December 11, 2007

US Protects Biodiversity in Coral Triangle with $4.35 Million in Funding

Bahasa Indonesia

The United States Government announced that it intends to commit $4.35 million in support of the recently-announced Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI).  These funds will be used to help countries in East Asia and the Pacific build the Initiative during its formative stages, and reflects the most recent step in President George W. Bush’s commitment to good stewardship of the environment. 

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Claudia A. McMurray met December 10 in Bali with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and representatives of other CTI countries. She indicated that this initiative is part of the long history of collaboration between the United States and Indonesia on ocean issues, “This is an important priority for the United States.” 

U.S. CTI delegation leader Dr. Gerhard Kuska, Director of Oceans and Coastal Policy from the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) commented on the announcement in Bali:  “President Bush praised Indonesian President Yudhoyono for taking this initiative on coral reef conservation when the two met in Sydney.” 

The U.S. Government will support the following activities that constitute the highest priorities of the CTI: a) the designation and effective management of priority “seascapes”; b) an ecosystem approach to the management of fisheries and other marine resources; c) the establishment and effective management of Marine Protected Areas, including community-based resource utilization and management; d) achieving climate change adaptation measures; and e) improving the status of threatened species. 

The regionally-driven Coral Triangle Initiative is slated to be a comprehensive plan addressing two major threats to this biologically diverse marine region: resource exploitation and climate change effects.  The Coral Triangle Initiative affects Indonesia (Central and Eastern), Timor-Leste, the Philippines, Malaysia (Sabah), Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands.

The United States has long been a supporter of integrated coastal resources management, improved coastal governance, and coral reef conservation within the Coral Triangle region.  Programs administered through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. State Department have partnered with governments and other stakeholders over the past two decades at the local, regional and national levels.  Since the late 1990s, USAID has provided $33 million for marine/coastal conservation programs in the Coral Triangle region that have already been completed.  Currently, USAID is providing $26 million for ongoing marine/coastal management programs in this important area. 

For additional information please contact the U.S. Embassy Jakarta Public Affairs Section:  (62-21) 3435-9566,  USAID Jakarta Press Office: (62-21) 3435-9424 or www.jakartausembassy.gov.

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