Indonesia is home to some of the most diverse ecosystems above and below sea level. Corruption and illegal poaching has damaged Indonesian authority’s reputation but changes in recent years are showing hope for the Indonesia’s archipelago and species are starting to comeback. Since 2012 the number of Marine Protected Area (MPA) violations has fallen 40 percent and since then more than 30 illegal fishing vessels have been captured (the most recent pictured above). Now the Indonesian government has set up a public service board that channels money from tourism back to conservation efforts—visitors to MPA zones will pay $100 fee for ecosystem services. The $100 fee is enough to nearly cover the costs of conservation efforts, a great idea for saving some of the most bio diverse areas on the planet.
Indonesia is winning the battle against sea poachers
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