Indonesia-UNEP Meet on Coral Reef Management in Manado

Manado, North Sulawesi, (Antara) - Indonesia  and the  United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is holding a consultative meeting on the implementation of a resolution of the U.N. on coral reefs sustainabke management in the North Sulawesi city of Manado.

"We are holding this meeting to follow up the adoption of the resolution on coral reefs sustainable management," Director General of Marine Space Management of the Marine and Fisheries Ministry Brahmantya Satyamurti Poerwali said here on Tuesday.

The resolution was issued during the second United Nations General Assembly on the environment (UNEA-2) in May 23-27  this year in Nairobi, Kenya, Brahmantya  said.

He said Indonesia cooperates  with UNEP to hold the consultative meeting  on the implementation of the resolution  and Manado was chosen as the host.

"We chose Manado  as the city is the location of the office of secretariat of  Regional Coral Triangle Initiative,  and would be one of locations for triangle meeting on coral reef," he said.

Brahmantya said the meeting is strategic as it is expected to issue a recommendation , guidance for UNEP  in taking follow-up steps after the UNEA-2.

North Sulawesi Vice Governor Steven Kandouw welcomed delegations from various countries , saying he was pleased with the  international attentions to the marine environment in Manado.

The vice governor said North Sulawesi has wide sea territory with beautiful coral reefs that need to be preserved.

He said he was proud that Jakarta and UNEP had chosen Manado to host the consultative meeting on coral reef.

He said the people of Manado are generous  and peaceful.(*)