By: Elisabeth B. Wetik
Jakarta (18/12)-Since 2004, attention to the rate of biodiversity loss in the world has increased. This was shown by the agreement of a program for protected areas (Program of Work on Protected areas - PoWPA) at the 7th Conference of the Parties (COP) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Kuala Lumpur. The target set at that time was to substantially reduce the rate of biodiversity loss. The program is further applied in a gap analysis of the ecological representation of protected areas. Through this gap analysis, areas of high ecological and biodiversity value and their representation in a conservation area will be mapped.
As a follow-up to the agreement at the national level, the Directorate General of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation (PHKA) of the Ministry of Forestry in collaboration with the Directorate General of Marine, Coastal and Small Islands, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, and a number of non-governmental organizations, including WWF Indonesia, has conducted joint activities to analyze the ecological representation gap of conservation areas in Indonesia. Furthermore, the results obtained in the gap analysis of conservation areas in Indonesia were then workshopped on December 10, 2010 in Jakarta.
"The gap analysis of conservation areas is conducted to identify and obtain information on biodiversity on land and water, as well as to identify the representation of biodiversity both on land and in water," explained the Head of Sub-Directorate of Nature Conservation Information Center of the Ministry of Forestry, Agus Haryanta.

The workshop was organized to obtain input from relevant parties on the results of the gap analysis that has been carried out as a reference in designing priorities and future policy steps. Director of Area Conservation and Protected Forest Development of the Ministry of Forestry, Sony Partono said that the current conservation areas are generally located in areas that are difficult to reach, while areas that are easy to reach actually have abundant biodiversity, but unfortunately there are still many that have not been represented in conservation areas.

With increasing development pressure, it directly or indirectly threatens the sustainability of biodiversity and ecosystems both inside and outside conservation areas. In addition, it is estimated that around 80% of endangered wildlife habitats are found outside of conservation areas. Therefore, gap analysis is a tool that can help identify areas with high biodiversity that need to be included in conservation areas.
The workshop produced several important formulations and follow-up actions that serve as constructive inputs for the development of conservation areas in Indonesia. Some of these inputs are:

• There is a need to socialize the gap analysis document to various parties, including decision makers in the regions such as provincial, district, city governments, the private sector and non-governmental organizations, both through printed documents and online media as well as workshops.
• Funding is needed to translate into English and print the gap analysis document through funding requests to partners and through the budgeting of each agency.
• Internalization of the gap analysis document is immediately carried out in each agency, especially in the Ministry of Forestry and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries so that it becomes a reference for related agencies in sector development and regional development.
• Make a formal letter to the Ministry of Forestry and the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries.
• Create a formal letter from the Minister of Forestry to all agencies such as Bappenas, Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Home Affairs as a short-term strategy in order to make the gap analysis document a reference in regional development planning.
• To make the gap analysis document a reference for non-governmental organizations and the private sector (Management Units, certification bodies, etc.) in business planning and program development including the development of best management practices in area management, as well as ecosystem restoration efforts.
• Using strategic institutions such as Wantimpres and UKP4 or influential individuals who have charisma and have a wide network to help socialize gap analysis documents in the context of preparing RTRWP, RZWP3K, RPJP, RPJM, and P3K Renstra in each province.
• The improvement of the gap analysis document needs to be carried out by considering other indicators such as freshwater ecosystems (including freshwater fish), cetacean migration, and then weighting the priority of important ecosystems to be used as conservation areas.
• Long-term strategies include improving the management of ecoregions that have important ecosystems that are currently not included in the conservation area network, and starting to develop APL areas that have important biodiversity conservation values to be managed with conservation principles. Particularly for areas that have been identified as having high conservation value, they should also be developed into new conservation areas, or at least included in protected areas in the RTRW.
• Prioritize the handling of the results of the gap analysis in the form of action plans and strategies.