Sharif said, IMACS (Indonesia Marine and Climate Support) is a grant program from USAID as a manifestation of bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and America. Another forms of cooperation which will be increased such as Cooperation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Marine Protected Area Governance (MPAG), and the Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) on Science and Technology. Along with these cooperation, the Conservation Area Program Sea (Marine Protected Area/MPA) is expected to support the commitment of Indonesia in developing marine protected areas covering 20 million hectares in 2020, through effective and sustainable management by developing local water conservation system.
"Marine Protected Area Governance (MPAG) is an advanced program of Coral Triangle Support Program (CTSP) - Indonesia aimed to support the efforts of Indonesian Government to achieve the commitment of 20 million hectares of marine protected areas (MPA) by 2020, as well as the achievement of effective MPA management in Indonesia," said Sharif.
MPAG program which has implemented for three years (2012 - 2015) will be escorted by a consortium of five NGOs i.e. Conservation Indonesia (CI), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Coral Triangle Center (CTC) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) so that it can synergize with central and local governments. The program has three essential components MPAG including the establishment of system of Marine Areas program Protected by local MPA, effective MPA management in selected areas and assessment of financial management systems of government grants related to foreign revenue.
As further efforts in its preparation, MMAF will coordinate the soialization of MPA in MMAF environment which supported by official plan to launch MPA program with relevant parties. The plan is MPA program will be officially launched by Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries on the mid of 2012.
Sharif said MPA Program along with the efforts of MMAF to repair and manage the marine protected area (MPA) of marine protected areas (MPA) to protect biological biodiversity and fishery production. As part of the MRP USAID, MPAG works together with IMACS and NOAA with in the integration activities of MPA with sustainable fisheries through the establisment of indicators of "Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management" (EAFM), and capacity building of Human Resources. Indonesia has received grants from the Government of United States (U.S.) through US agency which is engaged in the international development, (USAID) for US$ 800 thousand in order to cooperative research between US and Indonesia aimed to preserve marine biodiversity and environment.
Not only that, MMAF actively work together to coordinate strategic movement by NOAA related to follow-up of cooperation plans for blue carbon research, continuing of Halmahera INDEX research, capacity building and training in beta analysis, expert technical assistance, and Corridor Joint Exhange. It is related to the development of science, knowledge, Monitoring, Controlling and Surveillance, Developing Capacity in Stock Assessment, and Marketing. Equally important, MMAF-NOAA will update the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which will be ended in September 2012.
For more information, please contact Indra Sakti, SE, MM, Head of Data, Statistic and Information Center, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (Mobile: 0818159705)
Reporter: Okta
Editor: PR Wire
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