Coral Triangle establishes regional Expert Assessment Group for the Green List (EAGL) to strengthen marine protected area excellence

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), in partnership with the Coral Triangle Center (CTC), is pleased to announce the establishment of the Coral Triangle Expert Assessment Group for the Green List (CT- EAGL), a major milestone in advancing effective and equitable management of marine protected and conserved areas across one of the world's most biologically diverse marine regions.

The newly established regional jurisdiction comprises 17 Expert Assessment Group for the Green List (EAGL) members representing expertise from across the six Coral Triangle countries, including two existing members from Malaysia, supported by two Technical Advisors who will provide specialized advice to the group when required. Together, these experts will play a central role in implementing the IUCN Green List Standard in Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands and Timor Leste, independently assessing candidate marine protected areas and supporting their journey towards achieving internationally recognised standards of conservation excellence. 

The CT-EAGL has been established through the Solutions for Marine and Coastal Resilience (SOMACORE) programme, funded by Germany's International Climate Initiative (IKI). Implemented by IUCN, GIZ, the Coral Triangle Center and other partners, SOMACORE aims to strengthen ecosystem resilience, improve governance of marine protected areas, promote equitable conservation and support climate adaptation across the Coral Triangle. The IUCN Green List is a key component of this effort, providing a globally recognised framework for improving the effectiveness of protected and conserved areas. 

Strengthening regional capacity for effective marine conservation

The IUCN Green List is the global standard for protected and conserved areas that are fairly governed, effectively managed and able to demonstrate successful conservation outcomes. Through a rigorous and independent evaluation process, sites are assessed against internationally agreed criteria covering governance, design and planning, management effectiveness, and conservation results.

At the heart of this process are the Expert Assessment Groups for the Green List (EAGLs). These independent experts review the evidence submitted by candidate sites, undertake assessments and site visits, engage with rights holders and stakeholders, and recommend whether these sites meet the Green List Standard.

The Coral Triangle EAGL will support the IUCN Green List implementation across the region, contributing to the objectives of the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF) second Regional Plan of Action (RPOA 2.0) and supporting global commitments under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. 

According to Frank Griffin, CTI-CFF Executive Director, “the establishment of the Coral Triangle Expert Assessment Group for the Green List reflects the growing commitment of Coral Triangle countries to strengthen the quality and effectiveness of marine protected and conserved areas. By supporting independent assessments and regional peer learning, this initiative complements the objectives of the CTI-CFF RPOA 2.0 and demonstrates how regional cooperation can help deliver healthier marine ecosystems, resilient coastal communities and global biodiversity commitments”.

Mohammad Khalid Sayeed Pasha, Regional Coordinator for Protected, Conserved and Heritage Areas at IUCN Asia, said: "The establishment of the CT-EAGL marks a major step in strengthening regional leadership for marine conservation. By bringing together independent experts from across the Coral Triangle, it will enhance technical capacity, strengthen equitable governance and effective management, and support accelerated delivery of global biodiversity commitments."

Building a regional network of Green List experts

The establishment of the CT-EAGL follows the regional Green List training held in Sanur, Bali, Indonesia, from 24 to 26 February 2026, where experts representing the Coral Triangle countries participated in an intensive training on the IUCN Green List Standard, Green List User Manual, assessment procedures, conflict of interest management and the COMPASS assessment platform.

The training was delivered by the IUCN Green List Global Secretariat together with Assurance Services International (ASI), with support from IUCN Asia and Oceania, and the Coral Triangle Center. Participants discussed each of the Green List criteria and indicators to ensure a common understanding and consistent interpretation in preparation for future site assessments. 

The Executive Director of the Coral Triangle Center, Rili Djohani noted that “The Coral Triangle is home to extraordinary marine biodiversity, but conserving it requires strong institutions, capable practitioners and a shared commitment to excellence. The establishment of the Coral Triangle EAGL creates an important regional community of experts that will help protected area managers continuously improve governance, management and conservation outcomes. Through collaboration, learning and independent assessment, we can strengthen marine protected areas that benefit both nature and the coastal communities that depend on them”.

The CT-EAGL will initially support the assessment of 12 pilot marine protected areas, with two nominated sites from each Coral Triangle country participating under the SOMACORE programme. Through independent assessments, expert recommendations and continuous engagement with site managers, the programme seeks to strengthen governance, improve management effectiveness and deliver measurable conservation outcomes across the region. 

Coral Triangle Center (CTC)

Leadership of the Coral Triangle EAGL

Following an independent review conducted in accordance with the IUCN Green List User Manual, Hesti Widodo (Indonesia) has been elected as Chair of the Coral Triangle Green List Expert Assessment Group, while Muhammad Imran Amin (Indonesia) has been appointed Co-Chair.

