Dr. Kevin Muhamad Lukman, a lecturer at the Padjadjaran University Graduate School, demonstrated his contributions to cross-disciplinary and cross-national research through the publication of a scientific article in the reputable journal Marine Pollution Bulletin (Elsevier), entitled “Understanding stakeholders’ perceptions on developing seagrass-associated tourism: Evidence from marine protected areas of Bintan Island, Indonesia.” This study is one of the pioneering studies in Indonesia that examines stakeholder perceptions of seagrass-associated tourism development in marine protected areas.

The novelty of this research lies in its approach, which combines holistic social, economic, and ecological analysis to understand the support, concerns, and expectations of local stakeholders—including coastal communities, tourism operators, and local governments—for sustainable seagrass ecosystem-based tourism schemes. This study confirms that the successful management of marine protected areas depends not only on ecological and technical aspects, but also on the active participation and socio-cultural understanding of local communities.

This research is the result of a collaboration between Padjadjaran University, BRIN (National Research and Innovation Agency), and international partners from the National University of Singapore, James Cook University (Australia), and the Deakin Marine Science Centre (Australia). This collaboration demonstrates that sustainable tourism development cannot be achieved in isolation but requires the integrated involvement of academic, government, and civil society sectors.

Contribution to the SDGs:
This research supports SDG 14: Marine Ecosystems, with a focus on seagrass conservation and sustainable use. Furthermore, this article is relevant to SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities and SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, as it offers strategies for creating alternative, inclusive, conservation-based economic opportunities.