UN Adopts Indonesia’s Proposal on Sustainable Coral Reefs Management

Jakarta, InfoPublik –Indonesia’s draft of Sustainable Coral Reefs Management resolution previously submitted to the United Nations (UN), was agreed upon and adopted at the 4th Session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-4) in Nairobi, Kenya, Friday (3/15), 2019.

This was conveyed by Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) Minister’s Expert Staff for Society and Inter-Institutional Relations Dr. Suseno Sukoyono in an official statement on Monday (4/1).

The UNEA-4 meeting is the world's highest-level-decision-making body on the environment. This session produced a number of resolutions and called for global action to address the environmental problems faced by the world today.

In the meeting, Indonesian delegation was represented by Suseno Sukoyono. He stated that the resolution carried by Indonesia and Monaco, and supported by Mexico, the Philippines and South Korea was the first resolution agreed upon by member countries out of a total of 23 resolutions adopted in the meeting.

"One of the paragraphs of this resolution is to invite the world to deal with Live Reef Food Fish Trade (LRFFT), including its potential adverse effects. The trade is rampant in Asia Pacific countries," he said.

He added that this resolution also encouraged member countries to participate in the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network to compile reports on global coral reefs status in 2020.

According to him, this resolution is significant for the world because it requires harmonization and coordination between countries to implement policies related to conservation and management of coral reefs, both at international, regional and local levels.

For information, coral reefs, known as the 'rainforests' of the marine ecosystems, covers only less than 1 percent of the earth’s surface. Coral reefs have a very significant role for the marine ecosystem for its function as home to a quarter of all marine species in the world.

Nevertheless, in the past few decades, the world has lost around 50 percent of the coral reef due to climate change and human behavior.

"Damage to coral reefs is a threat to marine and human ecosystems. Coral reefs provide the potential for environmental services worth US$11.9 trillion, equivalent to Rp16.9 million trillion rupiah per year for a population of 500 million people in the world," said Director General of Marine Spatial Management, Brahmantya Satyamurti Poerwadi.

Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti appreciated Indonesia's achievement in calling for Sustainable Management of Coral Reefs at the international level. According to her, the move is in line with Indonesia's vision to build sustainable maritime and fisheries management.

"Indonesia should be proud because the adoption of this resolution shows an achievement of diplomacy and international recognition on Indonesia's leadership commitment and consistency in prioritizing coral reefs management and conservation at the global level," she said.

Minister Susi said that Indonesia has consistently demonstrated its commitment since Indonesia initiated cooperation between six Asia Pacific countries to protect coral reefs through the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF) in 2009. The commitment was again proven by Indonesia's role in hosting Our Ocean Conference 2018 in Bali and at the co-leadership as chairman of the International Coral Reef Initiative for the period of 2018-2020.

"I hope this achievement will not make us over satisfied. On the contrary, this is a starting point and motivation for us to continue to guard and stop unsustainable fisheries practices to ensure the availability of food security in 10, 20, 30 years to come." she said. (Reporter: Baheramsyah, Translator: Wilda Stiana)