Systematic marine conservation planning: towards a marine representative areas network in Nanggruh Aceh Darussalam, Indonesia

A turbulent history and geographic isolation have prevented systematic surveys of coral reef resources in the Indonesian province of Nanggruh Aceh Darussalam (NAD). Following the Indian Ocean Tsunami (IOT), ecological studies revealed that while most marine habitats where unaffected by the tsunami, many reefs were seriously degraded as a result of decades of destructive fishing and poor coastal development. The recovery of these degraded reefs following dramatic reductions in human activity as a result of the IOT is remarkable. Ironically, socio-economic recovery in NAD is re-introducing anthropogenic threats as fishing pressure and coastal development increase. Some conservation initiatives are in progress, however, these also pose a threat because they lack coordination and integration. A systematic marine conservation plan is required to allow natural recovery processes to continue and to protect marine resources from emerging threats. Here, we present a preliminary analysis using 'Systematic Conservation Planning' guidelines in which the conservation goal was to protect at least 30% of existing coastal ecosystems. Data for the analysis included ecological, socio-economic and reef resilience data collected from 64 sites within NAD. Spatial information for the analysis was derived from satellite imagery due to an extended coast line, habitat complexity and variation in accessibility to sites throughout the region. The optimal approach identified was the establishment of many small marine protected areas (MPA)as opposed to a few large areas. This work provides a solid basis for the establishment of a network of MPAs to achieve these conservation goals for the region and protect and enhance livelihoods