CI warns of coral reef destruction<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Conservation International (CI) warned on Tuesday that Indonesia
\nwould lose its coral reefs in 10 years if the government was
\nunable to conserve them and people continued to use fish bombs.<\/p>\n
\"People who use fish bombs may be not evil as they only do it
\nbecause they have to make a living. But people must realize that
\nif they continue to destroy coral reefs, they will eliminate
\nfish, food and their incomes in the future,\" Peter A. Seligmann,
\nCI's chief executive officer, told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
According to Seligmann, Indonesia would become known as a
\ncountry that destroyed the natural gifts that were bestowed upon
\nit if the destruction of reefs persisted.<\/p>\n
During his visit to Indonesia, Seligmann is scheduled to meet
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri, State Minister for the
\nEnvironment Nabiel Makarim and Minister of Forestry M. Prakosa.<\/p>\n
He had earlier met with Minister of Maritime Affairs and
\nFisheries Rokhmin Dahuri.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has over 17,000 islands, making it the largest
\nisland state in the world.<\/p>\n
Seligmann suggested that the government draft a law to protect
\nreefs.<\/p>\n
\"Such a law is not for the sake of the international
\ncommunity. It is for the benefit of Indonesians,\" said Jatna
\nSupriatna, regional vice president of CI for Indonesia, who
\naccompanied Seligmann.<\/p>\n
Seligmann said that Indonesia needed to ensure that reef areas
\nwere well protected to allow fish to grow, and to set aside areas
\nfor fishing.<\/p>\n
The government is also obliged to educate people to support
\nsustainable fishing, he added.<\/p>\n
Seligmann realized that Indonesia was facing a lot of
\nenvironmental issues, including illegal logging, but the
\ngovernment and people could not just resolve one problem and
\nignore the others.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, he praised Megawati's and Minister Rokhmin's
\ncommitment to improving the condition of coral reefs in
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
Seligmann said CI had offered support to Indonesia to
\nestablish a trust fund for marine conservation.<\/p>\n
\"We will contribute US$1 million to help support the planned
\nestablishment of the trust fund,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"We are really committed to the plan.\"<\/p>\n
He said that CI would talk with the Indonesian government
\nabout possible contributors to the fund, its management and other
\ndetails over the next few months.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ci-warns-of-coral-reef-destruction-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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