MANAGEMENT AND UTILIZATION OF TURTLE CONSERVATION AREAS, SOCIO-ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS, ECOSYSTEM SERVICES.

• Main Author: Asfahani Sauky, M.
• Format: Theses
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/75812
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

This research is motivated by the importance of SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) 14 in the sustainable development of marine ecosystems. Maintaining the sustainability of coastal sea areas so that they are free from any threats caused by natural or human factors is one of the efforts to realize the succession of SDGS 14. However, currently there are still many problems in marine coastal development, one of which is the issue of sustainability of sea turtle species. Commercial and consumptive exploitation of turtle species is often carried out, resulting in disruption of the sustainability of turtle species and their ecosystems. The Pangumbahan Turtle Coastal Park Service Unit, Sukabumi Regency is a conservation organization that manages marine conservation areas in West Java and has the responsibility to manage and utilize turtle conservation. Pangumbahan sea waters as a place for turtle conservation through the existence of a conservation institution that oversees, management and sustainable use of the turtle conservation area should be able to run as expected. Based on the objectives in the research regarding the formulation of strategies for the management and utilization of turtle conservation areas in Pangumbahan, implication the threats and challenges in their management and utilization are capital for producing sustainable management and utilization strategies for turtle conservation based on the Social-Ecological System and Ecosystem Services approach. An integrative and multidisciplinary approach in the Social-Ecological System can understand every interaction between the elements in it (economic, social and environmental) in a balanced and comprehensive manner. Supported by a comprehensive view of Ecosystem Services (providing factors, maintenance regulations, support factors, and cultural services) so as to know concretely all economic, social and environmental elements as material for consideration in managing and utilizing turtle conservation areas. The threat that is very influential in the management and utilization of the turtle conservation area in Pangumbahan is dominated by the human factor. This is based on the activities of fishermen who catch BBL (Benih Bening Lobster) which greatly influences the number of turtles that go ashore to lay their eggs. Other activities, such as fishermen catching fish in a way that is not environmentally friendly, have an impact on the destruction of marine ecosystems, and rampant theft of turtle eggs to be traded. The challenges in managing and utilizing the sea turtle conservation area in Pangumbahan lie in the delays in the process of restoring and maintaining marine ecosystems. It is suspected that the knowledge they have in conserving turtles is still limited, and it is difficult to change the mindset of the community around the conservation area. The use of the Social-Ecological System and Ecosystem Services in formulating sustainable management and utilization strategies, reviewing cases that occurred in the sea turtle conservation area in Pangumbahan, the first thing that must be done is adaptation to the community by providing it with various knowledge and skills so that it can open up opportunities for other alternative livelihoods. The role of the government is highly expected, especially in intensifying cooperation with social groups that have concern for the preservation of sea turtles. The intensification of the government in terms of providing factors and maintenance regulations, through the RPZ (Management and Zoning Plan) of the Pangumbahan turtle conservation area and various policies regarding the sustainability of turtle species and their ecosystems is a corridor in the process of structuring a sustainable turtle conservation area. It is important to remember that in terms of cultural support and service factors, in order to realize the sustainability of the turtle conservation area in Pangumbahan still requires parties involved in supervision, security, and further research development.