Collaborative Management for Buano MPA and Neighbouring Villages in West Seram Maluku

Yayasan Nusa Bahari Lestari (Sahari), Coral Triangle Center (CTC), and Yayasan Kiranis have built a collaborative management framework for the Buano Island Marine Protected Area (MPA), Soleh Village, and Waesala Village in West Seram, Maluku. The initiative forms part of the Tropical Forest and Coral Reefs Conservation Act (TFCCA) program, which aims to strengthen management of the Buano Island MPA and support sustainable marine resource governance through multi-stakeholder collaboration.

From May to June 2026, the partners ran a series of meetings and consultations with the Buano Island MPA Management Unit, the Maluku Province Marine and Fisheries Agency, sub-district and village governments, law enforcement agencies, community surveillance group (Pokmaswas), community groups, community representatives, and NGOs. Building on earlier discussions, these sessions developed a shared collaboration mechanism for stakeholders who manage marine resources within the Buano Island MPA, Soleh, and Waesala seascape.

One of the main activities in the process was a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and workshop held on June 2 and 3, 2026, in Waesala Village. The event brought together 25 participants from the Buano Island MPA Manager, sub-district and village governments, Pokmaswas, and law enforcement agencies. Together, they reviewed and refined the proposed framework while identifying practical mechanisms to strengthen coordination and joint action.

Stakeholders set focus on two priority areas: marine resource surveillance and coral reef monitoring. They emphasized that tighter coordination among government agencies, local communities, and NGOs would improve monitoring and support the long-term sustainability of marine resources in the area.

The workshop also produced a set of recommendations to strengthen the framework, including expanding participation to additional resource-user communities, identifying sustainable funding opportunities, increasing public awareness on collaborative management, strengthening partnerships to address destructive fishing practices, and improving legal protection for community members involved in surveillance and reporting activities.

These recommendations ground the framework in local realities and set it up for effective implementation in the field. The agreed mechanism will be implemented through the establishment of a Collaborative Management Network Group (Jejaring Kelompok Pengelolaan Kolaboratif), uniting community representatives and other committed stakeholders around the management of the Buano Island MPA, Soleh Village, and Waesala Village.

Writers: Megan Alexis, Kasman
Photos: Yayasan Nusa Bahari Lestari (Sahari), Marthen Welly/CTC