Seascapes of Change: Integrating Gender Equality, Social Inclusion, and Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Marine Conservation Across Southeast Asia

The regional capacity-building workshop Seascapes of Change, held from 30 April to 3 May 2026, brought together government representatives, community stakeholders, Indigenous and customary groups, women leaders, youth representatives, and conservation practitioners from Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand to strengthen inclusive and participatory approaches to marine conservation. The workshop focused on integrating Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) principles and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) into marine governance and Marine Protected Area (MPA) management.

Through knowledge exchanges, participatory discussions, field immersion, and action planning, the workshop highlighted the importance of recognising women, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and youth as key leaders and knowledge holders in conservation efforts. The activity demonstrated that sustainable marine governance requires not only scientific and technical interventions, but also inclusive decision-making systems that value ancestral knowledge, community stewardship, and equitable participation.

The workshop resulted in concrete country-specific action plans aimed at institutionalising women’s participation, strengthening TEK integration, enhancing community-led enforcement, and improving youth engagement in conservation. The experience also reinforced the need for long-term financing, stronger policy support, and multi-stakeholder collaboration to sustain inclusive conservation initiatives across Southeast Asia.

The project 𝘌𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘈𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘓𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘌𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘚𝘌𝘈𝘕 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯 (𝘈𝘚𝘌𝘈𝘕 𝘌𝘕𝘔𝘈𝘗𝘚) aims to improve marine protected area (MPA) and MPA network management in key Large Marine Ecosystems across Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand. It applies science-based strategies to conserve biodiversity and sustain fisheries. The project also aims to strengthen governance, build the capacity of stakeholders, promote knowledge sharing, and advance sustainable financing for long-term conservation. ASEAN ENMAPS is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme through the funding of the Global Environment Facility, and with the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity as the executing agency.

Marine ecosystems across Southeast Asia continue to face increasing pressure from overfishing, habitat degradation, climate change, unsustainable coastal development, and weak governance systems. At the same time, many conservation initiatives still struggle to meaningfully include women, Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLCs), youth, and marginalised sectors in planning and decision-making processes.

Despite their extensive knowledge and long-standing stewardship of marine resources, Indigenous and local communities are often excluded from formal governance structures. Women, while central to fisheries, food security, and community resilience, remain underrepresented in leadership and enforcement mechanisms. Youth participation in conservation also remains limited, contributing to declining intergenerational transmission of Traditional Ecological Knowledge.

Recognising these challenges, the Seascapes of Change workshop was organised to strengthen regional understanding and practical application of GEDSI and TEK approaches in marine conservation. The workshop aimed to build the capacity of stakeholders to develop more equitable, participatory, and culturally grounded management systems that support both biodiversity conservation and community resilience.

The workshop also responded to growing recognition within international environmental frameworks, including the Global Environment Facility (GEF), that inclusive governance, Indigenous knowledge systems, and gender-responsive approaches are essential for achieving sustainable environmental outcomes.

The workshop adopted a participatory, experiential, and cross-learning approach that combined technical discussions, storytelling, field immersion, collaborative exercises, and action planning.

Regional Knowledge Exchange. Participants from Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand shared experiences, governance challenges, and local conservation practices within their respective marine protected areas and coastal communities. Discussions explored issues related to gender inequality, exclusion from decision-making, declining fish stocks, and institutional barriers to integrating TEK into formal governance systems.

GEDSI Integration. Sessions on Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion focused on understanding the differences between equality, equity, and justice in marine governance. Facilitators encouraged participants to examine structural barriers that prevent women, Indigenous Peoples, youth, and marginalised groups from fully participating in conservation decision-making.

The workshop promoted intersectional approaches that recognise how gender, age, ethnicity, disability, and socio-economic status shape experiences and access to opportunities.

Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) Integration. The workshop explored TEK as an evolving body of ecological knowledge and stewardship practices developed through generations of interaction with coastal and marine ecosystems. Discussions examined methods for documenting, protecting, and integrating TEK into conservation planning while respecting Data Sovereignty and Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC).

Role-playing exercises and group discussions encouraged participants to apply knowledge co-production approaches that position communities as equal partners in conservation governance rather than passive informants.

Field Learning Visit. Participants visited the Calatagan Mangrove Forest Conservation Park in Batangas, Philippines, where they observed a successful example of women-led and community-based conservation. The field trip showcased how strong local governance, volunteerism, diversified livelihoods, and inclusive participation contribute to effective marine stewardship.

Action Planning. The final workshop sessions focused on developing site-specific, two-year action plans for Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand. Plans included strategies to institutionalise women’s participation, strengthen TEK integration, improve youth engagement, enhance community-based enforcement, and support sustainable livelihoods.

Key Findings

The workshop generated several important findings relevant to inclusive marine conservation and governance:

Inclusive governance strengthens conservation outcomes. Participants recognised that effective marine governance depends on the meaningful participation of women, Indigenous Peoples, youth, and local communities. Inclusive decision-making improves accountability, strengthens local ownership, and enhances long-term sustainability of conservation initiatives.

TEK remains critical for sustainable marine management. Traditional Ecological Knowledge continues to provide valuable insights for fisheries management, climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and ecosystem stewardship. Practices such as seasonal fishing closures and customary marine regulations demonstrate the continued relevance of community knowledge systems.

Structural barriers continue to limit participation. Women, youth, and Indigenous Peoples continue to face barriers including underrepresentation in governance bodies, restrictive gender norms, limited institutional recognition, and insufficient policy support.

