Maintaining the benefits provided by biodiversity should be an incentive for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.  However, over-exploitation of species is the largest direct driver of biodiversity loss in marine ecosystems, and the second most important cause in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems.  Often this exploitation is done illegally even with regulations in place to stop the practice, but in the absence of enforcement, regulations mean little. Some countries exploit the fish within the territorial waters of other nations, especially in those that are ill-equipped to confront these large vessels.  Often too, local people can unknowingly over-exploit local resources in the absence of information indicating that declines are becoming widespread.  Further, the illegal commercial demand for certain wildlife species is also driving extinctions.  In the case of many species, the risk of getting caught is worth the reward because as a species become rarer, the price the markets are willing to pay increases. Such is the case with naturally-produced agarwood (Aquilaria spp.), for example, where a kilogram may be worth as much as US$100,000.  This target has a direct bearing on SDGs 1, 2, 14, and 15.

Hunting by local communities should be managed through a transparent, negotiated process to enable sustainable wildlife management. In Timor-Leste, many communities hunt and fish traditionally, as part of their livelihoods.  Further, most villages are in remote areas making enforcement of any regulations difficult.  Again, with training and consultative approaches it may be possible to establish a tara bandu system in organized communities.  Priorities are to work directly communities to improve species management, implement formal CFs and LMMAs, and to understand better which species (marine and terrestrial) are being over-exploited.   

Responsible Ministry: MAFFL

Actions:

1. Work with communities to provide training, develop data, and an understanding of which species are hunted/fished, the rates of harvesting of each species, and which species are declining.

2. Work with LMMAs and CFs on mechanisms to reduce harvests of over-exploited species, including through the use of Tara Bandu, and closed areas. (Ongoing MAFFL programme, with WorldFish and Blue Ventures))

3. Increase enforcement to reduce the harvest of over-exploited species through consultation with communities.

4. Conduct inclusive stakeholder consultation/socialization of the National Biodiversity Law/Decree and Wildlife Conservation Law.

5. Build Crocodile Management Parks, increasing beach safety while conserving the species and promoting the tourist attraction of an animal that is a formal symbolic representation of Timorese identity.

6. Develop action plans for the management of selected harvested species