Cti

Local Governments in Sync with the Marine Environment

CORAL reefs are vital in balancing nature and supporting the life of human beings. Coral reefs supply important benefits to millions of people residing not only in the Coral Triangle – the area on earth with the highest marine biodiversity - but also outside this region. They function as natural barriers from storms and sea surge, serve as primary source of protein, and are the backbone of local economies.

Understanding this importance, UCLG ASPAC lent its support to the “First Coral Triangle Initiative – Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF) Local Government Network Conference,” held on June 2–4, 2016 in Wakatobi. The six Coral Triangle countries are: Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste. The event was organized under the Local Government Network Coral Triangle initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (LGN CTI – CFF).

Continue to next page…

Â

Sharing about the role of local governments and their networks, UCLG ASPAC Secretary General Dr. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi discussed the principles of good governance. She gave concrete examples of how these are applied, including goal-setting and the clear division and identification of roles and responsibilities within the local authority. Furthermore, she stressed the importance of understanding power or leadership vis-a-vis being held accountable. In the frame of good governance, she further explained that local governments cannot achieve their objectives alone. They need to work closely with central government and other organizations, public bodies, businesses and citizens. She added that in the local government sector, good governance is about delivering priorities, achieving objectives, behaving with integrity and acting in the public interest and in ways that are consistent with legal, regulatory and government policy obligations. She stated that good governance arrangements help to ensure good management, good performance, good stakeholder engagement and good outcomes.

Also attending this meeting was Dr. Ir. Achmad Poernomo, M. App Sc., representing the Ministry of Fisheries on Public Policy. He explained the importance of local governments in releasing a regional policy to implement the National Plan of Action (NPOA) CTI – CFF Indonesia.