DILI, 09 november 2023 (TATOLI) – The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry (MALFF), in collaboration with Conservation International Timor-Leste, organized a national workshop on wednesday on strengthening climate change resilience and adaptation of coastal communities through the promotion of effective management of the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
At the workshop, authorities discussed the importance of strengthening the management capacity of Marine Protected Areas in the northwest of Timor-Leste, including a MPA in Vatuvou village, in the Municipality of Liquiça, and three MPAs in Sanarin, Batugade, and Aidabaleten, in the Municipality of Bobonaro.
These four MPAs project was launched in 2021 with the aim of protecting the marine ecosystem, and marine life and ensuring sustainable fishing livelihoods of the local communities.
MALFF Director General, Celestinho da Cunha said that the launching of the new MPAs will help to protect habitats and marine life and can assist in restoring the productivity of the oceans and avoid further degradation, saying these MPAs can be the site for scientific study and can generate income through tourism and sustainable fishing for the local communities.
In addition, the MPAs are also important for the future because they can protect depleted, threatened, rare, and endangered species and populations.
Cunha said that Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and MPA networks can provide incredible ecological benefits to the marine ecosystems of these areas and beyond.
“These MPAs would help to bolster local communities’ resilience and adaptation. They will contribute to bolstering climate resilience in these coastal communities, supporting communities’ livelihood systems, and improving fisheries management to ensure sustainable fishing,’’ Cunha said.
He said that the MPAs will also contribute to safeguarding the region rich in biodiversity, boosting local economies, and strengthening resilience and adaption against the adverse impact of climate change.
Manuel Mendes, CITL Country Director said that the four designated MPAs located in the transboundary areas between Timor-Leste and Indonesia.”
The implementation of the MPA project was funded by the government of New Zealand through its Embassy in Dili.
In addition, five marine protected areas have also been designated before, including Com, Tutuala, Lore, Maubara, and Vila-Maumeta in Ataúro.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
