CTI'S ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT PROJECT RECEIVES US$2.3 MILLION AID FROM ADB

BANGKOK, July 30 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and five member countries of the
Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) are set to receive US$2.3 million technical
assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to strengthen coastal and
marine ecosystems management.

Marilou Drilon, natural resources economist of ADB's Southeast Asia
Department said, the project would promote regional cooperation on information
exchange and decision making, based on scientific and technical knowledge.

Often referred to as "the Amazon of the Seas," the Coral Triangle contains
vast marine resources, critical for the economic and food security of an
estimated 120 million people.

ADB said these resources are at immediate risk from a range of factors,
including the impact of climate change, excessive fishing and unsustainable
fishing methods.

The Manila-based ADB said in a statement Thursday that it was actively
assisting the CTI, which groups Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the
Philippines, Solomon Islands and Timor Leste to oversee the 5.7 million square
kilometer expanse of ocean.

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) will provide a US$1.2 million grant,
to be administered by ADB, for the project.

GEF aids projects on global environmental issues involving climate change,
biodiversity, international waters, and ozone depletion.

ADB's Regional Cooperation and Integration Fund under the Regional
Cooperation and Integration Financing Partnership Facility will provide an
additional US$500,000 grant while the six member-countries would contribute
US$600,000 to complete the project funding.

The project will help establish regional learning mechanisms and disseminate
research-based information to define options and decisions for sustainable
resource management.
-- BERNAMA