Very pleased to see the Global Fund for Coral Reefs-supported programme featured in CNN Indonesia’s long-form multimedia article. Our partner, Meizani Irmadhiany, Executive Chair of Konservasi Indonesia, is a passionate advocate for coral reef conservation and took the CNN team to dive sites to see GFCR-priority coral reefs firsthand.
Indonesia is home to 16% of the world’s coral reef areas and approximately 60% of the world’s coral species. The value of goods and services provided by coral reefs in Indonesia—including fisheries, shoreline protection, and tourism—is estimated at US$1.6 billion per year. However, these precious ecosystems face numerous threats, from climate impacts to overfishing and unsustainable tourism practices.
Seaweed farming is Indonesia’s largest marine aquacultural activity, and continues to grow at an impressive rate. It provides new sources of income, in particular for women, allieviates near-shore fishing pressure, and reduces eutrophication by removing excess nutrients that degrade coral reef ecosystems. However, the rapid spatial expansion of the sector can also detrimental to coral habitats. KI is working with local communities and partners to ensure new farms avoid crictical coral habitats while also providing alternatives to plastic used in the farming process.
The new CNN features includes a highlight of the recently announced first-of-its-kind US$35 million debt-for-nature swap focused on coral reefs supported and co-financed by GFCR.
The Governments of the United States and the Republic of Indonesia, along with key GFCR implementing partners—such as Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN) and Konservasi Indonesia (KY)—signed the agreement to protect Indonesia’s coral reef ecosystems. This groundbreaking deal will help scale conservation efforts for sites hosting resilient coral refugia, including the Bird’s Head Seascape, the Lesser Sunda, and Banda Seascape.
These regions span hundreds of thousands of hectares, providing habitats for over 75% of all coral species and more than 3,000 other marine species. Unfortunately, these ecosystems are the threatened by human impacts, including climate change and local stressors.
United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), together with GFCR Coalition members, is committed to protecting #coralreefs and ensuring their resilience for future generations.
Read more about #GFCR supported efforts in the new CNN Indonesia feature:
https://lnkd.in/ea7uX68e
More information on the recently announced debt swap can be found here:
GFCR supported the signing of a first-of-its-kind US$35 million debt-for-nature swap agreement to protect
