RI succeeds in saving coral reefs, says researcher

Desy Nurhayati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesia's efforts to preserve its marine and coastal resources has seen a decline in the number of damaged coral reefs across the country's oceans this year, a researcher said Friday.

Indonesian Institute of Science's (LIPI) oceanography researcher Suharsono said recent data had revealed a decreased percentage of damaged coral reefs -- down to 32.05 percent from 33.17 percent in 2006.

"The declining number of coral reef destruction in Indonesia shows that people's awareness to preserve our abundant ocean resources has improved, thanks to support from the government and the public," Suharsono said.

The research divided the condition of coral reefs into four categories: poor, fair, good and excellent, with the country's areas divided into three regions: west, central and east.

According to research conducted from 908 observation sites across the country's waters, the number of "excellent" and "good" coral reefs had increased to 5.51 and 25.11 percent, respectively, from 2006 figures which sat at 5.23 and 24.26 percent.

Suharsono said the worst destruction had occurred in the western region, while the central region showed the highest number of coral reefs in good condition.

Despite the decline in damaged coral reefs, Suharsono said the reefs were still faced with threats, including natural disasters, global climate change, overfishing and destructive fishing.

Indonesia has the richest coral reefs in the world in terms of quantity and diversity.

The country initiated a multilateral partnership called the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) during APEC's meeting in September in Australia.

The initiative has been lauded as a positive political move by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and a good step toward saving marine resources.

The CTI includes five Asia-Pacific countries -- the Philippines, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and East Timor -- and a joint effort to preserve marine resources in the Coral Triangle Area, a region stretching from the central part of Indonesia to the Solomon Islands, and up from the Indian Ocean across the Philippines to the Pacific Ocean.

The 5.7-million-square-kilometer area is the global center of marine biodiversity with more than 600 coral species and 3,000 fish species, many of which are endemic.

The triangle is home to 76 percent of the world's total coral species and 50 percent of the world's reef fish species.

Syamsul Maarif, director general of coasts and small islands in the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, said coral reefs and species has significantly contributed to the livelihood of millions of people living in coastal areas.

He said efforts still needed to be improved to increase public awareness about the importance of preserving marine biological resources, while at the same time protecting resources needed for people's livelihoods.