To conserving and restoring marine ecosystems around the island, the Indonesian government is setting course to build coral reef gardens in five locations across Bali.
The government aim to also boost economic recovery through the project’s labour-intensive work.
Through the Indonesia Coral Reef Garden (ICRG) program, the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Edhy Prabowo said, “It’s need active efforts to restore coral reefs ecosystems in Indonesia. And later, the coral reef garden is not just an underwater tourism attraction, but also an educational or research facility,” Edhy said.
And Edhy also hoping that the program can serve as a leverage for economic recovery among coastal communities through its labor-intensive concept that would empower Balinese coastal communities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
As information, the develop a 50-hectares coral reef garden would be split into five locations in Nusa Dua, Sanur, Serangan, Pandawa, and Buleleng.
And the officials have set aside IDR111 billion (USD7.5 million) from the national economic recovery program (PEN), and are targeting as many as 11,000 workers to get involved in the project.
