We will also conduct research regarding the resilience of coastal ecosystems, including the seagrass beds, coral reefs, and mangroves.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Oceanographic Research Center of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) is developing a practical coastal ecosystem monitoring tool that will be easy to use, even by the general public.

The tool will also be scientifically reliable to meet the demand for coastal monitoring data, head of the research center, Udhi Eko Hernawan, said at a virtual press conference on Thursday.

The research center is also mapping coastal seabed ecosystems in collaboration with a number of parties through a national monitoring network to collect and integrate data related to various coastal ecosystems, he added.

In addition, the Oceanographic Research Center is preparing a national major design on coastal ecosystem monitoring to provide scientific support for devising policies on sustainable coastal ecosystems and small island management.

"We will also conduct research regarding the resilience of coastal ecosystems, including the seagrass beds, coral reefs, and mangroves,” the research center head informed.

On the same occasion, BRIN, Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Bogor Agricultural University, as well as Pattimura University agreed to establish a national monitoring network to support the management of coastal ecosystems and small islands by inking a joint agreement.

Earlier, recommendations for the monitoring network establishment had been formulated under the Coral Reef Rehabilitation and Management Program–Coral Triangle Initiative (COREMAP-CTI) Program.

Related news: COREMAP-CTI Program to become coastal ecosystem management model

COREMAP-CTI program is part of the Indonesian government’s efforts to protect the national coral reef and coastal ecosystem from destructive fishing, pollution, and climate change. In addition to maintaining the sustainability of the maritime ecosystem, it aims to increase the welfare of people living in coastal areas.

At the press conference, Hernawan informed that the implementation of the program – which was initiated in 1998 – is going to end in June this year.

Hence, the national coastal ecosystem monitoring network is being established to replace the COREMAP-CTI program.

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Translator: Martha Simanjuntak, Uyu Liman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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