Marine protected areas (MPAs) are widely adopted to conserve marine biodiversity, yet their distributional impacts on resource-dependent communities remain underexplored. This study investigates socioeconomic inequality linked to MPAs in eastern Indonesia using a quasi-experimental design and multi-round household surveys of over 10,000 households across 180 coastal settlements in 10 MPAs (2010–2017). We assess poverty through objective (asset-based index) and subjective (perceived economic trends) measures. Findings reveal overall poverty reduction and persistent pre-existing inequalities by gender, age, occupation, and tenure rights. MPAs did not cause short-term economic losses or widen objective inequality but constrained perceived economic improvement, particularly among female-headed households. Community engagement moderated these effects: gender disparities were greater where female participation in groups was low. These findings suggest that promoting inclusive participation can help ensure more equitable conservation outcomes.
Le D.T., Ahmadia G.N., Ratih I.A., Claborn K., Estradivari , Lazuardi M.E., Matualage D., Mohebalian P.M., Nanlohy H., Pusparini N.K.S., Rasolofoson R., Salosso K.E., Timisela N.R., Pakiding F., Glew L., Mascia M.B. and Gill D. (2026) Distributional effects of marine conservation on coastal livelihoods in Eastern Indonesia. Nature Communications 17(1): 4690. 10.1038/s41467-026-69081-0
@article{Le2026,
Title = {Distributional effects of marine conservation on coastal livelihoods in Eastern Indonesia},
Author = {Le, Duong Trung and Ahmadia, Gabby N. and Ratih, Indah Anggriyani and Claborn, Kelly and Estradivari and Lazuardi, Muhammad Erdi and Matualage, Dariani and Mohebalian, Phillip. M. and Nanlohy, Hellen and Pusparini, Ni Kadek Sri and Rasolofoson, Ranaivo and Salosso, Kezia E. and Timisela, Natelda R. and Pakiding, Fitryanti and Glew, Louise and Mascia, Michael B. and Gill, David},
Journal = {Nature Communications},
Year = {2026},
Pages = {4690},
Volume = {17},
Doi = {10.1038/s41467-026-69081-0},
Abstract = {Marine protected areas (MPAs) are widely adopted to conserve marine biodiversity, yet their distributional impacts on resource-dependent communities remain underexplored. This study investigates socioeconomic inequality linked to MPAs in eastern Indonesia using a quasi-experimental design and multi-round household surveys of over 10,000 households across 180 coastal settlements in 10 MPAs (2010–2017). We assess poverty through objective (asset-based index) and subjective (perceived economic trends) measures. Findings reveal overall poverty reduction and persistent pre-existing inequalities by gender, age, occupation, and tenure rights. MPAs did not cause short-term economic losses or widen objective inequality but constrained perceived economic improvement, particularly among female-headed households. Community engagement moderated these effects: gender disparities were greater where female participation in groups was low. These findings suggest that promoting inclusive participation can help ensure more equitable conservation outcomes.},
}
TY - JOUR
AU - Le, Duong Trung
AU - Ahmadia, Gabby N.
AU - Ratih, Indah Anggriyani
AU - Claborn, Kelly
AU - Estradivari
AU - Lazuardi, Muhammad Erdi
AU - Matualage, Dariani
AU - Mohebalian, Phillip. M.
AU - Nanlohy, Hellen
AU - Pusparini, Ni Kadek Sri
AU - Rasolofoson, Ranaivo
AU - Salosso, Kezia E.
AU - Timisela, Natelda R.
AU - Pakiding, Fitryanti
AU - Glew, Louise
AU - Mascia, Michael B.
AU - Gill, David
TI - Distributional effects of marine conservation on coastal livelihoods in Eastern Indonesia
T2 - Nature Communications
PY - 2026
SP - 4690
VL - 17
DO - 10.1038/s41467-026-69081-0
AB - Marine protected areas (MPAs) are widely adopted to conserve marine biodiversity, yet their distributional impacts on resource-dependent communities remain underexplored. This study investigates socioeconomic inequality linked to MPAs in eastern Indonesia using a quasi-experimental design and multi-round household surveys of over 10,000 households across 180 coastal settlements in 10 MPAs (2010–2017). We assess poverty through objective (asset-based index) and subjective (perceived economic trends) measures. Findings reveal overall poverty reduction and persistent pre-existing inequalities by gender, age, occupation, and tenure rights. MPAs did not cause short-term economic losses or widen objective inequality but constrained perceived economic improvement, particularly among female-headed households. Community engagement moderated these effects: gender disparities were greater where female participation in groups was low. These findings suggest that promoting inclusive participation can help ensure more equitable conservation outcomes.
ER -
