Speaker: Dr. Mahawan Karuniasa, Board of Advisor of the Indonesia Expert Network on Climate Change and Forestry and Board of Experts National Geographic Indonesia.

This fireside chat explores the untapped value of Indonesia’s ocean-based economy and why protecting marine ecosystems is essential not only for environmental conservation but also for long-term economic resilience. Dr. Mahawan Karuniasa discusses the need to recognize oceans as natural capital, integrate their value into economic systems and public policy, and strengthen collaboration across sectors to support biodiversity conservation and sustainable blue economic growth.

Key Takeaways:

• Indonesia’s ocean economy contributes far more to the national economy than conventional fisheries statistics suggest, highlighting the importance of viewing marine ecosystems as valuable natural capital.
• Healthy marine ecosystems—including mangroves, seagrass, and coral reefs—provide essential ecosystem services such as carbon storage, coastal protection, fisheries, tourism, and livelihoods that should be reflected in economic decision-making.
• Protecting marine ecosystems is more effective and cost-efficient than relying solely on restoration after environmental degradation has occurred.
• Current economic and policy systems remain largely land-focused, making it necessary to better integrate the value of oceans into development planning and governance.
• Biodiversity credit is emerging as a complementary market-based instrument alongside carbon credit to incentivize biodiversity conservation and help address the global biodiversity crisis.
• Indonesia’s exceptional marine biodiversity gives the country a unique opportunity to lead the development of sustainable blue economy initiatives and biodiversity-based financing.
• Environmental protection requires not only economic incentives and policies but also ethical values, cultural awareness, and public responsibility to encourage lasting behavioral change.
• Stronger, long-term collaboration among government, businesses, academia, media, and communities is essential to ensure consistent implementation of ocean conservation and biodiversity initiatives beyond changes in leadership.
• Protecting the ocean requires both an economic transformation and a societal transformation, recognizing that safeguarding marine ecosystems is fundamental to Indonesia’s future prosperity.