Protecting Marine Potential, KKP Supports West Papua to Become a Conservation Province

IDXChannel – The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries encourages the establishment of a candidate for the Maksegara waters conservation area on the north coast of West Papua. This step is to support West Papua Province as a conservation province in maintaining the sustainability of marine and fishery wealth and potential.

This determination activity began to be carried out in conjunction with the declaration of the Makbon District, Sorong Regency as a Conservation District on August 18, 2021. This was done in accordance with the Regional Regulation (Perda) of West Papua Province Number 13 of 2019 concerning RZWP3K, which mandates the allocation of marine space in the form of conservation areas.

Plt. The Director General of Marine Spatial Management Pamuji Lestari explained that the conservation area is one of the KKP’s wise steps in managing marine space, which is stated in the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Regulation Number 31 of 2020. Where the conservation area is an area that has certain characteristics as an ecosystem unit. protected, conserved, and used sustainably.

“KKP supports the efforts of the West Papua Provincial Government which has declared itself a conservation province because marine conservation areas are one way to achieve sustainable marine and fisheries resources,” said Tari, who is her nickname as quoted in a press release on Sunday (29/8/ 2021).

This step is also in line with the direction of the Minister of Sakti Wahyu Trenggono that in the management of the area must use the principle of the blue economy (blue economy) whose goal is to maintain a balance between ecosystem sustainability and economic growth.

Tari added, managing conservation areas cannot be done only by the government, but the participation of all elements of society and other stakeholders must be a priority. As in accelerating the determination and effectiveness of conservation area management, synergy is needed, especially in the preparation of zoning plan documents, strengthening human resource capacity, and raising public awareness.

Meanwhile, Director of Conservation and Marine Biodiversity Andi Rusandi explained that the target area for the area until 2024 is 23.40 million hectares.

The conservation area that has been designated in West Papua Province has a total area of ​​4.53 million hectares. Of the total area, 65% or 2.94 million hectares has been designated by the KKP, while 32% or 1.46 million hectares has been designated by the Ministry of Forestry and Environment (KLHK), and 3% or an area of ​​135,300 hectares has been reserved by the Ministry of Forestry. Governor of West Papua, waiting for the determination by the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.

To achieve the target area of ​​marine conservation areas that are effectively managed, KKP will accelerate the establishment of conservation areas, one of which is the Maksegara conservation area in West Papua Province.

“The acceleration of the determination of conservation areas must be balanced by the acceleration of the effectiveness of conservation area management, especially those that have been determined by the Minister, so that the conservation area has benefits as an effective area,” said Andi.

Head of Sorong LPSPL Santoso Budi Widiarto added that KKP proposed accelerating the establishment of the Maksegara waters conservation area which includes waters in the Makbon, Selemkai, Mega and Moraid districts located on the north coast of Sorong Regency and Tambraw Regency. As an extension of the central government in West Papua, LPSPL Sorong provides assistance to local governments in preparing zoning plan documents.

“The candidate for the Maksegara waters conservation area is an area initiated by the Sorong LPSPL in 2019. It covers an area of ​​135,300 hectares. This area was reserved by the Governor of West Papua in 2020 with Governor’s Decree Number 523/87/4/2020,” he added. (TIA)

Source: IDXChannel