Kaimana District, West Papua has 76,000 ha of mangrove forest which has great potential as a carbon storage.
A study conducted in 2014 by the Indonesian Ministry of Marine and Fisheries, Unipa and Conservation International (CI) in Arguni Bay of Kaimana District noted that the site has a potential carbon uptake of 717 Mg C ha -1. In addition to Arguni Bay, studies from similar studies in two other locations are being developed and will be informed by the National and District Governments in mangrove conservation efforts that contribute to Indonesia’s commitment in climate change.[1]
Kaimana District Government, West Papua, is ready to become a field laboratory for blue carbon development that can contribute to national and local carbon emissions reductions. “This study will be our reference in mangrove conservation management in Kaimana which not only supports the achievement of national commitments in emissions reductions but also supports the economic community,” said Kaimana Regent Mathias Mairuma in a discussion in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Mathias said the study of blue carbon in Kaimana will not only provide scientific data but can also provide strategic inputs in conserving mangrove ecosystems, strengthening local conservation governance and developing sustainable livelihood alternatives of communities from mangrove crab cultivation.
Blue Carbon has been echoed as one of the contributions to the world carbon emissions reduction targets at the 22nd UN Conference on Climate Change (COP) in Morocco on 2012. At least, there are 151 countries that have one of three blue carbon ecosystems, that is mangroves, seagrass beds, and tidal swamps. Indonesia is one of the countries that have these three ecosystems with mangrove area of about 3.1 million hectares or equal to 22 percent of the global ecosystem.
In Indonesia, West Papua is the province with the largest natural mangrove ecosystem of 482,029.24 hectares. The research to examine the uptake and below ground level of soil in Kaimana District has been done since 2015. Total carbon stocks in Kaimana District covering Arguni Bay, Etna Bay, Buruway and Kaimana City reached 54,091.909 Mg C.
In the near future, Kemenko Kemaritiman will hold a workshop about the blue carbon in Kaimana District, West Papua. The Expert Staff of the Coordinating Minister for the Department of Socio-anthropology, Tukul Rameyo Adi, hoped that the workshop could produce a policy that develops the blue carbon-related instruments for both national and international levels.
In addition, Rameyo also hopes the workshop will produce a “road map” of blue carbon that can be applied nationally and locally. “The development of such instruments and road maps is a form of support for achieving a national commitment to reduce emissions by 29 percent to 2030 and achieve Sustainable Development Objectives,” he said.[2]
Keywords: West Papua, Papua, Kaimana, carbon absorbent, mangrove conservation, climate change, blue carbon, carbon emission reduction, ecosystem, sustainable development
[1] Alfred Karafir, Kabupaten Kaimana Menyimpan Potensi Besar Sebagai Penyerap Gas Karbon Dunia, diakses dari laman https://papuanews.id/2017/10/01/kabupaten-kaimana-menyimpan-potensi-besar-sebagai-penyerap-gas-karbon-dunia/
[2] Dewanta Samodro, Kaimana Siap Menjadi Laboratorium Karbon Biru, diakses dari laman https://www.antaranews.com/berita/659118/kaimana-siap-menjadi-laboratorium-karbon-biru
