REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, DENPASAR - Minister of Marine and Fisheries, Sharif Cicip Sutardjo vowed to achieve the target of 20 million hectares (ha) of water conservation areas in 2020. Currently water conservation areas in Indonesia have reached 16 million ha.
"We are optimistic about that. The areas are in over 350 districts," Sutardjo said recently in Nusa Penida, Bali.
Government has launched Water Conservation Area of Nusa Penida on 20,057 ha, based on Ministerial Decree No. 24/KepMen-KP/2014.
Nusa Penida has the potential of marine resources. There are 296 types of coral reefs in an area of 149.05 ha, which becomes the Coral Triangle, a global center of marine biodiversity. Nusa Penida also has 576 fishes species, inlcuding five new species. There are also mangrove forests and seagrass beds. Marine mammals, such as whales and dolphins are often seen in Nusa Penida, including green sea turtle and hawksbill turtle.