Planet Indonesia’s Post

In this species spotlight, meet the Banggai cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni), 🐟 one of the rarest and most striking fish found in Indonesia’s Banggai Archipelago. 🌊 Why is the Banggai cardinalfish so important? The Banggai cardinalfish helps maintain balance in coral reef ecosystems by controlling populations of small invertebrates and serving as prey for larger marine predators. It also supports ecotourism by attracting divers and snorkelers to its native habitats in Indonesia, boosting local economies and promoting conservation efforts. 🚩 Why is it threatened? Characterised by a silver body with black stripes and white spots, this small fish has become iconic among aquarium enthusiasts. Unfortunately, its popularity has led to overexploitation, and its restricted range makes it particularly vulnerable to extinction. 🌏 Protecting the Banggai cardinalfish Conservation efforts – including more sustainable aquarium trade practices and habitat protection – are essential to ensure the survival of this endangered, iconic, and important species. Learn more about the incredible wildlife found in our MPAs on ➡️ https://bit.ly/3yEiX5u Photo © David Waschbüsch Blue Alliance Philippines Nomad Archipelago Nomad Plastic Global Fund for Coral Reefs UBS Optimus Foundation Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance IUCN GenEM Foundation #SpeciesSpotlight #BlueAlliance #BanggaiCardinalfish #Banggai #Indonesia #MarineBiodiversity #MPA

Approximately 500 million people worldwide depend on coral reefs for food, income, and coastline protection. 🌊 Coral reefs are vital to the health of our oceans, providing habitat for about 25% of all marine species. Unfortunately, these vibrant ecosystems face numerous threats, including climate change, pollution, overfishing, and destructive fishing practices. To protect coral reefs, conservation and restoration methods are essential. Conservation focuses on safeguarding reefs through measures like Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), which limit harmful human activities. Restoration involves active efforts to rehabilitate damaged reefs, such as coral gardening and creating artificial reefs. 🎣 Through our MPAs, we are protecting coral reefs from threats like illegal and unsustainable fishing. Our efforts ensure that these ecosystems remain resilient and continue to thrive. In Banggai, Indonesia, we are also working on coral restoration projects within our MPAs. These projects involve planting coral fragments on degraded reefs, promoting natural recovery, and enhancing biodiversity. 🌏 In the MPA Banggai Area 7, within the tourism subzone, some corals have been damaged due to human activities such as anchoring, coastal infrastructure, and waste. These areas are closely monitored, and we're seeing some increase in the size of the corals to measure the success rate. We use the spider web method to restore species such as Acropora mucronata, Acropora digitifera, and Acropora hyacinthus. Coral restoration can also be used to raise awareness by educating local communities and tourists alike about the crucial role of coral reefs and promoting community engagement in restoration efforts. ➡️ Learn more about our conservation efforts in Banggai, Indonesia: https://bit.ly/3Hnvjjo #CoralReefs #ForCoral #MarineConservation #CoralRestoration #OceanHealth #SustainableFishing #Banggai #Indonesia #BlueAlliance #MPA

🌳🌊 Happy International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem 2024! 🌊🌳 In 2015, UNESCO designated 26th July as the annual International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, also known as World Mangrove Day, and was made during the 38th session of UNESCO's General Conference, in response to a proposal by Ecuador. Today, we celebrate the incredible importance of mangrove forests in Malaysia and around the world. These unique ecosystems are not only home to a diverse range of plants and animals, but they also play a crucial role in protecting our coastlines, mitigating climate change, and supporting local communities. Here in Malaysia, we are blessed with vast mangrove forests that provide numerous benefits: 🐠 Biodiversity hotspots: Mangroves are home to a wide array of species, including fish, crustaceans, birds, and mammals. 🛡️ Coastal protection: Mangrove roots help stabilise shorelines, reducing erosion, protecting against storms and flood mitigation. 🌳 Carbon sequestration: Mangroves absorb and store large amounts of carbon dioxide, helping to mitigate climate change. 🎣 Livelihoods: Many communities rely on mangroves for fishing, aquaculture, and ecotourism. Let's take a moment to appreciate these amazing ecosystems and pledge to protect them for future generations. What can you do to help? 🌱 Learn more: Educate yourself and others about the importance of mangroves. 🤝 Get involved: Support organisations working to conserve and restore mangrove forests. ♻️ Reduce your impact: Make sustainable choices in your daily life to reduce your carbon footprint. 📢 Spread the word: Share this post and raise awareness about mangrove conservation! Together, we can ensure the survival of these vital ecosystems for years to come. #MangroveDay  #MangroveConservation #ClimateChange #SustainableDevelopment 

