KUBU RAYA - A number of parties collaborated to socialize the program to increase production, restoration, conservation of mangroves and landscape-based peat in Kubu Raya, Wednesday (16/3/2016). This effort, which has been carried out since 2015, aims to convey complete information to the Kubu Raya Regency Government and West Kalimantan Province.

The development of the potential of Natural Resources (SDA) in the Kubu Landscape through the Mangrove and Peat Production Improvement, Restoration and Conservation Program has been carried out by WWF in collaboration with PT Kandelia Alam, PT Bina Silva, and PT Ekosistem Khatulistiwa Lestari, with the support of IDH The Sustainable Trade Initiative from the Netherlands. Given that this cooperation program has just begun, so the first step needed for WWF and its partner companies is to socialize the program. Through this socialization, it is also expected to get positive support from the district government, including the provincial government, and the community.

WWF-Indonesia's West Kalimantan Program Manager, Albertus Tjiu said, what resulted from the program can support and have a positive impact on the district government's development program. Including for the preservation of natural resources and can improve the welfare of the community, "he said in Pontianak, Tuesday (03/15/2016).

The cooperation between the parties is carried out to ensure the preservation of natural resources in the Kubu Landscape, which has
unique ecosystem in coastal areas, and has an important role for the environment. The mangrove forest area in this region has a function to withstand water and wind abrasion which ensures the survival of people living in coastal areas, besides that it also has economic value for the community.

While Pawan-Kubu Landscape Leader, WWF-Indonesia West Kalimantan Program, Ian M. Hilman
said, the results of WWF's observations in the Kubu Landscape, at least there are areas that have High Conservation Value (HCV).
High Conservation Value (HCV). "There is a mangrove forest with quite a lot of species composition. There are at least 40 types of mangroves including Candelia candel, proboscis monkey habitat, porpoise habitat, and newly identified 60 species of birds," he explained.

Collaborative conservation-based management efforts are something that needs to be prioritized in the Kubu Landscape, considering that the government has issued business licenses for various types of businesses such as IUPHHK-HA (HPH), IUPHHK-HT (HTI), IUPHHK-Ecosystem Restoration (RE), palm oil and mining. Therefore, to ensure the balance between production and conservation functions in the Kubu Landscape, companies (private sector) are one of the key actors. But no less important is also the support of communities in and around the Kubu Landscape.

President Director of PT Kandelia Alam, Fairus Mulia, said that his party sees the importance of collaborative efforts of the parties in the management of conservation-based mangrove areas in Kubu Raya Regency. "The productive objectives of the concession are still aligned with conservation interests such as mangrove restoration programs and wildlife protection as well as improving the welfare of communities around the concession area," he said. The same thing was also conveyed by the Director of PT Ekosistem Khatulistiwa Lestari (EKL), Ahmad Zaenal Fanani, who also supported the collaborative management steps in the Kubu Landscape. "The program to increase production, restoration and conservation of mangroves and peat is carried out as a joint effort to ensure the preservation of the ecosystem and its functions and natural resources in Kubu Raya," he said. This socialization activity is also accompanied by a workshop and photo exhibition of the results of strengthening the community through photography (Panda CLICK!) conducted in 5 villages in Batu Ampar District, Kubu Raya Regency, which illustrates the potential and socio-cultural life of the Kubu Raya community.

About the Panda CLICK! Program
Panda CLICK! (Communication Learning towards Innovative Change and Knowledge) is a program to
community strengthening through photography as a form of visual communication using a non-traditional approach towards innovative change and knowledge in the community through visual recording media, to document important things in everyday life such as the state of the environment/nature, social community, culture, etc.
environment/nature, social society, culture, and others.

The Panda CLICK! program aims to increase the capacity of visual communication knowledge in the community
through documentation activities, building a nature conservation media network at the local level, and facilitating the community to use the results (products) of documentation to voice problems or hopes for change for the better.

Panda CLICK! Kubu Raya program has been conducted in 2014 - 2015 (1 year program) in 5 villages (Desa
Padang Tikar, Batu Ampar, Sungai Kerawang, Teluk Nibung, and Nipah Panjang) as an assessment
related to pre-conditions of management in the field of conservation. The Workshop and Panda Photo Exhibition CLICK!
aims to convey and present the potential that exists in the Kubu Raya Regency area, including
its community life. The results of the Panda CLICK! Kubu Raya Program (23,956 photos) can be used as a reference for district management plans, both development and protection in a sustainable manner.
sustainable.

For more information, please contact:

Fairus Mulia | PT. Kandelia Alam
Email: Fairus.mulia@live.com

Ahmad Zaenal Fanani | PT. Ekosistem Khatulistiwa Lestari
Email: azfanan@yahoo.com

Ian M. Hilman | Pawan-Kubu Landscape Leader, WWF-Indonesia West Kalimantan Program
PHONE: +62 811 5780 080 | Email: ihilman@wwf.id