BLUD UPTD Raja Ampat Marine Conservation Area and YKAN Strengthen Collaboration in Conservation Management

The Regional Public Service Agency (BLUD) of the Raja Ampat Marine Conservation Area Technical Implementation Unit (UPTD KKP) and the Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN) have signed a cooperation agreement to manage the Raja Ampat Marine Conservation Area. The cooperation agreement covers the period from 2026 to 2028.

Both parties signed the agreement in Sorong on 11 September 2026, committing to strengthen effective and sustainable conservation area management and improve the welfare of coastal communities through responsible marine resource management.

The waters of the Raja Ampat Islands are among the most biodiverse marine areas in the world. Their coral reefs, seagrass, and mangrove ecosystems are a strategic asset for both local and national development.

At the same time, the indigenous communities of Raja Ampat have demonstrated that traditional wisdom, handed down through generations, such as the sasi practice, plays an essential role in preserving coastal and marine resources. Therefore, conservation area management must continue to integrate scientific knowledge, government policies, and the customary values that thrive within the community.

Hasan Makasar, Head of BLUD UPTD KKP Raja Ampat, emphasised that the cooperation agreement is a crucial step towards strengthening conservation governance by fostering closer collaboration with various partners.

“This partnership with YKAN is a strategic move to enhance the effectiveness of conservation area management in Raja Ampat. We aim to ensure that biodiversity protection efforts go hand in hand with institutional strengthening, community capacity building, and the preservation of customary values that have long underpinned sustainable resource management in Raja Ampat,” he said.

The two parties are working together to strengthen their collaboration in optimising the management of the Raja Ampat Marine Conservation Area. This collaboration aims to enhance conservation effectiveness, strengthen the BLUD UPTD KKP Raja Ampat institution, support sustainable marine resource utilization, boost ecosystem resilience to climate change, and promote community economic growth that aligns with nature conservation.

Absalom Solossa, Head of the West Papua Province Marine and Fisheries Department, emphasized that safeguarding Raja Ampat requires strong collaboration among the government, indigenous communities, development partners, and all stakeholders.

“Raja Ampat is a natural heritage with immense ecological, economic, and social value. Collaborations like this are critical to ensuring that conservation areas deliver long-term benefits, both for marine resource sustainability and for the well-being of communities that depend on coastal and marine ecosystems,” he said.

This collaboration is part of a joint effort to ensure Raja Ampat remains one of the world’s best marine conservation areas, where biodiversity, indigenous knowledge, and community welfare are sustainably maintained for current and future generations.

“Effective conservation can only be achieved through strong partnerships. Through this collaboration, YKAN will continue to support enhanced conservation area management, community and institutional capacity building, sustainable fisheries management, and various climate change adaptation efforts so that conservation benefits are felt by the community while safeguarding Raja Ampat’s biodiversity for generations to come,” concluded Muhammad Ilman, YKAN Ocean Program Director.