West Papua initiates local mangrove working group

The Provincial Government initiated the establishment of a regional mangrove working group to address the latest problems and challenges in the protection and management of mangrove ecosystems in West Papua Province.

Head of the West Papua Provincial Forestry Service, Hendrik Runaweri in a release received in Sorong Wednesday, said that the establishment of a regional mangrove working group or KKMD involved all regional stakeholders.

Because, according to him, the role and involvement of related parties is an important key to answer the current problems and challenges in the protection and management of mangrove ecosystems in West Papua.

It is said that the mangrove ecosystem area of West Papua Province reaches almost 500 thousand hectares. The mangrove is one of the important ecosystems with various benefits ranging from coastal protection ecosystems, preventing coastal erosion and seawater intrusion, as well as being a source of biodiversity and a source of medicines.
 
In fact, the ability of the mangrove ecosystem to absorb carbon is much higher than other ecosystems.

"This makes mangroves an ecosystem that has a great capacity to mitigate climate change," he said.

Director of Inland Water and Mangrove Rehabilitation, Directorate General of PDASRH, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Ir. Inge Retnowati, who gave a separate statement, welcomed the initiation of the formation of the KKMD in West Papua because in the scheme of accelerating mangrove rehabilitation activities, the cooperation of the parties is an important component.

The synergy of the roles of stakeholders with varied interests in landscape management will determine the joint effort. KKMD will be the liaison institution to accelerate the movement and implementation of the programs contained in the National Strategy for Mangrove Ecosystem Management.

So far, he said, efforts to protect and manage West Papua's mangrove ecosystems have not been carried out in an integrated manner by various parties. Among them are mangrove rehabilitation activities, research and publication of mangroves, awareness-raising and various training efforts to improve community skills in the protection and management of mangrove ecosystems.
 
The Head of Cooperation, Law and Public Relations of the Peat and Mangrove Restoration Agency (BRGM) of the Republic of Indonesia, Didy Wuryanto said that West Papua Province is one of the 9 provinces targeted for BRGM mangrove rehabilitation. Where until 2024 the target for mangrove rehabilitation in West Papua province is 36,890 ha.

In addition, BRGM also carries out institutional strengthening and capacity building up to the village level through the Establishment of Independent Mangrove Care Villages (DMPM).

According to Presidential Regulation No. 120 of 2020, that in order to support the implementation of the duties and functions of BRGM in the regions, the Governor is mandated to form a Regional Mangrove Restoration Team (TRMD). If a KKMD has been formed in the area, it can function as a TRMD.” he said.

Conservation Indonesia formed a regional mangrove working group to address the latest problems and challenges in the protection and management of mangrove ecosystems in West Papua Province.

IKI-PME Senior Project Manager from Indonesian Conservation, Susan Lusiana, said that as a partner the government really supports efforts to preserve and protect mangrove ecosystems.

"In West Papua, Indonesian Conservation is carrying out activities at the site level to benefit the economy and the welfare of the people living around the mangrove ecosystem." he added.

SOURCE : https://www.antaranews.com/berita/2981613/papua-barat-inisiasi-group-karya-mangrove-region