Achieving seascape-scale conservation in the Bird’s Head Seascape of West Papua.
Sangeeta Mangubhai
Time: 1-2 pm
Venue: Marine Studies Lecture Theatre, Marine Campus
The Bird’s Head Seascape in eastern Indonesia is the global epicentre of tropical shallow water marine biodiversity, with over 600 species of corals and 1638 species of coral reef fishes. The Seascape possesses critical habitats for globally threatened marine species, including sea turtles and cetaceans. Since 2001, the region has undergone rapid development for fisheries, oil and gas extraction, mineral mining and logging. The expansion of these sectors, combined with illegal activities and poorly planned coastal development, is having an increasing impact on coastal and marine environments. The Nature Conservancy, Conservation International and WWF-Indonesia have been working with regency and provincial governments and local communities to apply an ecosystem-based approach to conserving and managing the Bird’s Head Seascape. With the support of NGOs, the government and local communities have declared and are managing a network of marine protected areas covering more than three million hectares of coastal and marine 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.
