The Indonesia Sustainable Oceans Foundation (YLLI) has signed an agreement with the Talaud regency administration in North Sulawesi, which shares a border with the neighboring Philippines, to launch a project to protect the region’s marine life by empowering local communities.

Under the agreement, the YLLI will provide youth and women’s organizations with training workshops on a number of sustainable projects that could help improve the lives of local residents while also contributing to climate mitigation efforts.

Elshinta Suyoso-Marsden of the YLLI, which she founded in 1994, said the projects would cover 18 subdistricts in Talaud and supplement several empowerment projects already outlined in the regency's development plans.

"We expect this project to start this year, and [it] could serve as an example for others," Elshinta said in a statement.

Talaud Regent Elly Lasut said the project was crucial to developing and maintaining sustainable coastal management.

"As a regency with several small outlying islands that are prone to the adverse impacts of climate change, we welcome this initiative," Elly said in a statement made available to The Jakarta Post.

Since its founding in March 1994, the YLLI has been involved in a number of projects focusing on marine and coastal conservation.

In the wake of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami that devastated Aceh and western parts of Sumatra, the foundation raised funds to support the livelihood of local fishers through the Hukom Adam Laut Panglima Laot initiative, which focused on running a census for local fisher communities and registering fishing boats.

Source:
courtesy of THE JAKARTA POST

by News Desk (The Jakarta Post)

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