The Importance of Wildlife Conservation in Green Open Space

Oct 13, 2025 by talynt.org 130 views

Introduction

Medan City, known as one of the metropolitan cities in Indonesia, faces the challenges of urbanization and preserving wildlife. Research conducted by Rizki Munaza under the guidance of Agus Purwoko and Pindi Patana highlights the importance of merging animal conservation with spatial planning to create a more sustainable environment for both entities. This study aims to analyze the socio-economic characteristics of visitors and the economic value of wildlife conservation areas in the Green Open Space (RTH) of Medan City.

The Importance of Wildlife Conservation in Green Open Space

The life of wildlife in the world today is increasingly threatened due to the growth of the population and increasingly intensive human activity. As one of the responses, the government promotes conservation activities, one of which can be integrated into RTH planning. In Medan, there are several conservation areas such as the University of North Sumatra and the Cemara Asri Housing complex, which is an example of a green open space that also functions as a conservation location. RTH does not only act as a green space, but also as a place of recreation, socio-cultural support, and has a high ecological value.

The Role of Green Open Space in Wildlife Conservation

Green Open Space (RTH) plays a crucial role in wildlife conservation. It provides a habitat for various species of plants and animals, and also serves as a buffer zone between urban areas and natural habitats. RTH can also help to mitigate the effects of climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. In addition, RTH can provide opportunities for recreation, education, and community engagement, which can help to promote conservation values.

Socio-Economic Characteristics of Visitors

The main objective of this study is to analyze the socio-economic characteristics of visitors and the economic value of wildlife conservation areas. The results of the study show that the socio-economic characteristics of visitors vary based on gender, education level, income, age group, and origin of visitors. This shows that public interest in wildlife conservation is influenced by various socio-economic factors.

The Effect of Travel Costs and Payment Costs

The study also analyzed the effect of travel costs and payment costs on the level of visits. The results show that travel costs do not have a significant effect on the level of visits, but the cost of payment turns out to have a significant effect. This indicates that the ability and willingness of the community to pay for admission or other contributions to the preservation of wildlife can be a determining factor for increasing visits.

Conclusion

From the results of this study, it can be concluded that the conservation of wildlife in the green open space of Medan City not only has ecological value, but also important socio-economic values. RTH which functions as a conservation area can increase public awareness about the importance of preservation of wildlife and ecosystems. Therefore, the next steps must be directed to increase public education about conservation and provide better facilities to attract more visitors.

Recommendations

By increasing the social and economic value of conservation, it is hoped that Medan City can become a model for other cities in Indonesia in maintaining a balance between the development of urbanization and environmental preservation, especially related to wildlife which is an integral part of our biodiversity. The following recommendations can be made:

Increase public education about conservation and provide better facilities to attract more visitors.
Develop a sustainable tourism model that benefits both the local community and the conservation of wildlife.
Encourage private sector involvement in conservation efforts through public-private partnerships.
Develop a comprehensive plan for the management and conservation of RTH in Medan City.

Limitations of the Study

This study has several limitations that need to be addressed in future research. Firstly, the study only focused on the socio-economic characteristics of visitors and the economic value of wildlife conservation areas in Medan City. Future research can expand the scope of the study to include other cities in Indonesia. Secondly, the study only analyzed the effect of travel costs and payment costs on the level of visits. Future research can explore other factors that influence the level of visits, such as the quality of facilities and services provided by RTH.

Future Research Directions

Future research can build on the findings of this study to explore other aspects of wildlife conservation in green open space. Some potential research directions include:

Exploring the impact of RTH on local communities and their livelihoods.
Developing a comprehensive plan for the management and conservation of RTH in Medan City.
Investigating the role of private sector involvement in conservation efforts through public-private partnerships.
Analyzing the economic benefits of wildlife conservation in RTH.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of merging animal conservation with spatial planning to create a more sustainable environment for both entities. The results of the study show that the socio-economic characteristics of visitors vary based on gender, education level, income, age group, and origin of visitors. The study also found that the cost of payment has a significant effect on the level of visits. Therefore, the next steps must be directed to increase public education about conservation and provide better facilities to attract more visitors. By increasing the social and economic value of conservation, it is hoped that Medan City can become a model for other cities in Indonesia in maintaining a balance between the development of urbanization and environmental preservation, especially related to wildlife which is an integral part of our biodiversity.

Q: What is the main objective of this study?

A: The main objective of this study is to analyze the socio-economic characteristics of visitors and the economic value of wildlife conservation areas in the Green Open Space (RTH) of Medan City.

Q: What are the socio-economic characteristics of visitors that were analyzed in this study?

A: The socio-economic characteristics of visitors that were analyzed in this study include gender, education level, income, age group, and origin of visitors.

Q: What is the effect of travel costs on the level of visits?

A: The study found that travel costs do not have a significant effect on the level of visits.

Q: What is the effect of payment costs on the level of visits?

A: The study found that the cost of payment has a significant effect on the level of visits, indicating that the ability and willingness of the community to pay for admission or other contributions to the preservation of wildlife can be a determining factor for increasing visits.

Q: What are the implications of this study for wildlife conservation in Medan City?

A: The study highlights the importance of merging animal conservation with spatial planning to create a more sustainable environment for both entities. It also emphasizes the need to increase public education about conservation and provide better facilities to attract more visitors.

Q: What are the recommendations of this study for wildlife conservation in Medan City?

A: The study recommends increasing public education about conservation and providing better facilities to attract more visitors. It also suggests developing a sustainable tourism model that benefits both the local community and the conservation of wildlife.

Q: What are the limitations of this study?

A: The study has several limitations, including the focus on the socio-economic characteristics of visitors and the economic value of wildlife conservation areas in Medan City. Future research can expand the scope of the study to include other cities in Indonesia and explore other factors that influence the level of visits.

Q: What are the future research directions for wildlife conservation in green open space?

A: Future research can build on the findings of this study to explore other aspects of wildlife conservation in green open space, including the impact of RTH on local communities and their livelihoods, developing a comprehensive plan for the management and conservation of RTH in Medan City, and investigating the role of private sector involvement in conservation efforts through public-private partnerships.

Q: What are the benefits of wildlife conservation in green open space?

A: Wildlife conservation in green open space can provide numerous benefits, including the preservation of biodiversity, the provision of ecosystem services, and the promotion of sustainable tourism.

Q: How can individuals contribute to wildlife conservation in green open space?

A: Individuals can contribute to wildlife conservation in green open space by supporting conservation efforts, reducing their carbon footprint, and promoting sustainable tourism practices.

Q: What is the role of the government in wildlife conservation in green open space?

A: The government plays a crucial role in wildlife conservation in green open space by providing funding and resources for conservation efforts, developing policies and regulations to protect wildlife and their habitats, and promoting sustainable tourism practices.

Q: What is the role of the private sector in wildlife conservation in green open space?

A: The private sector can play a significant role in wildlife conservation in green open space by investing in conservation efforts, developing sustainable tourism products and services, and promoting conservation practices among their customers and stakeholders.

Q: What are the challenges facing wildlife conservation in green open space?

A: Wildlife conservation in green open space faces numerous challenges, including habitat loss and fragmentation, climate change, human-wildlife conflict, and lack of funding and resources.

Q: How can we address the challenges facing wildlife conservation in green open space?

A: We can address the challenges facing wildlife conservation in green open space by developing and implementing effective conservation strategies, increasing public awareness and education about conservation, and promoting sustainable tourism practices.