The International Coral Reef Conference (International Conference on Sustainable Coral Reefs) was held in the city of Manado to encourage collaboration for global coral reef conservation.
The conference, taking place from December 13–15, 2024, adopted the theme “Sustaining Coral Reefs: Science, Conservation, Resilience, and Development.”
“This conference will serve as a platform to raise awareness, share best practices, and mobilize support for the preservation and sustainable use of this vital marine ecosystem,” said Director General of Marine Spatial Management at the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Victor Gustaf Manoppo, representing the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries during the conference’s opening on Friday, December 13, 2024.
The conference is part of the commemoration of “Hari Nusantara 2024” and the 15th anniversary of the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) Summit. It aims to foster collaboration, share knowledge, and develop practical solutions to protect coral reefs, particularly in the Coral Triangle region (CTI), for future generations.
The conference serves as a platform to raise awareness, share best practices, and mobilize support for the preservation and sustainable utilization of marine ecosystems in the CTI region, which includes Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste.
Victor emphasized the importance of the Coral Triangle region.
Meanwhile, Executive Director of the CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat, Dr. Frank Keith Griffin, stated that the conference promotes the Coral Triangle by highlighting to the world the significance of its coral reef ecosystems and their role for global communities.
“This international conference serves as a platform to raise global awareness, including for those outside the Coral Triangle, about the value of these ecosystems for the sustainability of many lives, both within and beyond the Coral Triangle region,” he emphasized.
Chairman of the International Coral Reef Conference Organizing Committee, Prof. Indroyono Soesilo, explained that the conference brings together approximately 700 scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders from about 22 countries.
During the conference, Indonesia’s Ministry of National Development Planning/National Development Planning Agency (BAPPENAS) launched the document titled “Indonesian Coral Reefs: Present and Future” as a reference for the conservation, preservation, rehabilitation, and sustainable use of coral reefs in Indonesia. *
