West Papua Provincial Government Socialization of Raja Ampat Islands Marine Conservation Area Management and Zoning Plan for 2019 -2038

Raja Ampat Waters is a marine conservation area in West Papua Province which has the highest biodiversity in the world. To support sustainable and sustainable use, it is necessary to have directions and arrangements contained in the Management and Zoning Plan (RPZ) document, as mandated by laws and regulations. The Raja Ampat Islands MPA RPZ has been established based on the Decree of the Governor of West Papua Number 523/124/7/2019 dated July 9 2019. The area is 1,343,943 hectares which is divided into six management areas, namely area I Ayau Asia Islands, area II Mayalibit Bay , area III of the Dampier Strait, area IV of the waters of the Misool Islands, area V of the waters of the Kofiau-Boo Islands, and area VI of the Fam Islands.

The RPZ contains potentials, conservation targets, policy directions, and strategic programs that support three aspects, namely protection, utilization, and preservation, including directions for utilization zoning. This was the subject of discussion in the "Socialization of the Raja Ampat Islands Marine Conservation Area Management and Zoning Plan 2019 – 2038" which was carried out online by the Marine and Fisheries Service of West Papua Province in collaboration with relevant agencies, and supported by Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN) on (15/10).

Jacobis Ayomi, Head of the Marine and Fisheries Service of West Papua Province, in his opening remarks of this outreach activity stated, “We hope that with this RPZ document, synergy can be built for all elements of society and stakeholders both in Raja Ampat and in West Papua, so as to create a good governance system. manage marine and coastal areas in an integrated manner to increase the carrying capacity of the environment through conservation that supports the management of marine conservation areas in a sustainable and sustainable manner. And this is in line with the vision and mission of the Governors and Deputy Governors of West Papua."

“To support the effectiveness of its management, our policy direction is to strengthen the zoning system in protecting biodiversity, supporting livelihoods and sustainable use of environmental services, building the capacity of human resources and local institutions, including adat, in managing marine resources, and enhancing networks. between coastal water conservation areas and small islands in the Bird's Head Seascape area and nationally," explained Syafri, Head of the BLUD UPTD for the Management of the Raja Ampat Islands Marine Conservation Area.

Syafri added that the conservation of the waters of the Raja Ampat islands is also supported by a socio-cultural system and traditions that are manifested into local policies. One example is sasi, a practice of using natural resources in a sustainable and sustainable manner that has been around for generations. To further strengthen this function, within the Raja Ampat MPA management zoning, sasi is accommodated in the sasi subzone and traditional uses as part of the sustainable fisheries zone.

Adat, which is supported by the active role of the community, is one of the key factors for the success of conservation in Raja Ampat. One approach that can be used by the community is through the Fishery Area Access Management (FAAM) or Territorial Use Right for Fishing (TURF) mechanism. “PAAP is simply a mechanism for communities living in conservation areas to use resources within the area exclusively under strict conditions, namely responsibly to maintain their sustainability. In the context of Raja Ampat, this approach is very relevant and important because of the very large role of adat in preserving natural resources,” explained YKAN Director of Oceans Program Muhammad Ilman.

Sustainable management

In 2012, the Government together with relevant stakeholders have prepared the RPZ for the Raja Ampat Islands MPA for 2012-2017. However, over time and the dynamics that occur, the document is reviewed to adjust to current conditions. In 2019, through multi-stakeholder collaboration, from the government and development partners, the RPZ was updated so that the Raja Ampat Islands Aquatic Conservation Area Management and Zoning Plan for 2019-2038 was prepared.

"The potential of diverse and rich coastal and marine resources makes the Raja Ampat Archipelago Water Conservation Area one of 35 marine conservation areas that are a priority for the government in achieving the target of 10% of Indonesia's waters area or 30 million hectares by 2030. Raja Ampat Not only assets of West Papua or Indonesia, but also assets of the world, so it is the responsibility of the government and the community to manage and maintain it so that it remains sustainable," concluded the Head of the Sorong PSPL Workshop, Santoso Budi Widiarto.