Indonesia is well-known for its vast territorial sea waters. One of the provinces that has a large sea area is West Papua. This province is located on the equator, making biodiversity in the underwater world. As a result, this area becomes a conservation area to maintain marine and fishery potential wealth sustainability. Here’s more information.
Efforts to Preserve the Preservation of Papua’s Seas and Coasts
The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), through the Management of Coastal and Marine Resources (LPSPL) Sorong, encourages the determination of a candidate for a water conservation area on the northern coast of the bird’s head area. This step aims to support this province as a conservation area in maintaining the sustainability of marine and fishery wealth and potential.
This determination activity began simultaneously with the declaration of the Makbon District, Sorong Regency. It was proclaimed to become a Conservation District in the Papua region. This is implemented according to the Regional Regulation (Perda) Papua Province Number 13 of 2019 concerning RZWP3K to regulate marine conservation allocation.
The Director-General of Marine Spatial Management explained that the conservation area is one of the KKP’s wise steps to manage marine space in West Papua. This is stated in the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Regulation Number 31 of 2020. So, this regulation explains that conservation areas have several unique criteria called essential areas.
In other words, a conservation area has specific characteristics as an integrated ecosystem that is protected, conserved, and used sustainably. This is because of the biodiversity in the Papua region. With proper handling, the government can consistently support the sustainability of the ecosystem in Papua.
Purpose of the Declaration of Conservation Province
KKP supports the efforts of the Provincial Government to declare itself a conservation province. Marine conservation areas are one of the ideal ways to achieve good sustainable marine and fishery resources. This step is also in line with the direction of the Minister of Marine Affairs in managing the area to apply the blue economy principle.
This new principle aims to maintain a balance between the sustainability of the ecosystem and the economic growth of the surrounding environment. In other words, managing conservation areas must be done by all parties. Not only by the government, but all elements of society and people in West Papua are essential for the conservation area.
There are many ways to improve the effectiveness of conservation area management – preparation of zoning plan documents, strengthening of human resources, and community knowledge. Meanwhile, the Director of Conservation and Marine Biodiversity explained that the target area for conservation areas is estimated to reach 23.40 million hectares by 2024.
The conservation area has a total area of 4.53 million hectares. Of the entire area, about 65% or 2.94 million hectares are determined by the KKP. Meanwhile, 32% or an area of 1.46 million hectares belongs to the Ministry of Forestry and Environment (KLHK). Furthermore, 135,300 hectares or 3% area is a conservation plan by the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries.
To achieve the target of the maximum area of marine conservation areas, KKP will accelerate the determination of the Maksegara conservation area. The acceleration of the decision of conservation areas must be balanced with the management of conservation areas, especially those determined by the Minister.
Meanwhile, KKP proposed accelerating the determination of the Maksegara waters conservation area at several location points in West Papua. Some of them are Makbon, Selemkai, Mega, and Moraid districts located on the north coast of Sorong Regency and Tambraw Regency. As an extension of the program t, LPSPL Sorong helped prepare a zoning plan document.
The candidate for the Maksegara waters conservation area is planned by the Sorong LPSPL in 2019, reaching 135,300 hectares. This plan can only be realized in the following years because of the Governor’s Decree Number 523/87/4/2020. In addition, this is useful for maintaining the diversity of Papua’s marine areas to remain sustainable.
In addition to the local government, support for the determination of the Maksegara marine conservation area also received support from the Nusantara Nature Conservation Foundation (a development partner). This program is in line with the mission of protecting land and water as a source of life.
Many parties hope through cooperation to carry out this plan. Besides that, various problems become targets for future targets to manage marine resources wisely. As a result, marine areas can be managed sustainably in the Maksegara marine conservation area in West Papua. Some of the particular concerns are turtles, dugongs, seagrass habitats, coral reefs, and mangroves.
In a nutshell, the efforts of the central government, local government, and community institutions have a significant role in establishing Papua as a conservation province. There are many efforts made by the government to prepare effective measures. This starts with preparing documents, the positions of the parties involved, expansion plans, and various supporting elements.
