JAKARTA—Indonesia's Ministry of Forestry has entered into a partnership with global marine research organization OceanX to strengthen the management and protection of the country's marine national parks through science-based research and data collection, officials said on Wednesday.
Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni said the collaboration is intended to improve conservation management across seven marine national parks by expanding scientific baseline data, mapping underwater topography and conducting biodiversity inventories in support of government policy. The initiative follows President Prabowo Subianto's directive to reinforce conservation governance using scientific evidence, according to the ministry.
"Marine conservation management must be based on strong scientific data and research," Antoni said in a ministry statement. He added that the ministry was committed to improving the management of Indonesia's marine national parks while advancing efforts to restore marine ecosystems, including coral reefs.
The ministry oversees seven marine national parks with extensive coral reef ecosystems and marine biodiversity: Wakatobi, Thousand Islands, Takabonerate, Cenderawasih Bay, Togean, Karimunjawa and Bunaken. It also manages Komodo National Park, which includes both terrestrial and marine conservation areas.
Under the partnership, OceanX will help collect spatial and biodiversity data from the protected areas using scientific research missions. The ministry said all information generated through the collaboration will remain the property of the Indonesian government and will be used to support science-based policymaking and long-term conservation planning.
Vincent Pieribone, OceanX's chief executive officer and chief science officer, said the organization had already completed two research missions in Indonesia and is currently focusing on marine biodiversity studies in North Sulawesi. He said the new collaboration would expand scientific work supporting the protection of Indonesia's marine ecosystems.
OceanX is a nonprofit organization that conducts ocean exploration, scientific research and education through collaborations with governments, researchers and conservation partners worldwide. The organization has previously worked with Indonesian scientists and marine institutions on research and educational initiatives in the country's waters.
The ministry said the partnership is expected to strengthen the scientific foundation for managing Indonesia's marine protected areas as authorities continue efforts to improve conservation outcomes and protect the country's diverse marine ecosystems.
