The Coral Triangle Center (CTC) recently joined the National Workshop on Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) Guidelines held at the Merlynn Park Hotel, Jakarta. Themed “National Workshop on Marine OECMs Guidelines in Indonesia: Definition of Criteria and Mapping of OECMs Potential Locations for Ecosystems and Aquatic Biota Conservation,” the workshop provides momentum for the Government of Indonesia and partners to level their views and perspectives on OECMs implementation in the country.

On March 27, 2024, CTC’s Senior Program Manager, Dr. Hesti Widodo, joined the National Workshop on OECMs Guidelines in Indonesia. Coordinated by Rare and YPL of the MPA and OECM Consortium, the workshop aims to determine the definition and criteria for OECMs for Indonesian marine areas as mechanisms for collecting data on potential OECM locations in Indonesia. Also present at the event were representatives from the NGOs Consortium working in the Indonesian marine and fisheries sector, such as WWF-Indonesia, Coral Triangle Center (CTC), RARE, Yayasan Pesisir Lestari (YPL), Yayasan Rekam Nusantara, and Yayasan Konservasi Indonesia. 

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework aims to conserve 30% of marine areas through MPA networks and Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) by 2030. Under this new global framework, there is increased emphasis on community-led conservation and recognition of marine conservation beyond MPAs—particularly of Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs)—as a crucial pathway to achieving new marine protection.

By 2023, Indonesia had reached 29.3 million hectares of marine conservation, equal to 7.3% of the 2030 Aichi marine conservation target. Also, in 2023, the Government of Indonesia (GoI) set an ambitious target to protect 30% of Indonesian waters by 2045—the 30×45 target. Following the new target, Indonesia’s conservation area will be expanded to 97.5 million hectares by 2045.

According to the Director General of Marine and Marine Spatial Management, Victor Gustaaf Manoppo, this additional target is a strategy to realize Indonesia’s blue economy policy and that OECMs can provide innovative and flexible solutions to expand the scope of marine conservation in Indonesia. 

The IUCN defines OECMs as “areas that are achieving the long-term and effective in-situ conservation of biodiversity outside of protected areas.” However, the concept of OECMs is still new in Indonesia; therefore, it is vital to ensure the formulation of definitions and criteria so that OECMs can be implemented well. 

“The development and implementation of conservation areas through OECMs is an opportunity for the government of Indonesia and partners working with MMAF to have a common understanding, views, and concrete actions for the implementation and use of OECMs in Indonesia,” said the Director of Conservation and Marine Biodiversity Firdaus Agung.

He further said that through working with partners MMAF hopes to develop definitions, criteria, and mapping of potential OECMs locations so that OECMs would serve as a sustainable concept complemented by a roadmap for its implementation.

Encouragingly, a recent study has identified more than 300 potential OECM sites in Indonesia. CTC and the NGO Consortium will continue to work collaboratively to advance coastal and marine conservation in Indonesia, including developing the legal framework and guidelines for OECMs in Indonesia.

Writers: Olivia Sope, Hesti Widodo
Photos: RARE