Maritime Local Government Network (LGN) and the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia (CMMA), organised a national workshop on the Governance of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) & Sustainable Marine Tourism in Indonesia, held on 30 September 2019 in Bandara International Hotel in Tangerang, West Java. The national event was supported by USAID and the US Department of the Interior, CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Coral Triangle Center and WWF Coral Triangle Program.

 Over 70 representatives from the national government, local government, local government agencies, international organizations, international development and cooperation agencies, CSO, universities, and other relevant institutions attended the one-day workshop. The event also had the active involvement and participation of local leaders such as the Vice Mayor of Ambon, Secretary of Raja Ampat Regency, Mayor of Baubau, Mayor of Kupang, Regent of Maluku Tenggara.  

The event discussed current challenges and shared emerging good practices in the effective management and governance of MPAs and sustainable marine tourism in Indonesia. The selected themes of the workshop were divided into three sessions: implementation of MPAs within CTI-CFF Areas in Indonesia; challenges and best practices in the management and implementation of MPAs in Indonesia; and development of sustainable marine tourism within MPAs.      

The event was also designed as a platform to share the current status of LGN as a legal entity in Indonesia and to encourage Indonesian local governments to join the network.