Indonesia has 8 Types of Marine Conservation Areas; This is the Largest

Marine conservation areas are protected waters managed using a zoning system, aiming to maintain sustainability and the sustainable utilization of natural resources.

According to the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), Indonesia has eight types of marine conservation areas.

Each type differs in its focus on conservation activities, zoning system regulations, management system, and institutional authority.

Some are managed under the authority of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK), the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), or local governments at the provincial and district levels.

In terms of area, Coastal Marine Conservation Areas (KKPD) have the largest total area, namely 13.95 million hectares in 2020.

Next is the National Marine Park (TNL) with an area of 3.97 million hectares, followed by the National Marine Park (TNP) at 3.35 million hectares, and the Marine Tourism Park (TWP) at 1.54 million hectares.

The other four types of areas, namely Marine Nature Tourism Parks (TWA), Marine Wildlife Sanctuaries, Marine Nature Reserves, and Marine Wildlife Reserves, each have a total area of less than 500,000 hectares.

In total, the area of all types of marine conservation areas in Indonesia reached approximately 23.8 million hectares in 2020.

Continuous Expansion until 2030

According to a KKP report, the area of marine conservation areas increased to a total of 28 million hectares in 2021. However, detailed data is not yet recorded in the BPS system.

"KKP is also developing a target plan to expand conservation areas to 30% of the total water area," said Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono in a press release on Saturday (9/4/2022).

Trenggono stated that the area will continue to be expanded annually, with a target of reaching a total of 32.5 million hectares by 2030.

"This step is related to the implementation of the 'blue economy' program, one of which is through the expansion of conservation areas," said Trenggono.

The establishment of marine conservation areas is one strategy for mitigating climate change, as marine ecosystems can absorb carbon dioxide.

Marine ecosystems such as mangroves, seagrass beds, and seaweed are reported to be 10 times more effective at absorbing carbon dioxide than taiga, subtropical, or tropical forests.

(See also: [Area of Marine Conservation Areas Increased by 39.4% Since 2015](https://databoks.katadata.co.id/datapublish/2021/12/20/luas-konservasi-perairan-laut-meningkat-394-sejak-2015))