WWF BUILDS HARMONIZED COOPERATION WITH DKP MALUKU PROVINCE
By: Barnabas Wurlianty (EAFM Liasion Coordinator, WWF-Indonesia) & Andreas Hero Ohoiulun (Inner Banda Arc Sub-seascape Project Leader, WWF-Indonesia)
"We hope, in the future, the Marine and Fisheries Service (DKP) of Maluku Province can join hands with WWF-Indonesia, in developing the fisheries and marine sector in Maluku," Head of the Marine and Fisheries Service, Mr. Dr. Ir. Romelus Far Far, M.Si., expressed his hope.
That day (21/11), WWF-Indonesia and DKP Maluku Province held a meeting in the meeting room of DKP Maluku Province Office, Ambon. This meeting aims to build harmonization and synchronization of cooperation related to conservation activities and fisheries and marine management in Maluku Province.
Led directly by the Head of the Marine and Fisheries Service, this meeting was considered strategic by presenting officials from both parties. Invited guests from related stakeholders such as the Regional Environmental Impact Control Agency (Bapedalda), Infocom Agency, Culture and Tourism Agency were also present.
DKP Maluku Province also invited several partners such as the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), the Agricultural and Plantation Protection Center (BP3), the Environmental Studies Center Cooperation Agency (BKPSL), the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM). Learning Center.
This is to streamline the collaboration process in the implementation of future work programs. The completeness of stakeholders and the presence of all heads of fields at DKP Maluku Province shows the seriousness of DKP Maluku Province in seeing the importance of program synchronization.
"Based on the MoU between the Governor of Maluku and WWF-Indonesia in 2015, we are morally responsible for developing the fisheries and marine sector in Maluku." explained Sunda Banda Seascape Program & Fisheries Leader WWF-Indonesia, Imam Mustofa.
"This cooperation needs to be concretized with a program follow-up plan with related agencies within the Maluku Provincial Government. This meeting is a form of commitment to the smooth synchronization of our work to achieve joint targets in the future," he continued.
The scope of cooperation contained in the MoU between WWF-Indonesia and the Maluku Provincial Government itself includes five program strategies. WWF-Indonesia works for the management and protection of critical habitats of marine ecosystems through the development of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs); management and protection of protected and endangered marine biota; sustainable fisheries management; responsible marine tourism management; and strengthening the role of customary institutions (Werka and Kataloka) as a form of sustainable management of natural resources.
"WWF-Indonesia's work in Maluku itself has been running since 1986 for sea turtle issues in Arafura. In 2006, WWF-Indonesia worked in the Kei Islands with local NGO SIRAN for the leatherback turtle issue," said Wawan Ridwan, Director of Coral Triangle WWF-Indonesia.
"Since 2011, WWF together with the Southeast Maluku Regency Government initiated the formation of the Kei Kecil MPA which was finally officially established in early 2016. Today's meeting will also strengthen WWF-Indonesia's contribution in the following years," he concluded.
The spirit that was seen at the meeting at the Maluku Provincial DKP office that day, is expected to continue in the future for a better future of marine and fisheries management in eastern Indonesia, Maluku.