Am sharing the article discusses the critical role of turtles in the ecosystems of Terengganu’s islands and their significance to local communities. The local communities have a deep ecological understanding of turtles, benefiting economically through egg collection, conservation efforts, and tourism. However, the article also addresses the challenges of sustainable tourism and the importance of involving local communities in turtle conservation to ensure their protection and the sustainability of local livelihoods. https://lnkd.in/gukX7rSS

🌳 **Ecosystem Representation in Peninsular Malaysia’s Protected Areas (PA)** 🌳 A recent analysis highlights the current extent and conservation status of various ecosystem types within Peninsular Malaysia's protected areas: - **Mangroves**: 1.9% of original extent protected. - **Beach Vegetation**: 3.3% of original extent protected. - **Freshwater Swamps**: 15.5% of original extent protected. - **Peat Swamps**: 2.2% of original extent protected. - **Lowland Dipterocarp Forests**: 10.3% of original extent protected. - **Hill Dipterocarp Forests**: 30.2% of original extent protected. - **Lower Montane Forests**: 49.3% of original extent protected. - **Upper Montane Forests**: 51.9% of original extent protected. 🔍 **Key Insights**: - The total original extent of ecosystems was 13,182.9 (1,000 ha), with 6,827.4 (1,000 ha) remaining as of 2006. - Only 2,009.25 (1,000 ha) of these ecosystems are within protected areas. Efforts to increase the protection of these critical ecosystems are essential for biodiversity conservation and environmental sustainability. 🌱 #Conservation #Biodiversity #Sustainability #PeninsularMalaysia #EcosystemProtection ---

A recent proposal by the Ministry of National Development to establish a second marine park in the Southern Islands marks a significant step towards safeguarding, preserving and celebrating Singapore's coral reefs and marine life around Lazarus and Kusu Islands. This offers a beacon of hope for our underwater treasures against a backdrop of the ever-rising threats of climate change, pollution and human encroachment (among many other drivers involved) in modern society. The interconnectedness between land and sea is often overlooked. The new marine park is not merely about protecting the coral reefs and the marine life that depends on them; both have been continuously providing invaluable ecological services, such as shoreline protection and fishery support, for us, free of charge! Moreover, at a time where Singaporeans’ engagements, knowledge and appreciation for the nature and wildlife that grows right in our own backyard are becoming more limited, the marine park will be the perfect tool to raise awareness and inspire deeper appreciation for Singapore’s natural heritage and marine ecosystems, a key step in instilling a greater sense of collective responsibility and initiative among individuals to be better stewards for the environment. As an NGO focused on ocean conservation, we are glad that the intrinsic value of marine ecosystems and their integral role in sustaining life on Earth are now receiving the appropriate recognition and protection. Through our end-to-end solutions, we aim to protect and conserve the rich marine life that can be found in the coastal town of Pasir Ris. Through our clean up programmes (https://lnkd.in/g4rigZPs), we have helped to remove more than 10 tonnes of plastic waste which could have harmed any marine life unfortunate enough to consume them or get trapped by them. Our Mussel Lines (https://lnkd.in/gpkiZ_tH) that we plant around sea-based fish farms are each capable of filtering 1600-2000 litres of seawater per hour, removing harmful toxins, algae and bacteria (which are usually introduced by pollution and human activities) to allow marine life to flourish. Last but not least, we partner with Indonesian NGOs to repopulate coral-depleted waters in East Bali by planting more than 400 coral reef stars (https://lnkd.in/gt-HGqMM) into the seabed to promote coral growth along its surface. If you manage a coral restoration project (or know someone who does), or are interested in participating in our meaningful projects and/or sponsoring coral reef stars, do get in touch with us! Robust partnerships like these are key to scale up our projects and their impacts. The clock is ticking, and the time to act to save our remaining biodiversity is now. #LazarusIsland #KusuIsland #CoralReef #Conservation #Biodiversity

