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The Tri Hita Karana Forum held a Side Event Ocean20 (O20): Rebuilding the Blue Natural Capital & Ecosystem Services - 

The Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Kemenko Marves) together with the Tri Hita Karana Forum held a Side Event Ocean20 (O20): Rebuilding the Blue Natural Capital & Ecosystem Services on Sunday (13/11/2022). Through this activity it is hoped that it will generate discussions on Blue Natural Capital (BNC) to strengthen diplomacy in the maritime sector at the G20 Summit Presidency.

BNC is a natural capital found in coastal and marine environments, such as coral reefs, mangroves, seaweed, and seagrass beds. "United Nations for Environment or UNEP has identified that BNC is an important asset to support the economy through resources in the sea to be able to provide input for economic consumption and production," said Plt. Deputy for Coordination of Maritime Resources of the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs M. Firman Hidayat.

Indonesia is committed to taking steps to protect, manage sustainably, and restore natural resources in the sea. "As the largest archipelagic country and large marine biodiversity, we are fully aware that the marine ecosystem in our country plays a key role in regulating the health and sustainability of the ocean," he said.

With the existence of BNC, the Indonesian government is currently developing ways to achieve a blue economy. Several marine related policies have been formulated and updated by the Indonesian government and other stakeholders. One of them is Presidential Regulation Number 34 of 2022 concerning the 2021-2025 Indonesian Maritime Policy Action Plan as a guideline for planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating policies in the marine and development sector. Indonesia is determined to create healthy and sustainable oceans by developing BNC.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Sunday (13/11/22), starting from efforts to protect the marine environment, marine spatial planning policies have become the main reference for economic development and environmental preservation. "The Indonesian government is keeping a commitment to expanding marine protected areas to 32.5 million hectares by 2030. Apart from that, a mangrove rehabilitation program is also being pursued in Indonesia," explained Plt. Deputy Word.

Previously, a workshop on Coral Reef and Blue Natural Capital was held as an activity towards Ocean20 last August and resulted in the conclusion that BNC can be rebuilt before damage occurs in the future. This can be done with cooperation between all parties, to produce a strong and solid strategy. "It is hoped that through today's activities, we can produce concrete policy recommendations regarding the BNC and strengthen maritime-related diplomacy at the G20 Summit. I hope that through this meeting we can also discuss current policies," he said.

To strengthen the discussion at this activity, there were six speakers who expressed their views on BNC and what could be done to produce policy recommendations related to the sustainability of the marine economy and at the same time protecting these resources. The speakers consisted of Director of the Ocean World Economic Forum Kristian Telaki, chairman of the Indonesian Coral and Ornamental Fish Association Dirga Singkarru, Head of the Research Center for Oceanography of BRIN Udhi Eko Hernawan, and chairman of the Conservation Strategy Fund Mubariq Ahmad.

"Finally, I hope that through this activity we can promote the interests of the BNC. I invite all of us to collaborate starting today to reaffirm our commitment to creating a more sustainable and better future,” concluded Plt. Deputy Word//VOI