Together, they will lead the regional expert group, coordinate assessments, oversee conflict-of-interest management, facilitate technical discussions and ensure that all evaluations are conducted objectively, transparently and consistently with the Green List Standard, while engaging closely with the already established EAGL jurisdiction from Malaysia. 

Meet the Coral Triangle EAGL

The Coral Triangle EAGL brings together specialists in marine protected area management, with backgrounds in marine ecology, fisheries, biodiversity conservation, governance, policy, community engagement, monitoring and evaluation, conservation planning, climate resilience and sustainable development.

The Coral Triangle EAGL comprises 17 approved members (including two existing Malaysian members) representing all six Coral Triangle countries. 

The newly elected CT-EAGL Chair, Hesti Widodo, expressed that “The Coral Triangle's extraordinary marine biodiversity deserves the highest standards of conservation. As Chair of the CT-EAGL, I look forward to working with our diverse team of regional experts to deliver transparent, independent and evidence-based assessments that inspire continuous improvement. Together, we can strengthen protected and conserved areas across the region while fostering trust, collaboration and a shared commitment to conservation excellence.”

Technical Advisors

Two Technical Advisors are supporting the work of the CT-EAGL:

• Muhamad Ramdan Fahlevi (Indonesia) 

• Didit Agus Irwantoko (Indonesia) 

Following the recommendations of the independent Green List Reviewer, both Technical Advisors may provide specialist advice to the Chair and EAGL members when requested 

Coral Triangle Center (CTC)

Looking ahead

The establishment of the Coral Triangle Green List Expert Assessment Group represents an important investment in regional expertise and long-term conservation leadership. 

As the Green List programme expands across the Coral Triangle, the CT-EAGL will support protected area managers in continuously improving their performance against internationally recognised standards while fostering regional collaboration, peer learning and knowledge exchange. Ultimately, this work will contribute to healthier marine ecosystems, more resilient coastal communities and stronger regional cooperation for biodiversity conservation.

Olivier Chassot, Senior Programme Officer, Protected, Conserved and Heritage Areas, IUCN Asia, observed: "The Coral Triangle EAGL represents much more than an assessment mechanism; it is a community of experts committed to continuous learning, scientific rigour and practical conservation impact. Through independent assessments, technical dialogue and close engagement with site managers, the Green List process helps protected and conserved areas identify opportunities for improvement while recognising excellence. We look forward to supporting the first cohort of pilot marine protected areas on their journey towards the IUCN Green List."

The Coral Triangle Green List programme is implemented under the SOMACORE initiative through collaboration between IUCN, the Coral Triangle Center, CTI-CFF and national partners. Together, they are advancing a shared vision of resilient marine ecosystems, empowered coastal communities and internationally recognised standards of excellence in marine protected area management.

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For more information on the IUCN Green List programme and progress in the Coral Triangle region, please contact 

• Mohammad Khalid Sayeed Pasha, IUCN Asia Regional Coordinator, Protected, Conserved and Heritage Areas: [email protected] 

• Olivier Chassot, Senior Programme Officer, Protected, Conserved and Heritage Areas: [email protected]

• Md Anjum Islam, Programme Officer, Protected, Conserved and Heritage Areas: [email protected]

• Samisoni Rakabu, Technical Officer for Protected and Conserved Areas: [email protected] 

• Hesti Widodo, Chair, Coral Triangle EAGL: [email protected] 

SOMACORE:

The Solutions for Marine and Coastal Resilience in the Coral Triangle (SOMACORE) programme, funded by Germany’s International Climate Initiative (IKI) and led by GIZ and its Implementing Partners, strengthens ecosystem and community resilience across the Coral Triangle’s transboundary seascapes. This initiative supports CTI-CFF’s goals through three key outputs: (1) advancing regional/national policy frameworks for effective the MPA governance, (2) scaling up community-led conservation and climate-adaptive livelihoods, and (3) elevating CTI-CFF’s transboundary conservation solutions globally. 

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a key partner in the SOMACORE program, bringing its global leadership in protected and conserved areas’ standards, (including Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), Other Effective Conservation Measures (OECMs) and other Conserved Areas (CAs). Through the IUCN Green List Standard, the program will enhance MPA and OECM effectiveness across the Coral Triangle, supporting the 30x30 target under the Global Biodiversity Framework. The PANORAMA, Solutions for a Healthy Planet methodology and case study database will support knowledge exchange towards MPA and OECM effectiveness.