By: Ciptanti Putri

As one of the Green Turtle nesting areas in South Sukabumi, Pangumbahan Beach faces a number of challenges in realizing a conservation-based ecotourism area. Among them are the lack of community empowerment programs with an ecotourism vision and programs to develop and manage turtle conservation areas, which are regional assets and main attractions for tourists.

"We set a target that the presence of sea turtles will be able to improve the welfare of the community around the area through ecotourism activities combined with efforts to conserve these endangered species," explains Ahman, Head of UPTD Pangumbahan Turtle Conservation, Ciracap, South Sukabumi. In 2012 - when he was first stationed there, the number of turtle landings to lay eggs on the Pangumbahan Coast was in a drastic decline; only 700 landings or around 125 turtles.

This became a homework assignment for Ahman, who admitted that he had no scientific background in sea turtle conservation. "I gradually entered and dialogued with the community and turtle conservation activists. From the three months of intensive interaction, I saw two mutual attachments between sea turtles and the community. If the community is not prosperous, they will attack. In that case, the turtles die. Without turtles, the community has no local assets and loses its identity."

Ahman began to move. He engaged all parties to work together. She began with a partnership with the Sukabumi Turtle Conservation Group (KKPS), a local NGO concerned with turtle conservation. "After the succession of previous officials who abused their authority, I carried out the aspirations of the Pangumbahan community to return turtles to conservation. Together with KKPS, we built from the side of community empowerment and from the side of turtles and their habitat," said Ahman. Various programs were born, including turtle adoption and tree adoption.

Ahman and KPPS' hard work paid off. In 2013, the total number of turtle landings increased dramatically to 5017. The turtle adoption program was well received by the community and corporations, providing additional funds for community empowerment programs. "We formed a waste management group. Although it is not yet running, we have sent three representatives to attend training from the Environmental Agency in Jogjakarta. The funds from the waste management program are temporarily used to train the women here in the business of processing fish into otak-otak, in collaboration with P2HP. This brain-brain business is a preparation for ecotourism. The souvenirs for tourists who come to Pangumbahan Beach will no longer be eggs or products made from sea turtles, but delicious brains," Ahman explained.

With a clear concept and in favor of the community, almost all of Ahman's programs have been successful. The number of partner organizations has also increased, including WWF-Indonesia. "We had a lot of dialogue and received input and guidance from WWF in implementing sea turtle conservation programs so that our UPTD became the best pilot in Indonesia for Green Turtles in 2013. Then, we also received an award from the regional Coral Triangle, which consists of Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia. With the mediation of WWF-Indonesia, friends from Sabang (Aceh) have studied here."

The cooperation between Pangumbahan Turtle Conservation UPTD and KKPS with WWF-Indonesia continues. In the near future, the three parties will carry out a reforestation program of the buffer forest area, a conservation area that protects turtle nesting areas from various threats in addition to being a natural carrying capacity for coastal areas. An area of 10 hectares has been allocated, ready to be planted with a variety of native vegetation, including Ketapang Laut, Kepuh, Pandan Laut, and Nyamplung. The nursery and planting of the vegetation is carried out by the KPPS with the assistance of the local community.

"Everything we have achieved is just a process towards what we are aiming for, in accordance with the vision of the Indonesian Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. We will continue to work to realize the dream that the presence of sea turtles here can improve the welfare of the community around the area through ecotourism and conservation efforts, "concluded Ahman.

BCA has committed to greening half of Pangumbahan Beach's forest buffer zone through the NEWTrees program, while the rest is available for the public to contribute through the My Baby Tree program. The target vegetation planted on the 5-hectare land is 2,000 trees.

Community support is needed in an effort to realize the conservation-based ecotourism target launched by the Head of Pangumbahan Turtle Conservation UPTD. Join the My Baby Tree program at Pangumbahan Turtle Beach by accessing the link http://mybabytree.org, and make Pangumbahan Beach an ideal nesting ground for Green Turtles.