Strengthening the Protection of a Site: KBA Economic Empowerment Through Regulations and Coastal Communities, Indonesia

Lembaga Pengembangan Masyarakat Lembata (known as BARAKAT) is working in the villages surrounding Hadakewa Bay and Lewoleba Bay on the island of Lembaba in Nusa Tenggara Timur province. BARAKAT is institutionalizing customary law, practice, and leadership to create marine protected areas in the adjacent bays, which are home to dugongs, turtles, manta rays, napoleon fish, dolphin, and intact coral. The result will be over 1,000 hectares of sea formally protected by local communities but with formal recognition by district and provincial government.