Director of Ecosystem and Aquatic Biota Conservation of the KKP Firdaus Agung Kunto Kurniawan remarked on Tuesday that the ministry collaborates with partners, such as the Nusantara Nature Conservation Foundation (YKAN), to enhance the effectiveness of marine conservation areas.
He made the statement while celebrating the establishment of the North Misool conservation area in Jakarta.
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) play multiple crucial roles in supporting fisheries activities, addressing climate change challenges, enabling adaptation and mitigation strategies, supporting blue economy initiatives, and safeguarding biodiversity and endangered species.
Hence, he emphasized the importance of designing and having a model for conservation areas that carry out the roles, especially to support the expansion of conservation areas targeted to reach 97.5 million hectares by 2045.
"In the context of MPA for fisheries, for climate change, MPA biodiversity protection, we must design and manage it well, and we must be able to show that we can truly measure its performance," he explained.
He also highlighted the importance of scientific methods to ensure the benefits and results of conservation work, especially in waters designated as protected areas.
"We must prove that our conservation is beneficial, not only for turtles, whales, and coral reefs but also for the socio-economics of the community and climate change adaptation," Kurniawan emphasized.
Earlier, Indonesia targeted expanding marine conservation areas by 97.5 million hectares by 2045 or covering around 30 percent of its total marine area.
The expansion target, known as "30x45," if successful, can protect marine areas, seagrass beds, mangroves, and coral reefs.
Mangroves and seagrass ecosystems function as powerful natural reservoirs for greenhouse gas (GHG) storage.
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Translator: Prisca Triferna Violleta, Cindy Frishanti Octavia
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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