Contribution of local governments to a national commitment of the Aichi Biodiversity Target 11: the case of West Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia

Abstract

As a mega-biodiversity country, Indonesia ratified the United Nations Convention of Biological Diversity in 1994, and by so doing, Indonesia is obliged to meet Aichi Biodiversity Target 11. The target states: ‘by 2020, at least 17 per cent of terrestrial and inland water areas and 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well-connected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, and integrated into the wider landscape and seascape’. Indonesia has been committed to set aside 20 million hectares of its coastal and marine waters for biodiversity conservation by 2020, en route to achieving the national target of at least 30 million hectares in the future. Here we demonstrate how the development and expansion of marine protected areas (MPAs) at the local level is crucial if the national government is to achieve the target. Using West Nusa Tenggara (WNT) Province as a case study, we describe the current achievements as well as plans for expanding marine conservation areas in the province by 2020. Despite challenges along the way, by 2016 the province managed to set aside 229,555.36 ha for biodiversity conservation thanks to the district governments’ efforts for establishing MPAs in their respective region. This figure covers approximately 7.87% of the province’s marine waters and contributed 1.25% to the national target of marine conservation areas in 2017. Intelligent preparation of the province’s coastal and small islands zoning plan will provide opportunities to allocate around 100,000 ha more to the WNT coastal and marine waters for conservation areas. With this addition, the total area is estimated to reach around 330,000 ha or approximately 10.29% of the province’s marine waters and would contribute 1.50% to the national target of marine conservation areas by 2020. The related challenges and opportunities for reaching this important target in WNT Province are discussed.