Palu, Indonesia—A high-level dialogue held in Palu, Indonesia on 23 October 2025 convened key stakeholders to advance sustainable and integrated management approaches for coastal and marine protected areas (MPAs) in selected sites across Indonesia.
The event, titled “Sustainable and Integrated Management Approaches to Support ICM Planning and MPA Management in Selected Sites in Indonesia,” was organised through the ACB’s ASEAN ENMAPS Project (Effectively Managing Networks of Marine Protected Areas in Large Marine Ecosystems in the ASEAN Region), in collaboration with PEMSEA Resource Facility and with support from Pusat Kajian Sumberdaya Pesisir dan Laut.
The dialogue brought together representatives from the Tojo Una Una Regency, the Province of Central Sulawesi, the Ministry of Forestry, National Development Planning Agency, and management authorities from the Togean and Wakatobi National Parks.
Participants discussed pressing threats to Indonesia’s coastal ecosystems, including overfishing, illegal and destructive fishing practices, and pollution from domestic and industrial sources. These challenges are compounded by administrative and coordination gaps among local governments and protected area managers.
Stakeholders affirmed their commitment to inclusive, integrated, and locally empowered solutions—captured on the symbolic Commitment Wall.
Recognising the urgency of action, the dialogue emphasised the need to strengthen stakeholder capacities and foster a shared understanding of social and ecological connectivity. While each national park faces distinct management issues, national and provincial planning agencies have already outlined priority actions to address them. Initiatives like ASEAN ENMAPS are positioned to bridge remaining gaps and catalyze collaborative solutions.
The dialogue concluded with a call to position ASEAN ENMAPS as a strategic platform for inter-agency collaboration, while also engaging the private sector, tourism stakeholders, and local communities. Participants affirmed that sustainable development must begin with capacity-building efforts that empower local actors and align conservation goals with economic realities.
