The Nusantara Nature Conservation Foundation Disburses Economic Values Of The Koralestari Program In East Kalimantan

One of the coral reef conservation areas out of a total of 4.1 million hectares is restored in Indonesia. (Between/HO YKAN)

JAKARTA - The Nusantara Nature Conservation Foundation (YKAN) said that coral reef conservation through the Koralestari Program with the government is intended to improve the welfare of the community, especially fishermen around conservation areas.

The Koralestari program, which is part of a blue economy policy, can increase the growth and development of fisheries in conservation areas so that the surrounding community can enjoy the fish.

"To increase efforts to protect and restore coral reefs through the push for blue economy activities, YKAN together with partners initiated the Koralestari program," said Marine Program Director YKAN Muhammad Ilman in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, Sunday.

The Koralestari program, which is supported by the Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR), he said, was first launched in Kupang, NTT, on July 1, 2024, then launched also in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, on July 9, 2024.

He stated that the coral reef ecosystem in East Kalimantan has great potential, namely, apart from being included in the Karang Reef Triangle (Coral Triangle), a number of waters in East Kalimantan have also become conservation areas.

"Even so, conservation areas in East Kalimantan are still difficult to reach because of the lack of institutional strength, 90 percent of coral reef damage is caused by people's livelihood activities," he said, quoted by Antara.

For this reason, he and the government continue to encourage the establishment of institutions, with the aim of managing conservation areas to be more effective as well as being able to help in developing people's livelihoods.

According to the Director of Conservation and Marine Diversity of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKHL KKP) Muhammad Firdaus Agung, the Koralestari Program in Indonesia covers 4.1 million hectares.

This area is located in three areas, the first is in the Coastal and Small Islands Conservation Areas of the Derawan Islands and Around Waters (KKP3K-KDPS), namely in Berau Regency, East Kalimantan Province.

Second, in the Sawu Sea National Park (TNP) area, East Nusa Tenggara Province, and the third in the Lingga Regional Waters Conservation Area (KKPD) Lingga Regency, Riau Islands Province.

The vision of the Koralestari Program is the transformation of coral reef protection and restoration efforts through sustainable financing, from water conservation for coral reef sustainability, so as to increase the income of the surrounding community, and coastal resilience to climate change.

"In optimizing the Koralestari Program, it is necessary to pay attention to three aspects, namely conservation, funding, and the economy to reduce pressure on coral reefs," he said.