Preserving and Protecting Sea Turtles, BCA Provides Education on Turtle Conservation to 700 Students and Fishermen in Banyuwangi

Banyuwangi, 4-5 April 2019 – BCA continues to encourage its commitment to actively contribute to promoting the welfare of the people and protecting natural ecosystem through the Bakti BCA’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program. This time, BCA collaborated with the Banyuwangi Sea Turtle Foundation (BSTF), Baluran National Park, Management Office of Coastal and Marine Resources and Radar Banyuwangi in carrying out sea turtle conservation efforts through various activities, including sea turtle nest relocation, student and community awareness activity program, planting coastal vegetation such as sea pandanus as well as semi-natural rearing maintenance.

This time, the Recognize and Preserve Me Program, a student and community awareness activity program, was carried out for 262 students of Public Junior High School (SMPN) 2 Banyuputih, 335 students of Public Elementary School (SDN) 4 Penganjuran Banyuwangi and approximately 140 fishermen and local community members.

Attending to open the event was Head of KCU BCA Banyuwangi Michael Purwanto, Representative of the Banyuwangi Sea Turtle Foundation (BSTF) Wiyanto Haditanojo, Chief Management for Bekol National Park Regional I  of the Baluran National Park Dendi Sutiadi, the Head of Utilization and Conservation Department for the Management Office of Coastal and Marine Resources of Denpasar Mudatsir, and General Manager of Radar Jawa Pos R Bayu Saksono, at Perengan Beach Plaza Baluran National Park, Dusun Pandean, Wonorejo Village, Thursday (04/04).

The event presents keynote speakers from the BSTF and Radar Banyuwangi, who will share various sea turtle conservation-related education such as not to consume sea turtle eggs, stop sea turtle trade, and education on the importance of preserving the sea turtle habitat. In addition to that, specifically for the BSTF students, the event also talks about the difference between sea turtles and tortoises, types of sea turtles in Banyuwangi waters that include the egg shapes, the hatchling characteristics, and the physiology of adult sea turtles, diseases and predators.

Due to its endangered population, sea turtle is listed as one of the protected fauna. The marine reptiles are able to migrate in great distances along the Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and Southeast Asian regions. In the world there are 7 types of turtles and 6 of them are found in Indonesia. “Conservation is one activity that is expected to prevent the extinction of turtle habitat due to natural and human predators. Therefore, BCA carried out this conservation education program in order to prevent the use of turtles for particular commercial interest, such as the trading of their meat and eggs,” explained Michael.

Banyuwangi in East Java has been widely known for its turtle conservation efforts. Not only are they famous as tourist hotspots, the beaches in Banyuwangi, with approximately 175.8 km long coastlines, are also home to sea turtle nests.

“Sea turtles are one of the world’s oldest living creatures and become Indonesia’s unique species as well as a national pride, because six of the seven world’s sea turtle species can be found in Indonesia. Through an educational program on sea turtle conservation for these students, we wish to provide better understanding and information about sea turtles as protected marine biota while simultaneously encouraging students to start loving marine biota, including sea turtles,” added Michael.

In 2019, BCA provided assistance to the BSTF to implement four sea turtle conservation programs, namely Sea Turtle Eggs Relocation, ‘Recognize & Preserve Me’ Program, Semi-Natural Rearing Maintenance, and Planting Coastal Vegetation: Sea Pandanus at Baluran National Park.

Sea Turtle Conservation Education Program in Banyuwangi – Head of KCU BCA Banyuwangi Michael Purwanto(left) with Wiyanto Haditanojo, Representative of the Banyuwangi Sea Turtle Foundation (BSTF), after the sea turtle conservation education program in Banyuwangi, Thursday (04/04). BCA collaborated with the Banyuwangi Sea Turtle Foundation (BSTF), Baluran National Park, Management Office of Coastal and Marine Resources and Radar Banyuwangi in carrying out sea turtle conservation efforts through various activities, including sea turtle nest relocation, student and community awareness activity program, planting coastal vegetation such as sea pandanus as well as semi-natural rearing maintenance.

This time, the Recognize and Preserve Me Program, a student and community awareness activity program, was carried out for 262 students of Public Junior High School (SMPN) 2 Banyuputih, 335 students of Public Elementary School (SDN) 4 Penganjuran Banyuwangi and approximately 140 fishermen and local community members.