The government of Kutai Kartanegara district in East Kalimantan is dedicated to preserving the habitat of the endangered snubfin dolphins (Pesut Mahakam). This commitment is evidenced by the recent issuance of a district decree focused on conserving these dolphins’ aquatic habitat.
“The issuance of the Decree of the Head of Kukar District Number 75/2020, which addresses the preservation of aquatic conservation areas for Pesut Mahakam, is a clear demonstration of our commitment,” stated Kutai Kartanegara District Secretary Sunggono in Tenggarong on Thursday.
Further commitment was shown through a cooperation agreement with the Directorate General of Marine and Marine Space Management of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP). This agreement focuses on managing conservation areas in the Mahakam waters, particularly in the upstream region of Kutai Kartanegara.
The implementation of this cooperation was formalized by the Heads of the Pontianak Coastal and Marine Resources Management Center and the Kutai Kartanegara Fisheries and Maritime Service signing a work matrix.
Present at the signing ceremony for both collaboration agreements were Kutai Kartanegara District Secretary Sunggono, Head of the Collaboration Section of the Kutai Kartanegara District Secretariat Ismi Nurul Huda, and representatives from Mulawarman University on Tuesday, May 28.
“This collaboration is an effort by the regional government to protect various habitats within natural conservation areas, particularly those of the Pesut Mahakam,” Sunggono stated.
He emphasized the importance of cooperating with other districts or cities in East Kalimantan to ensure that the protection and supervision of conservation areas are synergistic and well-coordinated.
“Such cooperation is necessary as the conservation area of the Mahakam River spans multiple regions. The mid-section of the Mahakam River flows through Kutai Kartanegara District, while the upstream section runs through the districts of West Kutai and Mahakam Ulu,” Sunggono noted.
Therefore, he affirmed that cooperation is essential for adequately protecting these conservation areas.
