Gov't Seeks to Achieve Sea Conservation Target

The Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry (KKP) recorded up to 16.45 million hectares of sea conservation areas in Indonesia, around 53.06 percent from UN’s target which is 31 million hectares.

The United Nations Conventions on Biological Diversity requires a country’s sea conservation area is at least 10 percent of coastal and marine areas. Indonesia has around 310 million hectares of water areas.

The KKP’s director general for marine, coastal and small island affairs Sudirman Saad said sea conservation area is targeted to have reached 20 million hectares by 2020. “Cooperation is needed to build conservation areas,” he said on Thursday, August 6.

This year, the KKP works with the Navy and the World Wild Fund (WWF) for conservation of coastal areas and small islands. The three-year cooperation program consists of water conservation management and development of economy and alternative livelihood of the society.

In the beginning phase, the program is planing one million coral reef seeds in water areas of 100 hectares in 51 locations. This program has started since May 2015.

The locations for the planting include Lamongan, Sidoarjo, Banten, Ambon, Lampung, Bitung, Thousand Islands, Riau Islands, Berhala Island and Weh Island. Marine Corps Commander Brig. Gen. Buyung Lalana said around 400,000 seeds have been planted on 30 hectares of water areas or around 30 percent from target.

Source: en.tempo.co