IOC of UNESCO's NOTES on WOC/CTI as Official Declaration of BUNAKEN as WORLD NATURAL HERITAGE Site

The overall goals of the World Ocean Conference 2009 are:

1. To increase the understanding of many parties regarding (i) climate change and it's implications for the social and economic welfare of coastal peoples and for the ecological conditions of the marine and coastal zones, (ii) the role of the oceans in determining the way in which global climate change phenomena behave, (iii) the need for mitigation and adaptation measure to face up to the reality of climate change, and

2. To develop a strong commitment from the global community and discuss the future of the world's oceans in relationship to the role of the oceans in climate change processes and the effects of climate change on the oceans.

This commitment from the world community to work together to improve marine resource management with regards to global climate change impact management will be captured in the MANADO OCEAN DECLARATION which will contain an agreement stressing the role of the oceans in regulating climate change and the importance of safeguarding the function of the oceans as an effort to mitigate and adapt to climate change, and will provide the impetus for the establishment of the World Ocean Forum (WOF) as a forum for communication between nations regarding the management of their seas.

The Draft Manado Declaration kindly provided by the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of Indonesia is annexed to this circular letter. IOC and UNESCO Member States are invited to provide comments on the draft text. Comments should be sent directly to the conference organizers at: ida-k@centrin.id

Alongside the main WOC2009 event, there will be opportunities for scientists and experts, NGO members, and journalists to discuss the results of research and the latest developments in science and technology, and recommend measures for resolving climate change related problems in the marine and coastal environment, through holding of a number of side events organised within the framework of the WOC2009, which include:

• A Symposium and Scientific Seminar on the theme of Ocean Science, Technology and Policy

• An International Marine Exhibition

• THE OFFICIAL DECLARATION OF BUNAKEN AS ONE OF THE WORLD NATURAL HERITAGE SITES IN INDONESIA.

• Strengthening cooperation in the field of marine ecosystem conservation within the framework of the Sulu-Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion (SSME)

• A Summit Meeting of the Heads of States of several nations who have joined together within the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) conceived by Indonesia, Filipina, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste and the Solomon Islands.

BUNAKEN NATIONAL MARINE PARK

Bunaken is part of the Bunaken National Marine Park, which has some of the highest levels of marine biodiversity in the world.[citation needed] Scuba diving attracts many visitors to the island. Bunaken is located at the north of the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia. It belongs administratively to the municipality of Manado.

The Bunaken National Marine Park was formally established in 1991 and is among the first of Indonesia's growing system of marine parks. The park covers a total surface area of 890.65 km², 97% of which is overlain by sparkling clear, warm tropical water. The remaining 3% of the park is terrestrial, including the five islands of Bunaken, Manado Tua, Mantehage, Nain and Siladen. Although each of these islands has a special character, it is the aquatic ecosystem that attracts most naturalists.

The waters of Bunaken National Marine Park are extremely deep (1566 m in Manado Bay), clear (up to 35-40 m visibility), refreshing in temperature (27 to 29 °C) Pick any of group of interest - corals, fish, echinoderms or sponges - and the number of families, genera or species is bound to be astonishingly high. For example, 7 of the 8 species of giant clams that occur in the world, occur in Bunaken. The park has around 70 genera of corals; compare this to a mere 10 in Hawaii. Although the exact number of fish species is unknown, it may be slightly higher than in the Philippines, where 2,500 species, or nearly 70% of all fish species known to the Indo-western Pacific, are found.

Oceanic currents may explain, in part, why Bunaken National Marine Park is such a treasure trove of biodiversity. Northeasternly currents generally sweep through the park but abundant counter currents and gyros related to lunar cycles are believed to be a trap for free swimming larvae. This is particularly true on the south side of the crescent-shaped Bunaken Island, lying in the heart of the park. A snorkler or diver in the vicinity of Lekuan or Fukui may spot over 33 species of butterfly fish and numerous types of groupers, damsels, wrasses and gobies. The gobies, smallish fish with bulging eyes and modified fins that allow them to attach to hard surfaces, are the most diverse but least known group of fish in the park.

Biologists believe that the abundance of hard corals is crucial in maintaining the high levels of diversity in the park. Hard corals are the architects of the reefs, without them, numerous marine organisms would be homeless and hungry. Many species of fish are closely associated with particular types of corals (folious, branching, massives, etc.) for shelter and egg-laying. Others, like the enormous Bumphead Parrotfish, Balbometopon muricatum, are "coralivores" and depend on hard corals for their sustenance. Bony mouth parts fused into an impressive "beak" allow these gregarious fish to crunch corals like roasted peanuts.

Some 20,000 people live on the natural resources of Bunaken National Marine Park. Although there are inevitable conflicts between resource protection and use by people, the Indonesian government is taking a fairly unusual and pragmatic approach to park management. The idea is to promote wise resource use while preventing overexploitation. Local communities, government officials, dive resort operators, local nature groups, tourists and scientists have played an active role in developing exclusive zones for diving, wood collection, fishing and other forms of utilization. Bunaken Marine Park has become an important example of how Sulawesi, and the rest of Indonesia, can work to protect its natural resources.

BUNAKEN as WORLD NATURAL HERITAGE

Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations. Our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration. Places as unique and diverse as the wilds of East Africa’s Serengeti, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the Baroque cathedrals of Latin America make up our world’s heritage.

What makes the concept of World Heritage exceptional is its universal application. World Heritage sites belong to all the peoples of the world, irrespective of the territory on which they are located.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. This is embodied in an international treaty called the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted by UNESCO in 1972.

UNESCO's World Heritage mission is to:

* encourage countries to sign the World Heritage Convention and to ensure the protection of their natural and cultural heritage;
* encourage States Parties to the Convention to nominate sites within their national territory for inclusion on the World Heritage List;
* encourage States Parties to establish management plans and set up reporting systems on the state of conservation of their World Heritage sites;
* help States Parties safeguard World Heritage properties by providing technical assistance and professional training;
* provide emergency assistance for World Heritage sites in immediate danger;
* support States Parties' public awareness-building activities for World Heritage conservation;
* encourage participation of the local population in the preservation of their cultural and natural heritage;
* encourage international cooperation in the conservation of our world's cultural and natural heritage.


BUNAKEN NATIONAL MARINE PARK Location Coordinates:
1° 37′ 0″ N, 124° 45′ 0″ E