Protecting the Conservation of the Coastal and Small Islands Conservation Areas of the Derawan Islands and Surrounding Waters in Berau Regency, East Kalimantan Province

The Coastal and Small Islands Conservation Areas of the Derawan Islands and Surrounding Waters (Kawasan Konservasi Pesisir dan Pulau-pulau Kecil Kepulauan Derawan dan Perairan Sekitarnya or KKP3K KDPS) located in Berau Regency, East Kalimantan Province, is one of the areas with highest underwater biodiversity in the world, and a member of the global Coral Triangle. KKP3K KDPS is located in Sulu-Sulawesi Seascape, with a total area of 285,548.95 hectares. This area is also known as an essential marine biota migration pathway and a fisheries area with a high economic value. Berau regency also holds the largest remaining mangrove area in Kalimantan. Therefore, it is crucial to managing these areas collectively and sustainably.

To increase the effectiveness of the conservation area management in KKP3K KDPS, on May 25, 2021, in Samarinda City, Pontianak Coastal and Marine Resources Management Office (Balai Pengelolaan Sumberdaya Pesisir dan Laut or BPSPL) facilitated the partnership agreement signing between East Kalimantan Province Marine and Fisheries Agency and Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN) about the Management of the Coastal and Small Islands Conservation Areas of the Derawan Islands and Surrounding Waters (KKP3K KDPS). The signing was done between Riza Indra Riadi, Head of East Kalimantan Province Marine Affairs and Fisheries Agency, and Niel Makinuddin, East Kalimantan Province YKAN Senior Manager, as a representative of YKAN. This signing process was witnessed by Andry Indryasworo Sukmoputro, Head of Pontianak BPSPL.

KKP3K KDPS is managed through partnership as regulated in the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Regulation (PERMEN-KP) NO. 21/PERMEN-KP/2015 about Marine Area Management Partnerships. “As KKP3K KDPS management challenges are very massive, a partnership is necessary so that the existence of marine, coastal, and small islands conservation areas can provide ecological and socio-economic benefits,” explained Riza Indra Riadi, Head of East Kalimantan Province Marine Affairs and Fisheries Agency.

Agreeing with Riza, Andry Indryasworo Sukmoputro, Head of Pontianak BPSPL, stated that KKP3K KDPS has the potential to increase the effectiveness of the management of the highest conservation area in Kalimantan. Therefore, in 2021, KKP3K KDPS was chosen as the main focus by Pontianak BPSPL in encouraging marine conservation areas management sustainability.

“The purpose of this partnership agreement is to support the Government of East Kalimantan Province in implementing KKP3K KDPS management with main programs, consisting of fish habitat and population protection, human resources and community livelihoods capacities improvement, research and education, and sustainable funding system development,” said Niel Makinuddin, East Kalimantan YKAN Senior Manager.