Kubu Raya - WWF-Indonesia West Kalimantan Program and Kubu Raya Regency Government together with partners held a book launch event 'Humans and Natural Wealth in the Kubu Landscape' on Monday (22/5) in Kubu Raya which coincided with the commemoration of International Biodiversity Day.

The book features three aspects of the Kubu Landscape, namely human life, biodiversity and company sustainable practices. With the publication of this book, it is hoped that it can provide benefits for anyone in determining policies, or be a source of inspiration to make contributions that can have a positive impact on the sustainability of the Kubu Landscape, both ecologically, economically and socially.

In the written remarks of the Kubu Raya Regent delivered by the Head of Bappeda Kubu Raya, Yusran Anizam said that if development does not pay attention to natural factors that support the existence of society, the wealth in Kubu Raya will continue to be degraded and development activities will ultimately be hampered.

"With the existing natural wealth, district development should consider environmental preservation. Of course, community welfare is also a priority," he said.

The 84-page book, which contains interesting photos, also specifically aims to provide an overview to the wider community to learn about WWF-Indonesia's conservation efforts in initiating landscape management using a multi-party approach.

To date, support for landscape management has emerged from the Kubu Raya Regional Government and corporate parties such as PT Kandelia Alam, PT Bina Silva Nusa, and PT Ekosistem Khatulistiwa Lestari, and is supported by IDH The Sustainable Trade Initiative for Indonesia, including WWF-Indonesia.

"The biodiversity that exists in the Kubu Landscape needs to be maintained. Landscape management with a multi-stakeholder approach is a solution towards sustainable natural resource management. At present, it is important for all parties from the government level, companies, to the community to participate in carrying out sustainable development by considering the principle of environmental conservation," said West Kalimantan Program Manager, WWF-Indonesia, Albertus Tjiu.

International Biodiversity Day 2017 which carries the theme 'biodiversity and sustainable tourism' is seen as the right momentum for the launch of a book that explores biodiversity and efforts to manage landscapes sustainably.

"The book Humans and Natural Resources in the Kubu Landscape can illustrate the actual condition of the environmental, economic and social values of a landscape that has a unique ecosystem, a combination of mangroves, peat and areas inhabited by coastal communities and terrestrial forests," said IDH Indonesia Director, Fitrian Ardiansyah.

Added by the Director of PT Kandelia Alam, Fairus Mulia, the book Humans and Natural Wealth in the Kubu Landscape also illustrates the relationship between living things and the surrounding nature that are interdependent on one another.

"In order for this landscape to be useful for human life in a sustainable manner, balanced management is needed between the interests of production, protection and inclusion of the surrounding community, which in turn can provide retribution to the government for development," he added.

Kubu Raya as a landscape with rich mangrove forests, which are home to important species such as the Proboscis Monkey (Nasalis larvatus), Irrawaddy Dolphin (Orcaela brevirostris), Finless Porpoise, as well as various types of birds and many other wildlife need to be preserved in order to further increase the importance of the area through joint efforts of the parties.