Effective management of marine protected areas is needed to achieve the objectives of governance, protection, conservation of biodiversity and biological resources, and sustainable use. In realizing this, there are three important factors that affect the management of marine protected areas. These include the quantity and quality of human resources (1), the capacity to formulate effective management plans and implement management in the field (2), and the availability of funds and the capacity to identify funding opportunities for effective management (3).

Funding availability is the most important factor in conservation area management. In this regard, conservation areas without adequate funding will trigger difficulties in fulfilling the other two factors for effective conservation area management. Thus, each conservation area needs to know the total needs and allocation of needs used for conservation area management. Yayasan Rekam Nusantara, through the FRCI unit in collaboration with USAID, collectively initiated a funding study in the Belitung Marine Protected Area, Bintan Island Eastern Marine Protected Area, and Anambas Regency Marine Protected Area. The three locations are part of the USAID Collective work locations.

In November 2024, the FRCI team conducted a data collection survey and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) in three marine conservation area. This survey also invited government institutions/agencies that manage conservation areas such as the Provincial Marine and Fisheries Department, District Fisheries Department, LKKPN Pekanbaru and, Tourism Department, Environment Department, Transportation Department, academics, Pokmaswas, Kompak Community, and NGOs located in the conservation area.

This study was carried out by filling out a questionnaire which can then be analyzed regarding the appropriate funding needs and potential funding that can contribute either from the government, CSR, or programs owned by NGOs.