List of Publications
Capriati, A., Widodo, H., van de Leemput, I.A., Hakim, A., Timotius, S., Suardana, I.N., Zainuri, M., Saputra, S.W., Anggoro, S. and Becking, L.E., 2026. Beyond numbers: Assessing staff capacity and competence in the management of Indonesian marine protected areas. Marine Policy, 183, p.106885.
Abstract:
Indonesia, recognized as a global marine biodiversity hotspot, has rapidly expanded its Marine Protected Area (MPA) network. However, management effectiveness continues to face challenges, partly due to limited staff capacity. This study presents the first evaluation of staff capacity in Indonesian MPAs, examining organizational structures, role clarity, required competencies, and staffing adequacy across 36 priority MPAs. Using document reviews, questionnaires, and focus group discussions, we found overlapping roles, broad job descriptions, and a mismatch between existing competencies and operational needs. Over two-thirds of the MPAs fell below the baseline of eight staff, and only three MPAs met the recommended staffing level of twenty staff to allow effective operations. Surprisingly, staff numbers were not correlated with MPA size and ecological characteristics (coverage of coral, seagrass, and mangrove), though they were positively associated with cumulative human pressure. Our analysis identified 20 role-specific competencies, four of which are not covered by the national certification scheme. Recognizing that each MPA has unique ecological characteristics, socioeconomic contexts, and management complexities makes staffing targets difficult to apply uniformly. Nevertheless, our proposed benchmarks offer a pragmatic reference to support planning and resource allocation when adapted to site-specific needs. Our results underscore the need for a structured, competency-based staffing strategy tailored to local contexts. We recommend establishing clear roles and job descriptions, aligning competencies with management needs, while also fostering partnerships with NGOs and local governments. These findings support Indonesian MPA planning and offer a scalable model for achieving SDG 14 and the ’30 by 30′ commitment globally.
Capriati, A., van de Leemput, I.A., Kunz, Y., Razak, T.B., Djohani, R., Widodo, H., Susanto, H.A., Widiastutik, R. and Becking, L.E., 2025. Managing Indonesian coral reefs: Integration of stressors in Marine Protected Area (MPA) management plans. Environmental Challenges, 20, p.101178.
Abstract:
Indonesia is recognized as a biodiversity hotspot within the Coral Triangle and is rapidly expanding its network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). MPAs are critical tools for conserving coral reefs, and MPA management plans serve as the foundational guidelines for conservation. Their effectiveness depends partly on how adequately coral reefs’ stressors are addressed and integrated into actionable mitigation strategies. This study assessed the inclusion of stressors in current government-issued Indonesian MPA management plans. We analyzed the inclusion of stressor words within the comprehensive management plans and reviewed the action plan. By 2022, only 20% of Indonesian MPAs had comprehensive management plans, comprising an introduction, zoning plan, and action plan. We found that most plans address stressors related to fishing. In contrast, less than one-third of the plans address land-based stressors, with nutrient pollution and plastic waste largely overlooked. While climate change was identified in about half of the plans, specific climate change impacts, such as rising sea surface temperature, were identified in only very few plans. Most management plans were broad, non-specific, and highly similar across locations, with stressors identified in the introduction rarely integrated into zoning and action plan sections, which may limit site-specific conservation efforts. Nevertheless, some plans showed a more targeted approach by addressing local stressors and proposing actionable responses. This study highlights the need for more site-specific and adaptive MPA plans. It offers a checklist to assess stressors in future Indonesian MPA management plan development, guiding increased responsiveness to evolving environmental challenges.
Faizal, I. , Horstman, E. M., Vermeulen, B., Kujawa-Roeleveld, K. , Ranasinghe, R. , & Wijnberg, K. M. (2023). Biophysical Controls on Pollution Flows in Coral Reef MPAs. Abstract from NCK-days 2023, Delft, Netherlands. https://www.nck-web.org/boa-2023/668-biophysical-controls-on-pollution-flows-in-coral-reef-mpas
Abstract:
Coral reef ecosystems along tropical and temperate coastlines provide essential ecosystem services such as coastal protection, fisheries production, blue carbon capture, pollutant removal, and detoxification. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are commonly used as management tools to promote the sustainable use of these ecosystems. The increase of tourism in coral reef MPAs is responsible for environmental decline due to the impacts of human activities, such as increased influxes of nutrients and sediments (Kurniawan et al., 2016). Local hydrodynamics determine the transport of pollutants from the coast to the coral reefs. However, there currently is a lack of understanding on the role of local hydrodynamics on such pollution flows, impeding the development of local pollution models to directly estimate the transport and delivery of tourism related pollutants around small islands and surrounding coral reefs. We plan to investigate the local biophysical dynamics at the land-sea interface in coral reef MPAs and their impacts on the transport and dispersion of pollution related to tourism.