Figure 1: Workshop participants gathered in Bogor for the “Update on Seagrass and Dugong Science in Indonesia” workshop. © YAPEKA
Figure 1: Workshop participants gathered in Bogor for the “Update on Seagrass and Dugong Science in Indonesia” workshop. © YAPEKAGovernment representatives, researchers and conservation organizations convened in Bogor, Indonesia, on 17 April 2026 to discuss Indonesia’s consideration of becoming a Signatory to the CMS Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Dugongs (Dugong dugon) and Their Habitats throughout Their Range (Dugong MOU), and how participation could strengthen national and regional cooperation for dugong and seagrass conservation.
The workshop was co-organized by the CMS Dugong MOU Secretariat in partnership with Yayasan Pemberdayaan Masyarakat dan Pendidikan Konservasi Alam (YAPEKA) – the Indonesian national partner for the IKI Seagrass Ecosystem Services (SES) Project. The project is supported by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the Federal Government of Germany. Within the Federal Government, IKI is anchored in the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN), with selected individual projects also under the responsibility of the Federal Foreign Office (AA).
Hosted by IPB University, the workshop brought together representatives from Indonesia’s Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF), IPB University, ATSEA-2, the Coral Triangle Center, IUCN Indonesia, Tamang Dugong, WWF-Indonesia and other national partners. Representatives of the CMS Dugong MOU Secretariat participated remotely due to ongoing regional conflict.
Indonesia, with more than 17,000 islands and extensive seagrass ecosystems, is one of the most significant range States for dugongs in the Indo-Pacific. At the same time, limited information on dugong populations and seagrass distribution across much of the archipelago presents considerable challenges for conservation planning.
The workshop also highlighted the growing importance of seagrass within Indonesia’s climate agenda. The country’s Second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) recognizes mangroves and seagrass meadows as important blue carbon ecosystems and commits to updating the national seagrass map. Data generated through the IKI SES Project is contributing to this effort by improving knowledge of seagrass distribution and supporting more effective monitoring and management.
A national framework for dugong conservation
Sarmintohadi, S.Pi., M.Si., Director of Aquatic Species and Genetic Resources Conservation at the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, presented Indonesia’s draft National Action Plan for Dugongs (2026–2029). The draft outlines five strategic priorities:
- strengthening scientific knowledge,
- improving protection of dugongs and their habitats,
- promoting the sustainable management of dugong and seagrass areas,
- increasing community participation, and;
- enhancing monitoring and law enforcement.
The Action Plan is intended to provide a coordinated framework for government agencies, research institutions, civil society organizations and local partners working towards shared conservation objectives. Sarmintohadi also highlighted Indonesia’s network of 127 designated conservation areas, 68 of which include management objectives related to dugongs and seagrass ecosystems.
Responsibility for national seagrass mapping has recently transitioned from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) to the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF), with all national seagrass mapping data now managed through the Ministry’s centralized data portal, Portal Data KKP. This transition is intended to strengthen coordination of seagrass mapping efforts and support implementation of Indonesia’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), where updated seagrass data underpins the country’s blue carbon commitments. Despite this progress, significant information gaps remain, with knowledge of dugong populations and seagrass habitats in many regions still relying largely on community observations and anecdotal records.
Advancing science through partnerships
YAPEKA Chief Executive Officer Akbar Ario Digdo presented emerging research approaches being implemented through the IKI SES Project, including drone-based aerial surveys in North Sulawesi and passive acoustic monitoring at dugong feeding grounds. These methods are now being expanded to additional research sites and partner organizations across Indonesia.
He emphasized that advanced technologies are most effective when supported by simple, cost-effective baseline surveys. Community-based tools, such as the CMS Dugong Catch and Bycatch Questionnaire, help identify priority areas before more intensive field surveys are undertaken.
Mikaela Clarissa, Founder of Tamang Dugong, shared experiences from community-led conservation initiatives on Pantar Island, Alor. These include the Jumpa Dugong digital sighting platform, a first-response guide for dugong strandings, and the Dugong Sails to School education programme, which now reaches seven primary schools.
Veda Santiaji of WWF-Indonesia highlighted the importance of building trust with coastal communities, noting that concerns about potential legal consequences have, in some areas, discouraged the reporting of dugong sightings.
Closing the technical discussions, Sarmintohadi described dugong conservation as “the conservation of a ghost species“, reflecting the species’ elusive nature and the scarcity of reliable data. He emphasized that conservation action should continue despite remaining knowledge gaps, noting that imperfect information should not delay efforts to protect the species and its habitat.
Figure 2: Partner representatives shared updates and discussed next steps for dugong and seagrass conservation in Indonesia. © YAPEKA
Figure 2: Partner representatives shared updates and discussed next steps for dugong and seagrass conservation in Indonesia. © YAPEKAOutcomes and next steps
Participants agreed on several priority actions to strengthen national coordination and conservation efforts. These included organizing a national symposium on dugong and seagrass science, formalizing Indonesia’s existing seagrass forum as a regular coordination platform, establishing a Rapid Response Team for stranded dugongs, and expanding community-based reporting initiatives, such as Jumpa Dugong, into a nationally coordinated citizen science protocol.
Participants also discussed opportunities to strengthen links between dugong and seagrass conservation and blue carbon financing, particularly in support of Indonesia’s Second NDC and ongoing investments in national seagrass mapping and ecosystem monitoring.
Reflecting on the workshop, Abie Ariyo Dandoro, Project Manager of the IKI SES Project at YAPEKA, said:
“The National Dugong Action Plan provides a shared framework that enables government agencies, researchers and conservation organizations to align their efforts and identify where they can contribute. Dugong conservation is not only a national responsibility – it also depends on regional collaboration.”
Strengthening regional cooperation through the Dugong MOU
The workshop also explored the role the CMS Dugong MOU could play should Indonesia become a Signatory. The Dugong MOU provides a platform for governments to strengthen technical cooperation, exchange knowledge and best practices, share monitoring tools and coordinate conservation action across the dugong’s range.
For Indonesia, where dugongs rely on extensive but unevenly mapped seagrass habitats and conservation requires collaboration across government agencies, researchers, local communities and partner organizations, becoming a Signatory would further strengthen opportunities to implement the National Action Plan through regional partnerships and shared expertise.
Reflecting on the discussions, Abdelmenam Mohamed, Programme Management Officer of the CMS Dugong MOU Secretariat, said: