INREEF: Interdisciplinary program to build the resilience of marine protected areas in tourism destinations

Focusing on MPAs in Indonesia and the Dutch Caribbean, the study explores a gradient of tourism intensity and reef health. By examining spatial and temporal variations within and between MPAs, the program seeks to unravel causal mechanisms driving resilience and evaluate the effectiveness of policy interventions. Key objectives include mapping feedbacks and thresholds, identifying resilience indicators, and designing adaptive management frameworks tailored to local contexts and stakeholder needs. The program will also develop technological solutions for wastewater management. Capacity building is integral to the program, incorporating joint sandwich PhDs, technical workshops, and interdisciplinary education initiatives across institutions in Indonesia, the Dutch Caribbean, and the Netherlands. INREEF aims to advance MPA governance and improve coral reef resilience under dynamic global and local stressors.

Our ambitious program builds on a strong network of 9 knowledge institutions, 8 NGOs involved in MPA management, 6 governmental institutions and 7 parties from the private sector in the Indonesia, Dutch Caribbean, and The Netherlands.