Establishment of Conservation Areas in the Waters off Kolepom Island, South Papua, Indonesia
Client:
Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) of Indonesia
Location:
South Papua, Indonesia
Dates:
November 2021 – May 2023
Background:
Kolepom Island, located off the west coast of South Papua Province, is a biologically rich area with pristine mangrove cover and river mouths that serve as nursery grounds for fish and shrimp that support the livelihoods of local communities. Protecting such areas has been a priority for the Government of Indonesia. In 2022, Hatfield Indonesia collaborated with the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) to establish a 356,338-hectare Conservation Area around Kolepom Island. This work was funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the Arafura and Timor Seas Regional and National Strategic Action Programs – 2 (ATSEA-2).
The Kolepom Island Conservation Area contributes to Indonesia’s international commitments, including Aichi Target 11, the Kunming-Montreal COP 15 Global Biodiversity Framework, and Sustainable Development Goal 14. These commitments aim to establish 32.5 million hectares of marine conservation areas by 2030, representing approximately 10% of Indonesia’s territorial sea waters. By 2021, 28.4 million hectares across 201 locations had been designated as marine conservation areas, with Kolepom Island being particularly significant for biodiversity and the ecosystem services it provides to local communities.
Services Provided:
Hatfield Indonesia’s marine biology and conservation experts supported the working group (POKJA) in preparing zoning plans for the Kolepom Island Conservation Area. The team facilitated collaboration between the UNDP ATSEA-2 program, the Directorate of Marine Biodiversity Conservation, the Marine and Fisheries Service of Papua Province, and the POKJA throughout the process of identifying and establishing the conservation area.
Key services included:
- Providing technical guidance.
- Conducting data collection on biological, ecological, social, economic, and cultural conditions in the proposed conservation area.
- Facilitating technical coordination meetings on zoning determination.
- Supporting POKJA field activities.
- Evaluating zoning plan documents.
The outcomes and lessons learned from this work now serve as reference material for identifying and establishing conservation areas in other parts of Indonesia, particularly in locations with similar environmental and cultural characteristics as Kolepom Island.
