Bali, Indonesia, May 6, 2004 - The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in association with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in Indonesia, today launched a training programme at Kuta Beach designed to help Bali dive operators and hoteliers protect coral reefs.
The training is based around five new "communication" tools, developed by UNEP and International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), to help the tourist industry explain the importance of coral reef ecosystems to their customers during their holidays.
"Coral reefs are a major tourist attraction in Bali, and safeguarding them is essential for the industry and the well being of the local people who depend on them for food and employment," said UNEP's Industry Officer Niclas Svenningsen. "By raising awareness and changing the behavior of tourists and local tourism industry workers we can help ensure the sustainability of the reefs."
"Tourists, including the 15 million scuba divers worldwide, can become a force for good, by producing added value from the reefs in the eyes of local communities", said Irdez Azhar, Project Leader from WWF Indonesia.
The World Atlas of Coral Reefs, published by UNEP, shows that Indonesia, with 51,020 sq km, is the world's largest reef nation (18 percent of the world total).
It is also part of the most biologically diverse coral reef region, with nearly 600 species.
Indonesia's coral reefs support one of the largest marine fisheries in the world, generating around 3.6 million tons per annum, and provide the only source of protein for many local communities.
Unfortunately, 82 percent of Indonesia's reefs are "at risk" from over-exploitation and changing climate (up to 75 percent on reefs in some areas around Bali were affected in the 1997/8 bleaching event).
Threats related to tourism range from snorkeling, diving and boating, which can cause direct physical damage to reefs, and indirect impacts through development, construction and operation of tourism infrastructure.
The five tools include a "passport" for tourists explaining the main biological and ecological features of coral reefs - their formation, their main elements, their ecological significance, and the main threats to them. It explains to visitors why coral reefs should be protected - in particular that without reefs, the tropical paradise they are visiting would not exist. The introduction provides space for the user's picture and name, and a map on which the user can mark the coral reefs he or she has visited.
A poster highlights how tourists can contribute to the protection of coral reefs while on holiday. It is a supporting tool to the passport -a reminder of ten simple actions that tourists can take, from avoiding fish feeding or touching corals, to switching off the lights when leaving their hotel room.
A quiz for children asks twenty-four questions about coral reef biology and ecology, as well as threats and recommendations on how to protect reefs.
Specially targeted to boaters - motor or sailing - a double-sided chart highlights five symbols used on navigation charts to indicate no-anchor areas, mooring buoys, protected areas, used oil containers and the "divers down" flag. There is specific information on how to manage solid waste, holding tanks, refueling and anchoring practices.
A calendar provides recommendations on twelve areas of action (one for each month) that are linked to the protection of coral reefs, including waste water treatment, solid waste management, energy use, shopping for souvenirs, and tips for snorkeling and scuba diving.
Developed with financial support from the French Ministry of the Environment as a contribution to ICRI, the new communication tools are available free of charge as electronic files, which can be used to print attractive and informative materials. Available in five languages, they can be distributed with travel documents or in in-flight magazines, in hotel lobbies and rooms, or at travel agencies, airport lounges, visitor information centers, reception areas, and recreation centres.
The communication tools complement other initiatives such as the Code of Conduct developed by WWF with stakeholders to protect the reefs within the Bali Barat National Park.
The Bali training workshop follows a similar UNEP workshop held last month in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia in partnership with the Project Aware Foundation.
Note to Editors
The training workshop is being held at the Balihai Resort and Spa.
The theme for World Environment Day 2004, to be held on June 5, is Wanted! Seas and Oceans - Dead or Alive? It asks that we make a choice as to how we want to treat the Earth's seas and oceans. It also calls on each and every one of us to act. Do we want to keep seas and oceans healthy and alive or polluted and dead? See www.unep.org/wed/2004/
UNEP works to promote responsible tourism in coral areas, and other sensitive environments, via its Tour Operators Initiative. See http://www.uneptie.org/pc/tourism.
The UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) World Atlas of Coral Reefs was published by University of California Press in 2001. See http://www.unep-wcmc.org.
As part of its contribution to the global campaign to conserve corals, UNEP is a partner in ICRAN, the International Coral Reef Action Network. See http://www.icran.org
For more information please contact:
Tim Higham, Regional Information Officer, UNEP, Bangkok,
phone +66 2 288 2127,
mob +66 9 1283803, email higham@un.org.
Vira Ramelan, Friends of the Reef project, Climate Change and Energy Program, WWF Indonesia, Ph. +62 0361 247125
UNEP News Release ROAP 2004/7