Hesti Widodo, Ph.D.

Strengthening marine resource governance and conservation in Indonesia

Indonesia has committed to effectively managing 10% of its marine territory by 2030 and protecting 30% of its waters by 2045. Achieving these targets will require the country to address several significant challenges, including enhancing monitoring and enforcement; reconciling competing interests from tourism, fisheries, and conservation; and increasing the inclusion of coastal communities and Indigenous peoples in decision-making processes. The Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted in 2022 by parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, includes a promising strategy known as Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) to help countries protect 30% of their lands and waters. OECMs can accelerate progress by empowering communities, local governments, and the private sector to actively participate in conservation.

Hesti Widodo will work with seven pilot sites in Indonesia seeking government verification as OECMs to develop a method for evaluating and reporting their conservation impact. Working closely with stakeholders—including local communities, nongovernmental organizations, and government agencies—through consultations and focus group discussions, she will develop indicators to evaluate the inclusion and equitable distribution of OECM benefits to ensure that they meet community needs and are applicable in local contexts. Dr. Widodo will also develop learning modules and provide training to enhance the capacity of stakeholders and the government to manage Indonesian OECMs.

To learn more about Dr. Widodo, read her bio.

See the full list of 2025 Pew marine fellows.