Strategies to Improve Management of Indonesia^s Blue Carbon Seagrass Habitats in Marine Protected Areas
Husen Rifai1*, Udhi E. Hernawan1, Firman Zulpikar1, Calvyn F.A. Sondakh2, Rohani Ambo-Rappe3, Nurul D.M. Sjafrie1, Andri Irawan6,7, Hadi Y. Dewanto4, Yusmiana P. Rahayu5,8, Jeverson Reenyan1, Muhammad Safaat11, La ode Alifatri1, Susi Rahmawati1, Amehr Hakim4, Andi Rusandi4, Wawan Kiswara9, Mintje Wawo10

1 Research Center for Oceanography, Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), Jl Pasir Putih 1, Ancol Timur, Jakarta Utara 14430, Indonesia
2 Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Sam Ratulangi University, Manado 95115, Indonesia
3 Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries, Hasanuddin University, Makassar 90245, Indonesia
4 Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of The Republic of Indonesia, Jl. Medan Merdeka Timur No. 16, Jakarta, Indonesia
5 Marine Research Center, Agency for Marine and Fisheries Research and Human Resources, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Jakarta 10110, Indonesia
6 Research Center for Deep Sea, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Jl. Y. Syaranamual, Ambon, Maluku, Indonesia
7 Environmental and Conservation Studies, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150
8 School of Biological Sciences and The UWA Ocean Institutes, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling highway, Crawley, Western Australia.
9 LAMINA, Indonesian Seagrass Foundation, Depok, Indonesia.
10 Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries, Pattimura University, Ambon, Indonesia.
11 Research Center for Chemistry, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Serpong, Jawa Barat, Indonesia

Abstract

Indonesia^s seagrass habitats play an important role in the fight against climate change since they store a significant portion of the world^s blue carbon. Despite progress in conservation efforts and increasing number of Indonesia^s marine protected areas (MPAs), these habitats are generally still under multitude of pressures leading to declining condition. Thus, there is a growing need to improve the conservation management of seagrass habitats, especially within MPAs in Indonesia. Here, we identify five challenges on managing seagrass meadows in Indonesia^s MPAs: (1) Achieving societal awareness on the importance of seagrasses in Indonesia^ MPAs- (2) Achieving fair recognition from the management authority of Indonesia^s MPAs- (3) Obtaining political initiatives related to laws and regulations on seagrass management- (4) Providing empirical data on seagrass habitats at national level repeated over time- and (5) Enhancing capacity to conduct community-based management of seagrasses. Then, we propose a series of solutions to solve these challenges. We believe that all stakeholders need to work collaboratively to secure the future of Indonesia^s seagrass habitats and maintain their capacity to deliver significant ecosystem services.

Keywords: Indonesia, seagrasses, MPAs, management, coastal ecosystemS, conservation

Topic: Natural Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation (International)