Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelagic state, with over 17,000 islands, comprise an abundance of marine diversity, Indonesia shows significant natural resource potential. Marine ecosystems in Indonesia serve important functions as habitats, feeding, nesting, and spawning grounds. About 55 percent of existing fisheries production comes from coastal areas, particularly from seagrass beds, mangroves, coral reefs, lagoons, and estuaries. Based on more than 2,000 fish species and 500 coral species, Indonesia is called as the Coral Triangle Center.

Unfortunately, environmentally destructive fishing practices, improper waste disposal, sand mining, and other damaging human activities have threatened the sustainability of ecosystem resources, specifically coastal and marine ecosystems.

Against this backdrop, Indonesia has committed to effectively conserve 20,000,000 hectares of marine and coastal resources by 2020. This target is combined with other program such as the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs.

Indonesia believes that conserving its marine area will provide benefits not only for nature but also for the people if they can be managed effectively. Furthermore, it should also be underlined that the key to reach the target is that to have highly qualified, competent, and motivated people managing the Marine Conservation Area.