"When we talk about the green economy, we are talking about carbon. A coastline is one of the biggest carbon sinks through mangroves and corals," Lahdalia stated at the peak of the Nusantara Day event here on Tuesday.
The minister emphasized that efforts to protect and restore the wealth of marine resources encompassed planting mangroves and protecting coral reefs as well as preserving marine life.
Lahdalia also urged local communities to protect coral reefs by not using destructive methods in catching fish, such as bombs, anesthetic agents, or tiger nets.
"In the past, when people spoke about economic potential, it was always about wood (forestry) and mining, (but) they will be gone over time, but coastline, mangroves, corals, and fish will be forever if we preserve them properly," the minister explained.
Southeast Sulawesi Governor Ali Mazi said that the commemoration of Nusantara Day in Wakatobi was also a form of promotion of the regional economic potential by attracting potential investors.
"My job is to make it easier to invest. Hence, we promote this, we invite investors in, we convince them," Mazi affirmed.
He emphasized that the Southeast Sulawesi provincial government will ease investment permits and cut short bureaucracy.
The Nusantara Day activities ranged from planting mangrove trees to releasing green turtle hatchlings, harvesting seaweed, and cleaning up marine debris.
Nusantara Day was inspired by the declaration of Prime Minister Djuanda (1957-1959) on December 13, 1957, that states the Indonesian government has "absolute sovereignty" over all the waters lying within straight baselines drawn between the outermost islands of Indonesia.
A flypast of four Sukhoi aircraft, a sail past of eight state warships, paratroopers from the Indonesian Military soldiers, and a parade involving one thousand boats, enlivened the event.
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Translator: Aditya R, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
