Biosphere Reserves in ASEAN Face Similar Problems

There are six strategies that each ASEAN country can take to save biosphere reserves from the impacts of climate change.

KOMPAS/STEPHANUS ARANDITIO

Children go to sea on a canoe near Panggulubelo Harbor, Wangiwangi Island, Wakatobi Regency, Southeast Sulawesi, Monday (29/4/2024).

WAKATOBI, KOMPAS — Almost all countries in ASEAN face similar problems in efforts to protect biodiversity reserves biospherein their territory. Collaboration between countries in the regional area is the key so that a number of goals of the agreements that have been made can be realized.

The Chairman of the Indonesian Man and Biosphere Programme (MAB) Implementation Committee, Maman Turjaman, revealed that there are many challenges in realizing the Five-Year Action Plan in Indonesia. These include the development of infrastructure and human resources in biosphere reserves, low logistical support, funding, and cooperation for research, and government bureaucracy that hinders the maximum use of the budget.

The Lima Action Plan is an agreement on the conservation of biosphere reserves that was agreed upon at the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) Congress held in Lima, Peru in 2016. This ten-yearly congress will be held in Hangzhou, China in 2025.

"The budget for research and innovation programs is very limited. At BRIN (National Agency for Research and Innovation), we always emphasize the importance of this and hope that member state collaboration in the MAB program can mutually support each other," said Maman during the 15th Southeast Asian Biosphere Reserve Network (SeaBRnet) International Conference at Patuno Resort, Wangi-Wangi Island, Wakatobi Regency, Southeast Sulawesi, on Tuesday (30/4/2024)."

Furthermore, according to Maman, there are also external factors such as the investment interests of the government or private sector in development that disrupt biosphere reserves. Not to mention the issue of changing government leadership which makes programs unsustainable.

This depends on our collective work and innovation. Multi-stakeholder collaboration to save biodiversity.

Similar challenges are also experienced by other ASEAN countries, such as Cambodia. Representative from the Directorate of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Hong Chamnan, said that the problems in his country were also related to population growth, overfishing, lack of funding, and climate change which is an obstacle to the preservation of the Tonle Sap biosphere reserve.

"The prolonged dry season has resulted in a decrease in water quality and has affected the habitats of fish and other marine biota, as well as leading to an increase in forest fires in the biosphere reserve area," said Hong.

KOMPAS/ICHWAN SUSANTO

A group of bat fish passes by the Mari Mabuk diving point, Tomia, Wakatobi, Southeast Sulawesi, Wednesday (12/4).

Indonesia has 20 biosphere reserves covering an area of ​​30.5 million hectares which have been gazetted by UNESCO. Starting from Cibodas, Komodo, Tanjung Puting, Lore Lindu, Siberut, Mount Leuseur, Giam Siak Kecil-Bukit Batu, Wakatobi, Bromo Tengger Semeru-Arjuno, Takabonerate-Selayar Islands, Blambangan, Betung Kerihun Danau Sentarum, Berbak-Sembilang, Rinjani, Togean Tojo Una-una, Saleh-Moyo-Tambora, Bunaken Tangkoko Minahasa, Karimunjawa, Merapi-Merbabu-Menoreh, and Bantimurung Bulusaraung Ma'rupanne.

However, Maman revealed that the Indonesian government has not fully implemented the Five-Year Action Plan on all 20 biosphere reserves. Therefore, the government still needs to report its efforts to support and maintain the earth's biosphere reserves at a UNESCO meeting that has not been reported before.

Also read: Become a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Improve the Management of Two Natural Landscapes in Central Java

Conservation efforts in three biosphere reserves, namely Cibodas, Giam Siak Kecil-Bukit Batu, and Wakatobi, have been reviewed and reported at the World Network of Biosphere Reserves Congress (WNBR) in July 2023 in UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France. The Indonesian Government is also making efforts to add Raja Ampat in West Papua or Palung Mendawak in West Kalimantan as the next UNESCO biosphere reserves.

Six strategies

Secretary of SeaBRnet, Ryuichi Fukuhara, outlined at least six strategies that can be taken in the preservation of biosphere reserves in the next 10 years. First, each country needs to compare its achievements in the last 10 years with the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Programme (MAB).

Then establish a measure of progress to assess sustainability practices integration, community involvement levels, and regional development contributions, then link them with relevant SDG indicators. After that, identify the gaps between desired results and current achievements by noting the parts that have not reached the target.

"Listen to the local community, conservation institutions, and policy makers to get an idea of the challenges in the biosphere reserve development area," said Ryuichi.

Also read: Genetics Prove Bajau Tribe's Diving Ability

Furthermore, also consider external factors such as environmental changes, political changes, and socio-economic challenges that can impede progress, then make adjustments. Lastly, ensure that the established strategy is sustainable improvement by strengthening cross-sector collaboration that innovates together.

Collaboration between countries

Director of Education, Science, and Culture of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Jakarta, Maki Katsuno Hayashikawa, emphasized that the Earth is currently facing various environmental problems due to human activities, which lead to climate change. Meanwhile, it is the future generation who will bear the consequences.

KOMPAS/STEPHANUS ARANDITIO

Governor's Advisor for Government, Law, and Politics in Southeast Sulawesi, La Ode Fasikin; Director of UNESCO in Jakarta, Maki Katsuno Hayashikawa, Vice Regent of Wakatobi, Ilmiati Daud, as well as Director of Cultural Development and Utilization, Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education, Irini Dewi Wanti, pose for a photo together at the Spice Route exhibition in the series of events for the 15th Southeast Asian Biosphere Reserve Network International Conference at Patuno Resort, Wakatobi Regency, Southeast Sulawesi on Tuesday (30/4/2024).

The 15th SeaBRnet held on Wangi-Wangi Island, Wakatobi District, Southeast Sulawesi, from April 30th to May 2nd, 2024, will be a forum for discussion and evaluation of various efforts made by ASEAN countries on this issue. Opportunities to collaborate are also open.

”This depends on our collective work and innovation. "Multi-stakeholder collaboration to save biodiversity," said Maki.

Also read: ASEAN and UNESCO Discuss the Future of the Biosphere Reserve in Wakatobi

The results of SeaBRnet will be announced in the Bajau Declaration at the end of the conference as a contribution to ASEAN's ideas to be brought to the WNBR congress in Hangzhou, China, in 2025.