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The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Gorontalo has started a conservation program in the SM Nantu and Tahura BJ Habibie Landscapes since August 2023. This program aims to improve conservation-based land management in the area. Program socialization has begun in various supporting villages of SM Nantu and Tahura BJ Habibie since the end of August 2023. Wawan Akuba, Chair of AJI Gorontalo explained that this program will focus on conservation work in four adjacent villages. "AJI Gorontalo is committed to carrying out conservation and awareness actions for 12 months in four buffer villages," said Wawan, Friday (1/9/2023). The four villages that will be the focus of this program are Bontula Village, Bihe Village, and Pangahu Village in Asparaga District, Boalemo Regency, Gorontalo Province, and Saritani Village in Wonosari District, Boalemo Regency, Gorontalo Province.
Wawan explained, this initiative is part of AJI Gorontalo's efforts to help community groups who are vulnerable to environmental change through support from the GEF SGP Indonesia Program. GEF SGP Indonesia is a small grant funding program aimed at providing sustainable solutions to environmental challenges.
This program is implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and implemented by the Environmental Business Development Foundation (YBUL).
The main objective of this program is to educate the public about the importance of sustainable and conservation-based land management.
With increasing pressure on the environment in the SM Nantu and Tahura BJ Habibie buffer areas, such as deforestation and human activities that damage the ecosystem, this program is important in maintaining the unique and diverse ecosystem in this area.
In addition, this program also includes documenting local knowledge and expertise regarding conservation-based land management. This aims to respond to and utilize local knowledge that already exists in the community to support conservation efforts.
"We are confident that this effort will have a significant positive impact on the communities around SM Nantu and Tahura BJ Habibie. "This program will help the community understand their important role in preserving the natural environment and biodiversity in this region,"
– Wawan Akuba
This program will involve various activities, such as counseling, training, and documentation of flora and fauna in the area. AJI Gorontalo and its partners hope that through this collaboration, local communities will be more involved and have a deeper understanding of environmental conservation efforts. This Conservation-Based Land Management and Biodiversity Documentation Project is clear evidence of AJI Gorontalo's commitment to supporting nature conservation and biodiversity in Gorontalo. It is also hoped that this program will become an inspiring model for similar efforts throughout Indonesia. (*)
This article was published on Tribungorontalo.com with the title AJI Gorontalo Starts Conservation Work at SM Nantu and Tahura BJ Habibie Supported by GEF-SGP-UNDP-YBUL, https://gorontalo.tribunnews.com/2023/09/01/aji-gorontalo-mulai-kerja-konservasi-di-sm-nantu-dan-tahura-bj-habibie-didukung-gef-sgp-undp-ybul.
