Marine conservation brings US$1,000 profit to Raja Ampat

Policy Director of the Indonesian Conservation Foundation, Rahman Adi Pradana, said that local community-based marine conservation in the form of protection and ecotourism of manta rays could bring profits of up to US$1,000 to Raja Ampat, West Papua.

"If a manta is hunted it only costs 500 US dollars, but if a manta is protected it can bring tourists who bring in profits of up to 1,000 million US dollars," he said during a public hearing on conservation with Commission IV of the Indonesian House of Representatives in Jakarta, Wednesday.

Rahman said joint management with local communities to protect marine conservation areas resulted in reduced hunting, restoration of coral reefs, and developing ecotourism.

According to him, Raja Ampat is now supported by the Blue Abadi Fund in the form of conservation grant data to support sustainable management of fish resources. Manta ray protection and ecotourism activities are able to improve the economy for the people in the area.
 
The West Papuan government is committed to protecting 69 percent of terrestrial ecosystems or more than 6 million hectares.

The Indonesian Conservation Foundation supports provincial forest planning, social forestry pilots in Konda (Central Sorong) and Ubdari Village (Fakfak).

"We support the central government as well as local governments to support 12 marine conservation areas of more than 3.6 million hectares. This is the largest area-based conservation area for the sea," said Rahman.

He further said that there are many important areas of nature that can provide food, water, and climate services. For example, data shows that 39 percent of the land area and 24 percent of the water area in Indonesia provide critical natural assets globally, namely providing important environmental services for humans and society. There are only 16 percent of the world's population living in this region.

Rahman revealed that 75 percent of the high-carbon irrecoverable carbon is in 14 percent of the earth's area and this is also important as a habitat for 87 percent of threatened species.

"Well, unfortunately there are still many areas that have not been included in several international agreements and hopefully later in GBF Post 2020 we can explicitly prioritize conservation, sustainable management or sustainable use and also restoration in areas that are important to humans," he said.

Director of Marine Biodiversity and Conservation of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Firdaus Agung said the sea will become the foundation of human life as a source of clean energy, providing protein, food, and also producing cultural and mental health through tourism.

Based on the Indonesian marine conservation roadmap, by 2021, 28.4 million hectares have been reached. The government targets the figure to increase to 32.5 million hectares or the equivalent of 10 percent by 2030.

Then, the number of protected seas in the form of conservation areas is projected to reach 30 percent or the equivalent of 97.5 million hectares when Indonesia steps on its golden anniversary in 2045.

"Coasts and small islands must be managed properly. Sector utilization must be harmonious, not mutually exclusive, one of which is garbage in the sea which must also be cleaned," said Firdaus.

SOURCE: https://www.antaranews.com/berita/3218809/konservasi-laut-bawa-keuntungan-1000-dollar-as-ke-raja-ampat