Misi Lestari: About 500 Runners Realize Caring for Clean The Ocean

Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN) held the top event, "Misi Lestari 2022: #MissionofTheOcean," with around 500 participants from various cities in Indonesia on Sunday, November 27, 2022. This top event was held at the Tukad Badung Reservoir, Denpasar, Bali (on-site race), and virtual.

Misi Lestari 2022: #MissionOfTheOCean is carried out in a hybrid manner, namely, virtual and on-site races. Runners for virtual missions are required to complete a distance of 21 kilometers using the 99 Virtual Race platform from 7-27 November 2022. Meanwhile, on-site races that are also a place to celebrate Misi Lestari are divided into three categories, namely 2.5 kilometers, 11 kilometers, and 21 kilometers.

As known as a half marathon, the number "21" is a symbol of commemorating National Fish Day, which falls every November 21. This commemoration day is a momentum to re-understand the enormous potential of national fisheries and the importance of sustainable fishing practices.

"To obtain quality fresh fish, we need a balanced aquatic ecosystem. And everyone here has a stake in jointly protecting the preservation and cleanliness of the ocean and the biota in it for a sustainable future for Indonesia," said Ketut Astari, Head of Maritime Affairs, Bali Province Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Service.

Misi Lestari is a collaborative activity to preserve the earth by inviting all components of society to care for nature through daily educative activities. The theme "Mission of The Ocean" is in line with the global movement pushed by the United Nations in January 2021, which declared the 'Decade of Marine Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030' to support efforts to practice sustainable water management.

"Mission of The Ocean" is a collective mission to reorganize the connection between humans and the ocean to create a healthy ocean. Misi Lestari activity, which carries the concept of 4 pillars, namely Environment, Educate, Engage, and Entertain, is one way for YKAN to invite the wider community to be involved in efforts to conserve marine ecosystems. This invitation implements through fun activities with elements of sports, namely running.

"This event brings together several runner communities from various cities, such as Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Bali, Balikpapan, and other cities," explained Astrid Candrasari, Project Director of Misi Lestari.

Misi Lestari 2022 was also attended by the Bali Police Chief, Inspector General. Pol. Drs. Putu Jayan Danu Putra, S.H., M.Sc., and Bali Deputy Police Chief Brigadier General. Pol. Drs. I Ketut Suardana, M.Si, who took part in the 11-kilometer category, and 14 influencers who care about preserving marine ecosystems.

Indonesia's Oceans

Being an archipelagic country, two-thirds of Indonesia's territory is water and supports life for more than 60 percent of Indonesia's population. YKAN, with partners, supports the Government of Indonesia in sustainably managing Indonesian waters.

Healthy marine and coastal ecosystems are the foundation for people's livelihoods and welfare. They are one of the greatest natural assets in nature-based climate change adaptation efforts. "Coral reefs, seagrass beds, and healthy mangrove forests in coastal areas increase the adaptability of communities and ecosystems to climate change. When coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangroves are maintained, other marine biotas can also be sustainable," explained Muhammad Ilman, Director of the YKAN Indonesia Ocean Program.

Indonesia's oceans are also rich and now have to deal with the phenomenon of climate change, the development of coastal areas that are not integrated, and fishing practices that are not environmentally friendly. The mission to preserve nature, mainly marine and coastal ecosystems, is the responsibility of every Indonesian, which can now be carried out through various mediums, such as the Misi Lestari.

For more information, please visit  www.ykan.or.id, Instagram @ykan_id atau Facebook Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara.