Dutch Graduate Wins Award for Proving Marine Protected Areas Boost Economic Well-being
Wageningen, Tuesday, 13 January 2026.
Maite den Butter’s groundbreaking research revealed that marine protected areas in Indonesia don’t just preserve ecosystems—they actually improve local communities’ quality of life through increased tourism revenue and better infrastructure. Her Economics of Sustainability thesis earned the prestigious REmagine Award and €5,000 prize for demonstrating how environmental protection creates measurable economic benefits for coastal populations.
Research Methodology and Geographic Focus
Den Butter’s award-winning thesis, titled “The Impact of Marine Protected Areas on Well-being: Evidence from Indonesia,” examined coastal communities near marine protected areas in Papua and West-Papua, Indonesia [1]. The research methodology focused on analyzing the direct effects of nature protection on the daily lives of these coastal populations, providing concrete evidence of how environmental conservation translates into measurable improvements in local well-being [1]. The study’s geographic specificity allowed for detailed analysis of communities that have lived alongside established marine protection zones for extended periods.
Economic Benefits Through Tourism and Infrastructure
The research findings demonstrated that protected marine zones correlate with significant improvements in community well-being, particularly in areas with long-standing marine protection [1]. These benefits manifest through multiple channels, including increased tourism revenue that flows directly to local communities, enhanced infrastructure development, and access to a healthier marine environment [1]. The study’s correlation analysis revealed that the economic advantages become more pronounced over time, suggesting that the positive impacts of marine protection compound as conservation efforts mature and establish themselves within the local ecosystem.
Recognition from Academic Leadership
Dr. Andries Richter and Dr. Anna Abatayo from Wageningen University’s Environmental Economics department praised den Butter’s work as “an exemplary study that shows what economic science can contribute to society” [1]. They emphasized that the research is “factually substantiated, socially meaningful and analytically strong,” highlighting the rigorous methodology that underpinned the findings [1]. This academic endorsement underscores the study’s contribution to bridging the gap between environmental science and economic analysis.
Award Significance and Future Implications
The REmagine Award, presented annually by the Dutch Council of Deans in Economics and Business Administration, recognizes graduates who demonstrate that a people-oriented economy, shared responsibility, and collaboration between business, government, and society are both possible and necessary [1]. The award includes a monetary prize of €5,000 for the winner [1]. Den Butter reflected on her achievement, noting that “when I started my thesis, winning a prize was not the first thing I thought about… It shows that the Dutch academic world values an economic approach that can renew our thinking about social challenges” [1]. Looking forward, den Butter expressed her intention to further explore spatial data applications, suggesting potential expansion of her research methodology to other regions and conservation contexts [1].