The Bird's Head Seascape Marine Protected Area network—Preventing biodiversity and ecosystem service loss amidst rapid change in Papua, Indonesia

Abstract

The Bird's Head Seascape (BHS), Papua, Indonesia is located within the epicenter of global marine biodiversity and has been the focus of recent conservation efforts to protect marine resources. Here, we provide an overview of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) progress in the BHS over the past decade, including establishment history, changes in management effectiveness and ecosystem health, as well as examining trends in tourism growth. While generally viewed as a conservation success story, we reflect on both successes and challenges in the BHS, identifying where we need to continue to improve and adapt in response to rapid economic and environmental change. As of 2020, BHS MPAs cover 5.1 million ha across 23 MPAs. As expected, management effectiveness is steadily increasing in BHS MPAs-although newer MPAs face Purwanto and Dominic A. Andradi-Brown should be considered joint first authors.

Residency, movement patterns, behavior and demographics of reef manta rays in Komodo National Park

“…However, it is essential to consider that mass gatherings of manta rays may coincide with crucial feeding, cleaning, social or reproductive events, where minimal disturbance to natural behavior is necessary ( Armstrong et al, 2016 ; Germanov et al, 2019a ; Stevens, 2016 ; Weeks et al, 2015 ). The pre-pandemic rapid increase in marine tourism at manta ray sites in Indonesia (present study; Germanov et al, 2019a ; Purwanto et al, 2021 ), and a greater than five-fold increase in general tourist numbers from 30,000 in 1996 ( Pet & Yeager, 2000 ) to >175,000 in 2018 (Komodo National Park Office, 2018), doubling from 2014 (80,626) to 2018 (171,830), underscores the need for effective tourism management to avoid potential negative impacts on manta rays ( i.e ., reviewed by Stewart et al, 2018a ; Trave et al, 2017 ; Tyne, Loneragan & Bejder, 2014 ). Further, overcrowding of tourist vessels, viewers and divers can reduce the quality of the experience and tourist satisfaction ( Mustika, Ichsan & Booth, 2020 ; Ziegler, Dearden & Rollins, 2012 ).…”

Participation, not penalties: Community involvement and equitable governance contribute to more effective multiuse protected areas

“…At our study sites, the comanagement of MPAs is primarily “consultative” or “instrumental” ( 38 , 39 ), wherein authorities may consult with local user groups during and after MPA implementation, but management authority ultimately lies solely with the government. Nevertheless, traditional fishing and other activities are permitted within MPA zoning regulations, and customary ( adat ) laws have been recognized by some national-level fisheries legislation ( 31 , 40 ). Hence, community-level management rights may provide an indicator of local-scale decision-making despite a lack of formal management authority.…”

“…Although these MPAs are controlled by national or provincial governments, various site-specific agreements have incorporated customary management into zoning and governance arrangements, allowing us to assess the importance of site-level “comanagement” through indicators of community-level marine property rights. Study sites were located in the Bird’s Head Seascape of eastern Indonesia, a region containing the world’s greatest diversity of corals and reef fishes ( 27 ), heavy reliance on marine fisheries ( 28 ), and a long history of stewardship by IPLCs under customary management ( 29 – 31 ).…”

The importance of biophysical context in understanding marine protected area outcomes for coral reef fish populations

“…Approximately two-thirds of the population relies on marine fisheries as a primary protein source, and a quarter cites marine fisheries as a primary occupation, with gleaning, hand-lines, and spear guns being the predominant fishing techniques (Ahmadia et al 2017), although commercial trawlers also fish in the region (Mangubhai et al 2012). These factors have made Raja Ampat a worldwide conservation priority, resulting in the establishment of a network of large, multiuse MPAs through collaborative efforts between local governments, communities, and nongovernmental organizations Lazuardi et al 2020 (Mangubhai et al 2012;Ford et al 2020;Purwanto et al 2021). At this point, formal recognition and consistent enforcement of fishing regulations by local communities began, we therefore consider surveys conducted at or before 2012 to be ''baseline'' surveys.…”