The 10th Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Technical Regional Exchange (REX) and MPA Technical Working Group Meeting, held at the CTI Center in Manado from October 7-10, 2024, was a significant event organized by the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security (CTI-CFF). The event brought together MPA focal points from the six Coral Triangle countries, along with key strategic partners, including the Coral Triangle Center (CTC), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), GIZ, WWF and Konservasi Indonesia. The goal was to strengthen efforts in managing MPAs, a cornerstone of CTI-CFF’s broader strategy to protect marine biodiversity, support sustainable livelihoods, and enhance coral reef resilience across the region.

During the four-day event, participants discussed vital topics such as the effectiveness of MPA management, financing, data management, and the adoption of IUCN Green List standards. A key focus was the global 30×30 target, which aims to protect 30% of marine areas by 2030, and the establishment of a robust framework for MPA management through the Coral Triangle Marine Protected Areas System (CTMPAS). During the event, the IUCN Green List was also introduced to the CTI-CFF member countries.  The IUCN Green List is a global standard for the effective conservation of protected areas, recognizing those that meet high criteria for biodiversity conservation, governance, and management. It aims to highlight and encourage best practices in conservation, promoting areas that deliver positive ecological, social, and economic outcomes.

The Coral Triangle Center (CTC) played a key role throughout the event. Rili Djohani, CTC’s Executive Director, Nyoman Suardana, the GIS and Knowledge Management Lead, and Evi Nurul Ihsan, Nusa Penida Project Leader, contributed their expertise and knowledge. Their insights, drawn from CTC’s ongoing work, were crucial in advancing discussions on capacity-building and data management for effective MPA governance. Their leadership in projects like the Nusa Penida MPA has helped to drive forward CTI-CFF’s regional plan of action goals.

One of the highlights of the event was a field trip to Bunaken National Park, which provided participants an opportunity to observe first-hand the effective management of one of the region’s key marine protected areas. The final day focused on setting the 2025 work plan and aligning strategies with the Regional Plan of Action 2.0. This meeting reinforced the Coral Triangle countries’ collective commitment to marine conservation, fostering regional collaboration and sharing best practices for MPA management.