Knowledge co-production is essential. Participants emphasised the importance of collaborative approaches that integrate scientific knowledge with local and Indigenous knowledge systems. Co-production approaches help build trust, strengthen community agency, and improve conservation planning.

Livelihood security supports conservation success. Successful conservation initiatives are closely linked to sustainable livelihood opportunities. Diversified income-generating activities such as ecotourism, clam culture, eco-bag production, and community enterprises help reduce pressure on marine resources while strengthening community resilience.

What Worked Well

Participatory and experiential learning methods. Interactive exercises, storytelling, and role-playing activities created safe spaces for dialogue and mutual learning among participants from different sectors and cultural backgrounds.

Field immersion strengthened practical understanding. The visit to Calatagan Mangrove Forest Conservation Park provided participants with a concrete example of how women-led conservation, transparent governance, and community participation can produce successful outcomes.

Cross-country exchange encouraged regional learning. The workshop enabled participants from Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand to compare experiences, identify common challenges, and exchange practical solutions applicable to their local contexts.

Action-oriented planning increased ownership. Developing country-specific action plans helped participants translate workshop insights into practical strategies that can be implemented within their respective MPAs and institutions.

Recognition of community leadership built motivation. Highlighting the contributions of women leaders, Indigenous custodians, youth advocates, and local conservation groups reinforced the value of community-led stewardship and encouraged participants to replicate inclusive practices.

Lessons Learned

Conservation requires both social and ecological approaches. Marine conservation cannot rely solely on scientific and technical interventions. Long-term success depends on addressing social inequalities, governance gaps, and livelihood needs.

Equity is essential for participation. Providing equal opportunities is not sufficient when structural barriers remain. Targeted support and institutional reforms are necessary to ensure equitable participation in governance and leadership.

TEK must be treated as a legitimate knowledge system. Traditional Ecological Knowledge should not be viewed as supplementary or secondary to formal science. Respectful integration requires recognising TEK holders as equal partners in decision-making processes.

Women’s leadership strengthens community resilience. Women-led conservation initiatives demonstrated strong organisational capacity, accountability, and long-term commitment to environmental stewardship.

Youth engagement is critical for continuity. Sustaining TEK and conservation efforts requires investing in youth leadership, environmental education, and intergenerational knowledge transfer.

Sustainable financing is necessary. Conservation initiatives require long-term financing mechanisms beyond short-term project cycles. Community-led initiatives are more sustainable when linked to continuous funding and livelihood support.

Challenges and Limitations

Several challenges and limitations were identified during the workshop:

• Political transitions and changing government priorities often disrupt conservation continuity.
• Institutional bias towards formal science continues to limit recognition of TEK.
• Women and Indigenous groups remain underrepresented in formal governance structures.
• Declining youth interest threatens intergenerational transmission of traditional knowledge.
• Limited legal protection and weak policy frameworks hinder institutionalisation of inclusive approaches.
• Some community-led initiatives remain vulnerable due to insufficient government support and external economic pressures.
• Financial and logistical constraints affect the long-term implementation of conservation activities and enforcement systems.

The workshop also highlighted operational challenges related to participant confirmation, travel coordination, and budget management, reinforcing the importance of early planning and flexible financial arrangements for regional activities.

The approaches and lessons from Seascapes of Change demonstrate strong potential for replication across coastal and marine conservation initiatives in Southeast Asia and other regions.

Key elements that can be adapted include:

• GEDSI audits and integration mechanisms for MPA governance
• TEK documentation and knowledge-sharing platforms
• Women-led conservation and enforcement models
• Youth conservation camps and educational exchanges
• Community-based ecotourism and sustainable livelihood initiatives
• Multi-stakeholder governance platforms
• Cross-site learning exchanges and study visits

The field example from Calatagan demonstrated that community-led conservation models can be successfully replicated when supported by strong local governance, institutional backing, and sustained community participation.

Country-specific action plans also provide adaptable models that can inform future conservation programming at local, national, and regional levels.

The workshop strongly aligns with the priorities and principles of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), particularly its emphasis on inclusive governance, biodiversity conservation, community resilience, and stakeholder participation. 

The experience contributes to GEF objectives in several ways:

Advancing inclusive environmental governance. The workshop promoted equitable participation of women, Indigenous Peoples, youth, and local communities in marine governance and decision-making processes.

Strengthening biodiversity conservation. By integrating TEK and community stewardship approaches, the workshop supported more sustainable management of marine ecosystems and protected areas.

Supporting community resilience and livelihoods. The workshop highlighted the importance of linking conservation with livelihood diversification, climate adaptation, and local economic resilience.

Promoting knowledge integration and innovation. The initiative demonstrated practical approaches for integrating scientific knowledge with Indigenous and local knowledge systems in conservation planning.

Enhancing regional cooperation. The cross-country exchange strengthened collaboration among Southeast Asian stakeholders and encouraged the sharing of good practices and scalable conservation solutions.

Contributing to long-term sustainability. The development of site-specific action plans, institutional reforms, and financing recommendations supports the long-term sustainability of inclusive marine conservation initiatives beyond project lifespans.

Overall, Seascapes of Change demonstrated that inclusive, community-centred conservation approaches are essential for achieving durable environmental outcomes and advancing the goals of sustainable marine governance in the region.