RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia and the United Kingdom, together with a consortium of conservation partners, are advancing efforts to protect ecosystems from land to sea in Southwest Papua through the Darwin Initiative Extra Ridge-to-Reef Conservation Project. The program, supported by the UK government, connects terrestrial, coastal, and marine ecosystems under an integrated approach known as “ridge to reef”.

In a statement issued Thursday, February 19, 2026, Indonesia’s Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries and the Ministry of Forestry, together with consortium partners, announced a series of meetings and field visits held in Sorong City and Regency from February 13–15, 2026.

The consortium includes the Darwin Initiative, Fauna & Flora International (FFI) Indonesia, and Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN).

“Conservation areas are most effective when managed collaboratively. Community involvement, local government support, and development partners are key to sustaining marine resources, especially in biodiversity-rich regions such as the Bird’s Head Seascape,” said Firdaus Agung, Director of Ecosystem Conservation at the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Firdaus Agung, said as quoted by Antara.

Southwest Papua Governor Elisa Kambu emphasized that the ridge-to-reef approach enables the province to align environmental protection with development planning. “Conservation is not a barrier to development, but rather the foundation for the well-being of the people of Southwest Papua,” he noted.

Southwest Papua and neighboring West Papua together host 1.7 million hectares of conservation areas, home to diverse protected plant and wildlife species.

International Biodiversity and Climate Director at the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Andrea Ledward, highlighted the region’s importance for integrated land-sea conservation.

“Through the Darwin Extra Ridge-to-Reef Conservation Project, we are working with Indonesia and local partners to strengthen protected area management and expand community-based conservation,” she said.

The initiative reflects the broader Indonesia–UK Strategic Partnership, launched in London on January 20, 2026, by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. The project is seen as a tangible outcome of that partnership, translating shared ambitions into lasting impact on the ground.

YKAN Executive Director Herlina Hartanto underscored the central role of local communities. “YKAN bridges policy, science, and practice," she said, explaining that in Malaumkarta, they support communities in applying their customary system, known as 'egek', to design marine zoning and implement it effectively.

"Here, indigenous communities are the guardians of the sea, supported by government and development partners,” she concluded. ***