Indonesia is at the center of the world’s marine biodiversity, with 76% of the world’s coral reef species and 37% of the world’s coral reef fish species. This biodiversity is critical to the ability of Indonesia’s marine ecosystems to adapt to ecological changes from climate or human impacts. Biodiversity also provides a buffer for food security by facilitating adaptation to new target species and is recognized as a globally valuable resource for future marine pharmaceutical and industrial uses.
The Government of Indonesia has committed to conservation and ecosystem-based management of 20 million hectares of Indonesian waters through the establishment, development, and effective management of marine protected areas (MPAs) by 2020. By 2021, USAID SEA Project plans to support the development of more than 1 million hectares of new marine protected areas under effective management, policies that support marine conservation and a reduction in the destructive practices and other pressures on the marine ecosystem. The USAID SEA Project works in 10 districts within the three target provinces and supports 12 provincial-reserved MPA and 3 new proposed MPA as of March 2019.