South Sumatra Provincial Government Launch Regional Mangrove Working Groups

Multistakeholder forums are essential in supporting the accelerated recovery of mangrove ecosystems, which was raised in the workshop with the theme "Developing the South Sumatra Coastal Environment." This activity was organized by the Musi River Basin Management Office (BPDAS), the South Sumatra Provincial Forestry Service, and the Nusantara Nature Conservation Foundation (YKAN) on December 8, 2022, in Palembang. On this occasion, the South Sumatra Governor's Decree on the Establishment of the Regional Mangrove Working Group (KKMD) for the South Sumatra Province was also handed over to the Chairperson of the South Sumatra Province KKMD.

The area of mangroves in South Sumatra Province is 158,900 hectares (KLHK, 2021), 27.98% of the total area of mangroves in Sumatra (567,900 thousand hectares). Therefore, strategic steps are needed to maintain its sustainability. The role of the multistakeholder forum is significant in this regard, so it forms the basis for establishing the KKMD in South Sumatra Province.

"The South Sumatra Provincial Government has a huge commitment to efforts to protect mangrove ecosystems. This requires a good planning strategy supported by the close cooperation of all parties. For this reason, we would like to take this opportunity to thank BPDAS Musi, the South Sumatra Provincial Forestry Service, and the Nusantara Nature Conservation Foundation, which have been overseeing the process of forming the South Sumatra Provincial KKMD," South Sumatra Governor Herman Deru explained in his written remarks.

Support for the South Sumatra Province KKMD came from the central government." KKMD is the liaison between the local and central governments regarding mangrove conservation. The Ministry of Environment and Forestry is ready to support KKMD throughout Indonesia, including South Sumatra Province," explained the Director General of Watershed Control and Forest Rehabilitation of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Dyah Murtiningsih, on occasion.

KKMD of South Sumatra Province is a forum for mangrove observers from various parties, including the government, academia, NGOs, the private sector, and the community, to work together to preserve the mangrove ecosystem. "With the South Sumatra Province KKMD it is hoped that it can build synergy between stakeholders to support mangrove conservation efforts so that it will have a positive impact, namely the aspect of preserving the mangroves themselves and contributing to improving the community's economy," explained Head of the South Sumatra Provincial Forestry Service Pandji Tjahjanto who also serves as Chair of the South Sumatra Province KKMD.

The same thing was conveyed by the Head of BPDAS, Musi Sulthani Aziz. "Our task is to build a comprehensive environmental protection scheme. In the process, the community must be involved so that a good synergy is built between the government and the community," said Aziz.

The social aspect is an important thing that cannot be separated in coastal management. Public awareness about the importance of preserving mangroves is a successful factor in mangrove conservation efforts. "The KKMD of South Sumatra Province is expected to be able to encourage sustainable mangrove management. Mangroves are maintained, and the community is also prosperous," explained the Regional Secretary of the South Sumatra Province, Suman Asra Supriono.

"An ecosystem-based collaborative management strategy is an important thing that must be pursued in the context of integrated coastal management. KKMD is expected to take a role in this matter. In practice, we are ready to support the KKMD of South Sumatra Province towards better management of mangrove ecosystem restoration. For example, YKAN and the Ogan Komering Ilir District Government are currently developing a mangrove ecosystem management model as a natural solution to climate change," concluded YKAN's MERA Program Director Muhammad Imran Amin.