Jakarta (ANTARA) - Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Edhy Prabowo has said that planting a coral or coral reef is equivalent to planting 20 trees and can support efforts to improve the economy in the nation’s coastal areas.
"(Planting corals) also adds bargaining power to the world that by building coral, we also build towards a cool climate in Indonesia. (This is) Because planting one coral is equivalent to planting 20 trees," said Minister Prabowo in a statement received here on Friday.
He said he believes coral or coral reef restoration could prove useful in efforts to improve the economy in coastal areas, and is in line with the National Economic Recovery (PEN) program.
The coral reef restoration program in the Indonesia Coral Reef Garden (ICRG) and the preservation of coastal ecosystems are expected to trigger economic recovery, for example in Bali, where the tourism sector has been brought to a standstill by the pandemic, the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries added.
The ICRG program is a labor-intensive initiative for coral reef restoration in five locations in Bali, including Nusa Dua, Serangan, Sanur, Pandawa Beach, and Buleleng.
The coral reef garden will be built from the budget allocated by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. The allocation will be sourced from the National Economic Recovery (PEN) fund of Rp111.2 billion, Prabowo said.
“(Bali contributes) the second largest amount of economy (GDP) that builds Indonesia, and Bali is the representative (of Indonesia to) the world. People in the world know Indonesia through Bali. This is very important. That is why we have to start (from Bali) and we have to expand it (the program),” he said.
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Prabowo said he hopes the coral reef restoration program would bring economic benefits to coastal communities through labor-intensive programs and long-term benefits supporting the marine and fisheries sector.
The underwater park development program is also expected to develop the marine and fisheries sector in Bali, so that the region is not dependent on the tourism sector alone, he added.
He said he believes Bali has high potential in the marine and fisheries sector.
“One thing that Bali has but other regions do not have is the market. The whole world is stopping by in Bali,” Prabowo said.
He then invited the Balinese people to seriously consider exploring their options in the marine and fisheries sector, such as seaweed, shrimp pond, or fish farming.
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