1,600m2 of Raja Ampat's Coral Reef, Mangrove Rehabilitated in ICCTF Program

TheIndonesia.id - The Indonesia Climate Change Trust Funding (ICCTF) is finishing up the rehabilitation program for 1,600 square meter of coral reef, mangrove forest, and seagrass ecosystems in the coastal area of Raja Ampat regency, West Papua, while also empowering the local communities through various programs.

ICCTF’s Coral Reef Rehabilitation and Management Program-Coral Triangle Initiative, or COREMAP-CTI, targets to restore 100 m2 of coral reef ecosystem, 1,000 m2 of mangrove ecosystem, and 500 m2 of seagrass ecosystem through an initiative that kicked off in August 2020 and will finish by the end of this month.

The Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas) said the government appreciates the initiative because it doesn’t only focus on the environmental rehabilitation, but it also creates positive impacts on the socio-economic aspects.

“This program is an example of the best practice because it can integrate conservation programs for coral reefs and biodiversity sustainably, while also improving the welfare of coastal communities and educative ecotourism,” director of marine affairs and fisheries at Bappenas Sri Yanti said on Wednesday, March 23, as reported by Antara.

Empowering the communities is also part of the targets, ICCTF’s executive director Tonny Wagey said.

Communities in Raja Ampat islands, the western part of Waigeo island, and Raja Ampat marine protected area (MPA) are encouraged to involve in programs to enhance their capacity and understanding of natural resource management.

“Their capacity is improved through livelihood programs, such as on innovation to sustainably manage local natural resources and strengthening local wisdoms that can support environmental conservation through written regulation recognized by government,” Wagey explained.

Furthermore, the program also improves locals’ capacity in the development of tourism that is based on endemic and protected marine biota.

“Local communities now become educators for ecology-based tourism at information centers,” Wagey said.

He added that stakeholder and local communities are always involved in the program, including in becoming the protector of their areas.

Lastly, COREMAP-CTI also focuses on empowering women to be integrated in the various programs under the initiative.

According to its website, ICCTF is the only national trust fund dedicated to climate finance in Indonesia equipped with a governmental mandate. Through leveraging and channeling of domestic resources and international funds into projects aligned with Indonesia’s National and Regional Action Plan for Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction (RAN/RAD-GRK) implementation plan, the ICCTF supports Indonesia’s 26 percent/41 percent emission reduction target.