In the collaborative effort to challenge the status quo and protect marine ecosystems, data-driven decision-making is crucial. Hence, data and information about coastal and marine resources are important as inputs for developing action plans and making decisions regarding the ecosystems of the Arafura and Timor Seas (ATS). On April 28-29, 2021, CTC, in partnership with the ATSEA-2 Regional Project Management Unit and Yayasan Konservasi Alam Indonesia (YKAN), led the training, A Database and Information management System for the  Arafura and Timor Seas. The training successfully trained 24 participants from four ATS countries, giving an introduction to a data and information management system for coastal and marine resources in ATS countries, how to operate the system, and how to maintain the system, in the process building capacity of government technical officers and other national stakeholders.

On the first day, all participants were exposed to several training materials about input data, georeferencing, digitization, updating data, and geoprocessing. The following day, the training participants further learned about map layout, downloading spatial data, participatory mapping, and  Kobo Toolbox. There were also exercise sessions during the two days’ workshop where participants were given time to put into practice the knowledge they acquired during the training. One of the participants from BPSPL Denpasar, Khazar Yakin Vamara, was very satisfied with the training, “The training had a complete package, not only focusing on the technical use of QGIS but also going to the survey level with Kobo Toolbox”. 

By conducting the database and information management system training, we hope it will further support all conservation stakeholders of the Arafura and Timor Seas region to create good data-driven policies that will help protection and conservation effort of the ATS.