MANY COUNTRIES AGREE TO LAUNCH CTI PROGRAM

Jakarta, May 19 (ANTARA) - Many countries agreed to launch a program on the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Securities and Adaptation to Climate Change (CTI-CFFC) in Manado recently, Indonesia's marine affairs ministry said.

Not only international institutions, several member countries of CTI also expressed their commitment to providing contribution for the implementation of the Regional Plan of Actions (RPOA) and the National Plan of Actions (NPOA) of the CTI program, the ministry said in its statement.

Among the CTI countries expressing their commitment, were Indonesia with financial contribution amounting to US$5 million, PNG US$2 million, the Philippines US$5 million, and Malaysia US$1 million, the ministry said.

The commitment from the Coral Triangle member countries were not part of those provided by international institutions which have so far expressed their commitment, such as: the USA with committed funds amounting to US$41.6 million (US$1.6 million was presented in an agreement between the Indonesian Marine and Fishery Affairs Ministry - DKP, and NOAA of the USA, Global Environment Facilities (GEF) amounting US$63 million, and Australia amounting Aus$2 million which had earlier stated in an interactive dialog meeting with development partners.

The heads of state and government from six countries - Indonesia, Malaysia, The Philippines, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Solomon Island, and Timor Leste, officially signed a Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) Leaders' Declaration in Manado, last May 15, 2009.

In addition to the Declaration, in the opening of the CTI Summit, all heads of state/government also agreed to formally launch a program on CTI-CFFC, and by acclamation stated to adopt RPOA.

The RPOA has five main objectives, namely: development of seascape with a priority to marine area; ecosystem-based fishery management; proclaiming and effective management of marine protected area and its networks; climate change adaptation, and preserving threatened species as well as improving their existence.

The CTI Summit was the peak event of a series of activities organized coinciding with the World Ocean Conference, in Manado, May 11-15, 2009.