Leaders from across Asia gathered in Iloilo City, Philippines, for the Asia Regional Large-Scale Marine Protected Areas (LSMPA) Workshop. The workshop which took place from Nov. 19-21, 2025, was co-hosted by the Blue Nature Alliance, Zoological Society of London (ZSL) Philippines, and Big Ocean.
Participants, including government official, scientists, and conservation partners, from the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Maldives, Vietnam, Solomon Islands, Australia, US, and the UK, came together to explore how large-scale marine protection can safeguard biodiversity, while also supporting food security, livelihoods, and resilient coastal communities. With Asia looking beyond nearshore conservation, towards the promise of large-scale and offshore protection, the workshop highlighted growing regional momentum, including the development of a regional LSMPA Community of Practice to strengthen collaboration across Asia and progress toward the proposed Philippine Rise Ocean Conservation Area, which could become one of the largest marine protected areas in Asia.
“We are entirely committed to making the change happen”,
said Dr. Edwina Garchitorena, Country Director of ZSL Philippines, in reference to ongoing work to advance the proposed Philippine Rise Ocean Conservation Area.
“With the guidance of Big Ocean and the support of the Blue Nature Alliance, we are confidently stepping into the future of large-scale MPAs in Asia”,
she added.
Over the course of the workshop, participants emphasized Asia’s unique opportunity to lead globally in demonstrating how conservation can work alongside economic and community priorities and with growing regional momentum, underscored that large-scale marine protection is not only possible in Asia, but increasingly essential to safeguarding the ecosystems and ocean resources that millions of people depend on.
Watch the video below for highlights from this pivotal gathering and the growing movement for large-scale marine protection across the region.
Additional information on Asia Regional Large-Scale Marine Protected Areas (LSMPA) Workshop is available at https://www.bluenaturealliance.org/news-insight/asia-sets-its-sights-on-the-next-frontier-of-ocean-protection/
To learn more about the Blue Nature Alliance’s work in support of large-scale marine protection in the region, please visit https://www.bluenaturealliance.org/locations/philippine-rise/ & https://www.bluenaturealliance.org/locations/indonesia/
(Left) Participants to the Asia Regional LSMPA Workshop from the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Maldives, Solomon Islands, Australia, US, and the UK. (Rigth) International participants of the Asia Regional LSMPA Workshop share insights and discuss science-based, community-driven strategies for conservation at scale.
Photos by Conservation International
About the Project
The Blue Nature Alliance aims to catalyze 18 million square kilometers of ocean conservation area in collaboration with governments, NGOs, Indigenous peoples and local communities, ocean conservation experts, scientists, communities of practice, and financial strategist. Working in partnership at all levels – from local to national leadership – we create and implement bold, transformative plans at scale. The Blue Nature Alliance brings together the technical expertise, financial support, global network, and lessons learned to achieve clear, shared, and time-bound goals for establishing or expanding ocean conservation areas and improving management or strengthening levels of protection in existing protected areas.
For more information, please contact Bene Agulto, bagulto@conservation.org
Words by Bene Agulto.