Abun – Coast of Jeen Womom, Tambrauw District, West Papua Province has, finally, been declared as a part of Coasts and Small Islands Conservation Areas. The declaration is under the Act of Marine and Fishery Ministry No. 53/KEPMEN-KP/2017 covering the total of 32.250,86 Ha. The legal act was conducted on 22 December 2017.

It is an effort to protect spawning habitat of, at least, four species of sea turtle; leatherback sea turtle, olive ridley sea turtle, hawksbill sea turtle, and green sea turtle. Two main spawning areas are Jamursba Medi coastline (Jeen Yessa) on the western part, and an eastern coastline that is sited 30 km from the first coastline, Warmon coastline (Jeen Syuab). In 2015, during a traditional ceremony of calling leatherback sea turtles, names of the two coastlines were changed into local language, JEEN WOMOM a.k.a. Leatherback sea turtles’ coastline. The changing was legalized by a Decree No.522/303/2015 covering 32.250,86 Ha of the coastlines.
 
To the local government of Tambrauw District, the declaration gives a contribution to make real of the Regent’s dream for the district to become a conservation area. The dream is supported by its’ committed local government giving any infrastructures, personnel, and documents to the Province of West Papua as instructed in the Law No.23/2014.

The Director of WWF-Indonesia for Papua, Benja V. Mambai, stated that WWF-Indonesia, with Tambrauw government, the Marine & Fisheries Agency of West Papua Province, along with all related parties included in the collaborated forum are happy to welcome the declaration. Mr. Benja, then said how the area has been a pride to all the people and local government not only because of its wide area but also because of its potential as sea turtles spawning spot. Thus, he mentioned the possibility to have a beneficial cooperation, regionally and internationally.

Despite the legal declaration, it is important to understand that the fight is not over yet. It is not the end but the beginning to a better management of conserving leatherback sea turtles and their habitats to better improving life’s quality of the animal and local people.

Thus, WWF-Indonesia hopes that all related parties to hold hands in preserving and improving the locals to be able to benefit from their well-conserved environment.

For further information, please contact :
 
-    Ade Erawati Sangadji – Learning Center, Marketing and Communication Coordinator,  
     WWF-Indonesia program Papua
     Mobile Phone: 0813-3833-2440,
     E-mail: asangadji@wwf.id
-    Hadi Ferdinandus – Technical Leatherback Conservation Management Coordinator,
     WWF-Indonesia Program Papua
     Mobile Phone: 0812-4046-288,
     E-mail: hferdinandus@wwf.id