, and Togean national parks; seven marine parks in total. We are open to collaboration.