The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), in collaboration with the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) through the GEF-CFI Indonesia Project, held a Consignment Consultation on the Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) Mechanism in Bogor. The event was officially opened by the Director of Ecosystem Conservation, Muh. Firdaus Agung Kunto Kurniawan, Ph.D., and the Head of BRIN Center for Research on Industrial Economics, Services and Trade, Dr. Umi Muawanah. It was attended by 15 participants, consisting of 7 men and 8 women. (August 21–22, 2025)

Consignment Consultation on the Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) Mechanism in Bogor, August 22, 2025

In his remarks, Muh. Firdaus emphasized that conservation governance should not rely solely on knowledge but must also be supported by fair compensation mechanisms for ecosystem managers. He highlighted Government Regulation No. 46 of 2017 on Environmental Economic Instruments, particularly Articles 10–16 concerning environmental compensation or ecosystem service payments. “Communities utilizing ecosystem services are essentially accessing state assets. Therefore, the value of these assets and their compensation mechanisms must be calculated accurately so that benefits can be shared fairly,” he said.

Similarly, Dr. Umi Muawanah stressed that PES is a strategic instrument to strengthen multi-stakeholder collaboration among government, private sector, academia, and local communities. “PES is not only an economic instrument but also an integrative approach to strengthen conservation, improve community welfare, and ensure the sustainability of fishery resources,” she affirmed.

The Consignment Consultation on the PES Mechanism was attended by the Director of Ecosystem Conservation, Muh. Firdaus Agung Kunto Kurniawan, Ph.D., and the Head of BRIN Center for Research on Industrial Economics, Services and Trade, Dr. Umi Muawanah (August 22, 2025)

Responding to this, Dr. Adipati, Project Manager of GEF-CFI Indonesia, expressed his appreciation for BRIN and MMAF’s support in promoting PES implementation in Indonesia. According to him, this mechanism aligns with the project’s objectives, which focus on strengthening ecosystem-based fisheries governance and empowering coastal communities. “CFI Indonesia sees PES as a real opportunity to connect conservation with community welfare. With a clear service payment mechanism, communities are not only conservation actors but also direct beneficiaries of sustainable resource management,” he explained.

Discussions during the event also underlined that for PES to be effective, several prerequisites are needed, including a clear definition of ecosystem services, a credible monitoring system, fair benefit-sharing mechanisms, and cross-sector regulatory alignment. PES payments may take various forms, from conditional transfers, performance-based grants, to ecotourism levies. Incentives are not always monetary but may also include infrastructure and/or facilities support, such as environmentally friendly fishing gear, subsidized fuel for fishers, certification programs for tourism operators, and private sector partnerships through Blue CSR.

GEF-CFI Indonesia reaffirmed its role as a community-based blue economy innovation laboratory. Through the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM), gender mainstreaming, and strengthening fisher institutions, the project continues to promote best practices that support conservation while also increasing community income, enhancing social inclusion, and contributing significantly to national strategic programs as well as the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The PES consignment consultation in Bogor marked an important momentum to enhance understanding, align stakeholder perspectives, and formulate concrete steps toward implementing PES in conservation areas. With proper implementation, PES has the potential to become a key instrument to ensure that marine conservation governance in Indonesia is more effective, inclusive, and sustainable.