Women are Encouraged to be Involved in the Marine Conservation

Antara 13 May 14;

MANADO, North Sulawesi, May 13, 2014 (ANTARA) -- Six countries of the World's Coral Reef Triangle, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and East Timor, are agreed to encourage the involvement of women in protecting and conserving the world's marine natural resource. This was declared in the Women Leaders Forum held in Grand Kawanua Center (GKICC), in Manado, on May 13.

The Secretary-General of The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Sjarief Widjaja, who acts as the Chairman of Interim Regional Secretariat (IRS) of CTI-CFF, stated that women are necessary to take part in the marine conservation initiatives, particularly in the marine and coastal resource conservation, post-capture fish handling, and the trade.

Sjarief continued that the Forum has set a number of year-round activities, including the study visits, the leader forums, and the activity aiming to reach and influence the decision-making women in the governments.

Sjarief said, "the mission is to build capacity of women throughout the Coral Reef Triangle's countries, so that the women leaders can play significant roles in protecting and conserving the marine and coastal resource."

The Executive Director of Coral Triangle Center, Rili Djohani, who co-pioneered the women leadership program in the Coral Reef Triangle, remarked, "The women leaders, particularly in the society level, has always been actively participating in the marine and coastal resource protection. Somehow, they are less-rewarded and less-recognized. Therefore, by initiating such a forum, we expect to inspire and encourage women be more involved in the sustainable management, conservation, utilization of the natural resource."

The CTI-CFF Women Leaders Forum is organized by CTI-CFF IRS and supported by the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of Indonesia, National Coordinating Committee (NCC) Indonesia, USAID, the Coral Triangle Center, US Department of Interior, The Nature Conservancy, WWF, and Asian Development Bank. The Forum is concurrently held with Special Senior Officials Meeting of CTI-CFF and the 5th CTI-CFF ministerial meeting as well as the World Coral Reefs Conference (WCRC).

During the Forum, six Coral Reef Triangle's countries' women leaders received awards and grants to support and bolster their activities for the society back in their countries. Those women leaders are Martha Lotang from Indonesia, Francesca Ngo Winfield from malaysia, Piwen Langarap from Papua New Guinea, Alma Bool from the Philippines, Moira Dasipio from Solomon Islands, and Robela Mendes from East Timor.

For more information, please contact:

Anang Noegroho
Head of Statistic and Data Center
The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries
+62-21-351-9070

Editor: PR Wire

The Equilibrium of Environment and the Coastal Community Welfare Set to be the Main Agenda of Coral Triangle Initiative
Antara 13 May 14;

Manado, May 13, 2014 (ANTARA) -- In the framework of establishing the better marine and coastal zone management and reservation, all of the state members of the Coral Reef Triangle have composed the framework and the action plan called Coral Triangle Marine Protected Area System (CTMPAS). In addition to increase the the marine and the coastal zone condition, CTMPAS also aims to elevate the equilibrium between the environment and the welfare of the coastal community in the Coral Reef Triangle's countries.

CTMPAS is expected to ensure the coastal community welfare by providing the sustainable economic benefit for the community living around the coastal zone. This is in line with the vision of the CTMPAS establishment which is to create new livelihood and to provide the marine-based food source for the community, as well as conserving the diversity of the natural resource.

The Secretary-General of the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Sjarief Widjaja, who acts as the Chairman of the Interim Regional Secretariat (IRS) for the CTI-CFF held in Manado, on May 13, said, "Technically, CTMPAS will provide the added value for the community, socially and economically, through the elevation of the education capacity, the alternative livelihood source, and ultimately, to enhance the quality of life."

Sjarief continued that the CTMPAS is planned to be widely implemented by the CTI-CFF's state members on 2020. "However, each country has their own way to implement and manage the CTMPAS, depending on the bioecologic, social, economic, and cultural potensials as well as their ocean governance," said Sjarief.

The Marine Protected Area (MPA) is a marine or coastal zone where the coastal community depends on as the livelihood source as well as the marine conservation zone.

CTMPAS was launched today (May 13) preceding the inauguration of the World Coral Reef Conference (WCRC) which will be held on May 14-17 in Manado, North Sulawesi.


Contact Media:
Anang Noegroho
Head of the Statistic and Data Center
The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries
+62-21-351-9070

Editor: PR Wire