PANDEGLANG BANTEN (ISL News) - Coral reef conservation in the Badul Island area, Sumur Village, Pandeglang Regency has again received attention from PT Pelindo Regional 2 Banten together with Laz Harfa and the Banten Coral Reef Conservation Forum (F-PTK). This movement was carried out by involving fishermen and nature communities in Pandeglang.
Manager of Social & Environmental Responsibility Program (TJSL) Pelindo Regional 2 Banten, Asep Sudrajat who is also the Finance & HR Manager of PT Pelindo Regional 2 Banten explained that the planting of hundreds of coral reef spider racks is an effort to provide benefits to the environment and the community of Badul Island, Sumur Ujung Kulon Village, Pandeglang Regency. According to him, coral reefs are an attraction for tourists which are expected to provide an economic impact for local residents.
"Because there is still a lot of room for rehabilitation after being swept away by the 2018 tsunami, we are carrying out this activity to support nature conservation in Indonesia," he said after the launch of the Carbon Village (CSV) Coral Reef Conservation Program in the Badul Island Area, in Tunggaljaya Village, Sumur District, last Thursday (11/14/2024).
Asep Sudrajat assessed that coral reef conservation is not only beneficial for the tourism sector, but can also increase the productivity of fishermen's catches.
"We see the urgency to implement this program, because this is an area that has potential for tourism but was damaged by one of the tsunamis, thus reducing the productivity of residents in terms of tourism, including the productivity of fishermen in fishing," he said.
In line with one of the focuses of PT Pelindo Regional 2 Banten's program in the environmental sector, it is hoped that this program can continue to be sustainable in order to restore and improve the marine ecosystem which brings many benefits to the environment and the surrounding community.
"Hopefully this program can continue and how to monitor and maximize the potential here so as to restore the marine ecosystem that is beneficial to the environment and society," added Asep Sudrajat.
Helping Fishermen
Laz Harfa Program and Partnership Director, Mamak Jamaksari said, this coral reef conservation is a concrete form of preserving the environment while helping fishermen in maintaining their livelihoods "Because, coral reefs are a home for fish to find food and breed. If their home is damaged, the fish population will decrease," he said. Mamak explained, this has been felt by fishermen in Sumur who now have to sail further to find fish, because fish in coastal areas are increasingly scarce. Mamak believes that this conservation must be carried out massively plus involving various groups.
"So, how can we as Banten residents work together to restore, at least reduce the risk of losing fishermen's livelihoods so that the fish can breed again," he invited.
Meanwhile, the Coordinator of F-PTK Banten, Nurwarta Wiguna explained that so far coral reef conservation has often been overlooked. In fact, coral reefs are the first fortress that reduces ocean waves and prevents abrasion and even tsunamis.
(ISL News Editorial Team/Public Relations of Pelindo Regional 2 Banten/email: islnewstv@gmail.com).