🌿🌊 **Preserving Southeast Asia's Mangrove Forests: A Call to Action!** 🌊🌿 The mangrove forests of Southeast Asia, spanning from the Andaman to the Timor Sea, represent a crucial part of our global ecosystem, covering 32% of the world's mangroves. 🌏🌳 Indonesia, the crown jewel of this region, hosts 20% of these forests, underscoring its vital role in biodiversity conservation. However, these irreplaceable ecosystems face unprecedented threats. Over the past 30 years, vast expanses have been decimated to accommodate agriculture, aquaculture, and urban expansion. The consequences are stark: increased flooding, erosion, loss of wildlife habitats, and devastating impacts on local communities. 🏝️💔 The story of Southeast Asia's mangroves is a stark reminder of the fragility of our natural world. As we witness the erosion of these vital ecosystems, the time to act is now. The preservation of mangrove forests is not just about conserving nature; it's about safeguarding our future against climate change, protecting biodiversity, and ensuring food security for millions. 🐠🍃 Let's unite in calling for enhanced conservation efforts, stricter regulations, and a commitment to sustainable development. Together, we can turn the tide and secure a greener, more resilient future for Southeast Asia and the world. 🌍💚 https://lnkd.in/gPBdFC9B #MangroveConservation #SustainableFuture #ClimateAction #Biodiversity #SoutheastAsia #Mangroves #Indonesia

Join the Movement to Restore Indonesia’s Mangroves! 🌱 Indonesia is home to 23% of the world’s mangroves, yet over 40% have been lost. These crucial ecosystems are essential for protecting our coasts, maintaining climate balance, and supporting local livelihoods. We encourage your organization to make a lasting impact by investing in mangrove restoration. Here’s how you can help: ✅ Safeguard coastal areas ✅ Sequester up to 10x more carbon than terrestrial forests ✅ Support local fisheries, ecotourism, and entrepreneurship Every one of us has the power to make a difference. Let’s work together to inspire a ripple of positive change through mangrove restoration. 🌍 Collaborate with us to restore Indonesia’s mangroves: https://lnkd.in/gYsPjdFJ #ClimateAction #Sustainability #MangroveRestoration #CSR #PositiveImpact

On Monday, January 15, 2024 I participated in a webinar with the theme “General Lecture: Berlayar Menuju Konferensi Dunia Bahari” organized by Suar Bahri Kultura . After participating in the webinar, I got various important information, such as: - Indonesia is an archipelago that has great marine potential with a water area of 7.9 million square kilometers, which is the largest in Southeast Asia. - Indonesia has the second longest coastline in the world reaching 81,290 km. Indonesia is an area that is part of the coral triangle. The Coral Triangle, also known as the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI), is a region surrounding Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and the Solomon Islands. It's renowned for its staggering marine biodiversity, encompassing: Over 600 coral species: This represents more than 75% of the world's known coral species, 3,000 species of reef fish: This means more than a quarter of the world's reef fish diversity dwells in the Coral Triangle, 13 species of marine mammals: From dolphins and whales to dugongs, the Coral Triangle offers a haven for these majestic creatures. Indonesia plays a crucial role in the Coral Triangle: Largest portion of the Coral Triangle, boasting over 17,000 islands and an extensive coastline, Richness in biodiversity with over 574 coral species and 45 mangrove species, Indonesia's marine ecosystems are exceptionally diverse, Conservation efforts participates in the CTI, committing to conserving 200,000 square kilometers of its marine area by 2020. Remember, the Coral Triangle is a natural wonder in dire need of protection. By understanding its importance and supporting conservation efforts, we can ensure this vibrant ecosystem thrives for generations to come.

## Strengthening Thailand's Forest Protection with Innovative Fiscal Policies With 124.375 million rai of lush forests 🌳🌲🌴🌿 hanging in the balance, Thailand faces a critical decision. Within these emerald realms reside myriad species and essential ecosystems, yet they confront escalating challenges, including deforestation. To prevent further loss, Thailand's Royal Forest Department has taken significant steps to emphasize forest restoration. Through legislation and action, the government aims to reserve existing forest land for conservation while promoting tree plantations to contribute to overall forest cover. 🌳🌱🌲 Thailand's strength lies in unity. Community participation and ecotourism play essential roles in sustainable forest conservation. By engaging local communities, Thailand can create economic incentives for protecting natural environments. 🌳🌿🌲🌴 Additionally, Thailand has explored environmental commodity taxation to encourage forest conservation and land use change. Ecological fiscal transfers allocate funds to local governments based on forest preservation efforts, rewarding local communities for their conservation actions and promoting sustainable practices. 💰💸💶💷 #ThailandForestProtection #InnovativeFiscalPolicies #DeforestationChallenges #ForestRestoration #CommunityEngagement #EcotourismInitiatives #EcologicalFiscalTransfers #SustainableLandUse #PublicPrivatePartnerships #PeatlandConservation #SustainableCoffeeCultivation #EcoFishery #EduEcoTourism #FosterTreeProgram #ASEANSustainability #CombatingDeforestation #FinancialIncentives #CommunityDrivenInitiatives #ForestManagement #EmissionsReduction #SoilFertility 🌳🌿🌲🌴🌱