Enticing local communities to become active members of the conservation effort has been key to its success. ‘The parks employ locals to survey and protect the areas. They preserve local indigenous knowledge, values and traditional practices such as “Sasi,” which refers to the age-old local tradition of sequestering areas to allow ecosystems to recover. “You’ve got to start with communities and ensure your solutions suit their needs. The goal is to support their self-determined commitments to protect their place, so the solution is sustainable and benefits local people and biodiversity,” says Irmadhiany. Their efforts are paying off. Earlier this year, the Raja Ampat Marine Parks Network which includes to protected areas spanning more than two million hectares was issued the Blue Parks Award. Organized by Marine Conservation International and endorsed by the United Nations, the annual award recognizes marine parks around the world for meeting the highest science-based standards for conservation effectiveness.