Environmentalists launch campaign to save reefs<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Environmentalists have launched a year-long
\ncampaign to save Indonesia's endangered coral reefs.<\/p>\n
The United States-based Nature Conservancy, the Pusaka Alam
\nFoundation and the Wallacea Development Institute began the \"Save
\nOur Coral Reefs\" campaign on Wednesday to raise public awareness
\nabout the ongoing degradation of coral reefs.<\/p>\n
The Wallacea Institute asked the government to turn the
\nWakatobi Islands in Southeast Sulawesi, known for their rich
\nmarine resources, into a national park.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the institute Ibnu Sutowo said that unless great
\nefforts are taken, \"the reefs in that area will disappear in the
\nnext several years\".<\/p>\n
He also proposed that a research center be set up on one of
\nthe islands with experts from the Indonesian Institute of
\nSciences and other relevant agencies.<\/p>\n
Harmful fishing practices have begun to damage the reefs in
\nWakatobi, but not as extensively as the damage done to the coral
\nreefs in Taka Bonerate National Sea Park in South Sulawesi, he
\npointed out.<\/p>\n
\"We have to prevent further damage (by turning the islands
\ninto a national park),\" he told the gathering.<\/p>\n
Also present at the ceremony on Wednesday were State Minister
\nof Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, Minister of Forestry
\nDjamaludin Suryohadikusumo, honorary chairman of the Wallace
\nInstitute Sudomo, and Japanese Ambassador Taizo Watanabe.<\/p>\n
Sarwono said Indonesia used to be able to be proud of its
\npristine 60,000 square kilometers of coral reef, considered the
\nlargest and most beautiful in the world.<\/p>\n
\"We really should be concerned about the condition of our
\nreef's ecosystem,\" he said, adding that efforts to salvage it
\nshould come from the government and all members of society.<\/p>\n
A most recent study by the Indonesian Institute of Sciences
\nrevealed that only six percent of Indonesia's reefs are in
\npristine condition, Sarwono said.<\/p>\n
He identified a number of causes behind coral reef
\ndegradation, include natural, physical and biological processes
\nas well as wasteful and irresponsible human activities.<\/p>\n
\"Coral reefs are destroyed by mining for limestone and
\nbuilding materials, by fishing with explosives and chemical
\npoisons, particularly potassium cyanide,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He also said the reefs can be destroyed by a process of
\nsedimentation from on-shore sources, by industrial and
\nagricultural pollutants and by using the reefs as disposal sites
\nfor city and household garbage.<\/p>\n
Further damage to Indonesia's coral reefs will degrade the
\nquality of the marine and coastal ecosystems, he said, adding
\nthat damage to these larger ecosystems will limit social and
\neconomic development for Indonesia's coastal people.<\/p>\n
Sarwono said more education for those who depend on the coral
\nreefs for their livelihoods would enable them to manage the
\nresources in a more sustainable manner. (31)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/environmentalists-launch-campaign-to-save-reefs-1447893297",
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