Acceleration of the Zoning Review for the Raja Ampat Islands Conservation Area to Safeguard Ecosystems and Community Welfare

The Provincial Government of Southwest Papua, supported by development partners including Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN), is currently accelerating the review of the zoning plan for marine conservation areas in the Raja Ampat Islands.

This initiative is a crucial step in ensuring the optimal protection of marine biodiversity, in line with evolving socio-economic conditions and the best available scientific knowledge.

Absalom Solossa, Head of the Southwest Papua Provincial Marine and Fisheries Office, emphasized that this effort is part of a sustainable governance process.

“This zoning review is a strategic step to ensure that conservation areas continue to provide optimal protection for biodiversity, while also addressing the growing needs of the community. We aim to ensure that the zones within the conservation area align with local communities’ needs so that their livelihoods remain sustainable,” he explained.

Since the issuance of the Minister of Marine and Fisheries Regulation No. 31 of 2020 on Conservation Area Management, the Raja Ampat Marine Conservation Area has consistently maintained its independent management status.

Given the ecosystem’s vital role in the local economy and operations, a zoning review is now necessary to strike a balance between biodiversity protection and the increasing intensity of tourism and fisheries activities.

The zoning review is not only aimed at strengthening ecosystem protection but also at ensuring that space utilization remains within environmental carrying capacities and respects traditional practices of indigenous communities, such as sasi.

“Through this review process, we are clarifying zoning boundaries, improving monitoring, and ensuring that high-conservation-value areas like core zones remain protected. This also opens opportunities for stronger community-based management,” said Hasan Makasar, Head of the Raja Ampat Marine Conservation Area Management Unit.

As part of the process, a pre-design zoning workshop was held on 27 March 2026 in Sorong, involving various stakeholders, including national and regional governments, academics, indigenous communities, and conservation partners.

The workshop produced initial agreements on conservation targets, biophysical and socio-cultural criteria, as well as the objectives and goals for area development.

Following this, a series of field data collection activities is being conducted from late March to mid-May 2026. This includes monitoring coral reef conditions using the manta tow method and participatory mapping to document space usage patterns and current resource utilization by local communities. The data will serve as a scientific basis for reviewing and designing a more accurate and updated zoning system. The field data collection involves collaboration between the Southwest Papua Marine and Fisheries Office, Raja Ampat Marine Conservation Management Unit, Kupang Marine Management Agency, and YKAN.

YKAN, as a development partner, also supports the process through science-based and participatory approaches. Yusuf Fajariyanto, YKAN’s Senior Marine Protection Manager, stated that the zoning review is an important momentum to strengthen the effective management of the Raja Ampat Conservation Area by evaluating the performance of the previous zoning system and its alignment with current regulations.

“We support the local government to ensure that conservation area zoning is developed based on scientific data and local knowledge. This review is vital to keep Raja Ampat as a global marine biodiversity hotspot while ensuring that economic benefits continue to be felt by the community,” he said.

Raja Ampat, a part of the Coral Triangle, is facing increasing pressure on its resources. Therefore, re-zoning is essential to manage activities such as developing marine tourism facilities, capturing fisheries, and protecting ecologically valuable areas.

Through this review process, the Raja Ampat Conservation Area zoning plan is expected to become more adaptive and data-driven, capable of addressing present and future challenges while preserving the marine heritage for generations to come.