Conservation International - Program in Focus: Timor-Leste

TIMOR-LESTE As Timor-Leste emerges from the shadow of war, it faces major humanitarian, development and environmental challenges. However as one of the world’s youngest nations, blessed with magnificent biodiversity and vast natural resources, it is also in a unique position to forge an innovative, sustainable development pathway to benefit its people and nature.

Established in-country in 2010, Conservation International (CI) is the only International NGO to work on conservation and environmental issues in the country. To improve local food security, fight climate change and enhance livelihoods for Timor-Leste’s 1.2 million people, we work directly with governments and local communities to research, implement and improve the management of protected areas on land and at sea, through national parks and no-take zones.

Program in Focus

TIMOR-LESTE

CI recognizes that the communities through their traditional ways, are inextricably linked with the land and sea. We are working with the government to support this traditional knowledge through the establishment of a holistic protected area network management plan, which will address land-based threats to marine ecosystems and improve land management practices.

© UN PHOTO/MARTINE PERRET

Situated in the heart of the Coral Triangle, the global epicenter of marine biodiversity, Timor-Leste’s waters host some 400 reef-building coral species–comparable to that of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. With expansive healthy reefs, beautiful forests, and over twenty whale and dolphin species, its coastal communities hold great potential for ecotourism–one of the most viable options for sustainable economic development.

Establishing and managing protected areas CI has worked to improve the management of over 123,000 hectares of land and sea in the Nino Konis Santana National Park–renowned for its marine biodiversity. In 2012, CI helped establish the country’s first five no-take zones in the park spanning 207 square kilometers. These no-take zones encompass important marine habitats to maximize climate resilience, allow fish populations to recover, and protect potential dive and snorkel sites for tourism revenue. The park is managed by the communities and the TimorLeste government in a collaborative management arrangement that is recognized at both legislative and traditional law levels.

Helping locals live sustainably CI works with the communities of Com, Tutuala and Lore within the Nino Konis Santana National Park to create sustainable livelihoods. These activities include: training community members to fish sustainably and build fishing boats; providing education on seasonal fishery closures and turtle breeding grounds; and encouraging reporting on illegal fishing.

In addition, CI’s work has resulted in the government implementing minimum catch sizes for commonly eaten fish to lessen pressures on fisheries and enhance efforts of reducing juvenile fish catches through raising awareness on the appearances of juvenile and adult fish.

Discovering and protecting biodiversity In 2012, CI led a biodiversity survey in TimorLeste’s coastal waters, revealing that its coral reefs were some of the healthiest and most diverse in the world. These results filled an important gap in the knowledge of the Coral Triangle. CI also conducted a biodiversity survey on land in 2015, which has led to the discovery of new species.

Through CI’s work, the Timor-Leste government has added 19 new species, including manta rays, dolphins, whales, turtles, sharks and clams, onto the Marine Protected Species list, making it illegal to capture these species.

© CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL/PHOTO BY TRACY FARRELL

Learn more at www.conservation.org/Timor-Leste Contact: Trudiann Dale | TDale@conservation.org