Desta Pratama
PhD project title: Exploring the characteristics, impact, and governance of funding for marine protected areas in Indonesia
Supervisory team: Andries Richter (WUR), Machiel Lamers (WUR), Lisa Becking (WUR)
PhD Project Description: Indonesia is rapidly expanding its Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to safeguard biodiversity and support coastal livelihoods. However, establishing these areas is only the first step. Many sites struggle to achieve effective management because long-term, reliable funding remains limited.
My PhD research explores how marine conservation is funded in Indonesia and how financial decision-making influences conservation outcomes. Rather than focusing solely on the amount of funding available, I study how financial resources flow between governments, donors, NGOs, and local managers, and how different actors determine funding allocation.
By combining economic analysis, governance research, and practitioner engagement, the project examines why some MPAs function effectively while others face persistent financial challenges. The goal is to identify practical pathways for building financing systems that can sustain conservation efforts over time.
I am an environmental economist working at the intersection of conservation, policy, and finance. Through my work with Yayasan Strategi Konservasi Indonesia (Conservation Strategy Fund Indonesia), I have observed that protected areas often succeed on paper but struggle in practice, not due to a lack of ecological knowledge, but because sustainable financing systems are still evolving. This experience drives my research, which aims to bridge the gap between conservation ambition and long-term implementation.