Ecological monitoring is an extremely important and fundamental part of effective management in Raja Ampat’s Marine Protected Areas.  In a sensitive and diverse environment like Raja Ampat, which is experiencing a period of unprecedented change, it is critical that indicators of ecosystem health are recorded, interpreted and used to make well informed management decisions.

Monitoring ecosystems involves measuring physical, chemical and biological variables over time and space, in order to provide information on ecosystem change. And whilst there are both short-term and long-term indicators of ecosystem health, in general ecosystems require long-term and repeated monitoring because they are complex and sensitive, and because they change slowly.

In collaboration with stakeholders including scientists, universities, government and NGOs, the Raja Ampat Marine Park Authority conducts a variety of ongoing ecological monitoring efforts including:

• Monitoring of coral and other benthic communities
• Monitoring specific fish species whose populations and spawning activities can be used to assess reef health
• Monitoring marine resources such as how fishermen in Raja Ampat utilize their resources (what fishing methods are used, when, where and by whom)
• Monitoring tourism pressure and activities throughout the MPA network

Due to its unique contribution to science and practice, monitoring is an integral aspect of the Marine Park Authority’s ecological research, management and policy. All information obtained via monitoring is interpreted to determine the effectiveness of MPA management in protecting biodiversity, and applied to the development of effective planning and management.

It is only through such careful monitoring and observation that we can evaluate the reef health in Raja Ampat, identify long term trends, improve knowledge and understanding and ultimately make scientifically based management decisions.