Indonesia proposes 24 million hectares of new marine protected areas

Indonesia is proposing the establishment of two massive Large-Scale Marine Protected Areas (LSMPAs) covering approximately 24 million hectares. The first, located in the Banda Sea, spans 11.3 million hectares and is vital for deep-sea biodiversity and the livelihoods of over 163,000 fishers. The second, off the west coast of Sumatra, covers 12.9 million hectares and aims to address the overharvesting of key commercial fish species.

These proposals align with the “Visi 30x45” strategy, part of the Indonesia Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (IBSAP) 2025-2045, which aims to protect 30% of the nation's land and water by 2045. However, these conservation efforts face significant pressure from the rapid expansion of the nickel mining industry. As of 2025, nickel mining concessions cover over 1 million hectares across Sulawesi, Maluku, and Papua, creating a tension between global energy transition demands and national biodiversity goals.