InfoSAWIT, TANJUNG REDEB – The Berau Regency Government has once again extended its strategic cooperation with the Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN) for the 2025–2030 period. This step signals a strong commitment from both parties to maintain a balance between environmental conservation and community economic development.
The cooperation agreement was signed in Tanjung Redeb on October 13, 2025. Berau Regent Sri Juniarsih emphasized the importance of synergy between environmental preservation and improving the quality of human resources.
“Berau has extraordinary natural resources, but without superior human resources, this wealth can be wasted. I want our community not just to be spectators in their own land, but the main actors in natural resource management,” said Sri in an official statement received by InfoSAWIT on Tuesday (14/10/2025).
The focus of the next five years will be on strengthening regional policies, managing forest and coastal areas, protecting biodiversity, and empowering local communities, including customary and vulnerable groups. The SIGAP (Citizen's Inspiring Action for Change) Program will remain the backbone of mentoring villages in managing local potential sustainably.
Sri also highlighted the importance of developing local flagship products such as dried shrimp (ebi), fermented shrimp paste (terasi), and chocolate, hoping these products can penetrate national and international markets.
Two Decades of Conservation Partnership
The cooperation between the Berau Regency Government and YKAN has spanned over two decades, since 2002. YKAN has actively supported efforts to preserve biodiversity and sustainable natural resource management in Berau.
YKAN Executive Director Herlina Hartanto highlighted several key achievements over the past five years. Notably, 77 villages and two sub-districts in Berau successfully received funding from the World Bank through the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility–Carbon Fund (FCPF–CF). Furthermore, 31 community groups have obtained Social Forestry management rights covering 106,000 hectares—the largest area in East Kalimantan.
Through the SIGAP Academy, local communities are also mentored to develop value-added products from sustainable commodities like chocolate bars, amplang crackers, terasi, dried fish and shrimp, rattan, and even mangrove batik. In the marine sector, YKAN is actively restoring 200 hectares of damaged mangrove land with the Shrimp-Carbon Aquaculture (SECURE) model—a sustainable aquaculture approach that combines hydrological restoration and strengthening the coastal community economy.
“We are proud to continue supporting Berau Regency in realizing sustainable development. This collaboration is not only about conservation but also about a more prosperous future for the community,” said Herlina. (T2)
