The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries has officially designated the Babar Islands Marine Park as a Regional Conservation Area (KKD) through the Decree of the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries No. 68 of 2022. Now, Maluku Province officially has 11 areas with a total of 1,978,463.03 hectares of water area that have been designated as conservation areas.

The Babar Islands are located between Wetar Island and Yamdena Island, with Babar Island as the largest main island and surrounded by small islands such as Ilmarang, Dawelor, Masela and Wetan Islands. The conservation area in these Islands has an area of 370,527.09 hectares, and has unique natural phenomena and high attractiveness which has a great opportunity to support the development of sustainable water tourism.

The Acting Head of the Marine and Fisheries Service of Maluku Province, Erawan Asikin said, "In 2022 there are 4 KKDs that have been established, 3 of which are in Southwest Maluku Regency and 1 in Tanimbar Regency. The establishment of these Regional Conservation Areas is the result of collaboration between the Maluku Provincial Government, Southwest Maluku Regency Government, WWF Indonesia Foundation, local communities, and various related partners."

Erawan Asikin also conveyed the achievement targets that will be achieved in the future.  "This is an extraordinary achievement, then we will continue to ensure that all conservation areas in Maluku are managed properly. In addition, Maluku targets Buru and South Buru districts to also be designated in 2023," he said.

The natural beauty, islands, coasts and underwater of the Babar Islands which are still very natural are a special attraction for domestic and foreign tourists. tourists usually come with Live on Board (LOB) or stay on the Phinisi boat to do diving tours at various points of the waters of Southwest Maluku Regency. Not a few tourists also stop by Welora, one of the villages on Ilmarang Island which has a neat layout and still keeps relics of Dutch and Japanese history despite being in a remote area.

Imam Musthofa Zainudin as the Head of Marine and Fisheries Program of WWF Indonesia Foundation said, "As a partner of the Maluku Province Marine and Fisheries Service who participated in the initiation of this Regional Conservation Area from the beginning, WWF Indonesia Foundation is also proud of the establishment of the Babar Islands. Through this collaboration, we have also collected basic data to be used as reference material for the preparation of management work plans. We will participate and support all the processes well because this is a good year-end activity".