World Ocean Conference 2009: January 2009

Monday, January 19, 2009

Personnel at Manado mily airbase told to prepare for WOC 2009

Commander of the Air Force`s Operations Area II covering Eastern Indonesia Rear Marshal Yusan Sayuti has instructed the rank and file of Sam Ratulangi military airbase in Manado, North Sulawesi, to get ready for the World Ocean Conference (WOC 2009) to be held in the city on May 11-15 next year.

"From now on Sam Ratulangi airport should be made ready, especially where air transportation and security are concerned," Sayuti said at a ceremony marking the installation of Lt Col Bambang Wijanarko as commander of Sam Ratulangi military airbase to replace Lt Col Arif Mustofa in Manado on Wednesday.

He said the WOC-2009 would be attended by heads of state/government from hundreds of countries around the world, and therefore the air space over Manado in North Sulawesi should be made free of any security threat.

"Any threat, disturbance or challenge should be anticipated and prevented. Therefore, Sam Ratulangi airport should be made ready for the event," Sayuti said.

He said Manado`s airport was a very strategic facility because it was located in a region bordering the Philippines.

Earlier, when he received the secretary of the WOC 2009 organizing committee, Prof Indroyono Susilo, here recently, Sayuti said he would fully support the conference.

"We are going all-out to support this international event," Sayuti said, adding that his command would do everything within its power to ensure security at Sam Ratulangi airport to help make the World Ocean Conference in Manado a success.

Meanwhile, Indriyono Susilo, who is the secretary general of the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, said delegates from at least 150 countries in the world would attend the conference.

He said through the WOC 2009, Indonesia would make every possible effort to turn maritime areas around North Sulawesi into world-class marine resorts.

"We hope the WOC 2009 will be a good momentum for Indonesia to turn North Sulawesi into a world-class tourist destination besides Bali," Indriyono said. (Makassar, ANTARA News)

Indonesia the first to form World Ocean Forum

Jakarta - Indonesia hoped the World Ocean Conference (WOC) scheduled in Manado, North Sulawesi, from May 11 to 15, 2009, would produce a World Ocean Forum.

A press release ANTARA received in Jakarta from the People`s Welfare Coordinating Ministry on Friday night said the statement was made by Minister of Marine and Fishery Affairs Freddy Numberi in his capacity of 2009 WOC chief organizer at a limited coordinating meeting on people`s welfare.

The working meeting was chaired by People`s Welfare Coordinating Minister Aburizal Bakrie, and attended by a number of cabinet ministers, Military (TNI) Chief General Djoko Santoso, and high-ranking government officials of the relevant ministries and government institutions.

Fredy also said that other results also expected from the 2009 WOC include a Manado Ocean Declaration (MOD) to be followed by a number of action plans, and implementation of the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) as a regional cooperation between the Philippines, Malaysia, Solomon Islands, the Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia.

It was also expected that the WOC would be followed by symposiums and exhibitions for an exchange of views and information on the development of the world`s oceans.

Meantime, the people`s welfare coordinating minister as host to the 2009 WOC has sent invitations to 121 countries and started building infrastructure facilities scheduled for completion by March 2009, while the North Sulawesi provincial administration has prepared 3,100 hotel and 3,000 home-stay rooms.

WOC 2009 committee involve in the Global Ocean Conference Hanoi 6 - 11 April 2008

Dr. Biliana Cicin-Sain, Co-Chair of Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands, at her opening speech, said that this conference will convene the marine leaders from all over the world to discuss about global marine condition and expertise mobilization, political will and natural resources to go forward with the new way.
Marine sustainability and coastal areas are the front guard on climate change where the climate issue will radically change the marine sustainability and coastal areas, uncertainty increasing, demanding of strategy principled on climate change on sustainability process and requirement for increasing and applying the new way related with susceptible assessment and willingness to the difficult choice in facing negative impacts of the vulnerable community and ecosystem. At her opening speech, she also said that the agreements of this 4th Marine Global Conference will be discussed further and proceed in the World Ocean Conference in Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia on May 11-15th 2009.

At the gala dinner hosted by the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Mr. Freddy Numberi, and The Governor of North Sulawesi, S.H Sarundajang, and The Embassy of Indonesia in Hanoi. Biliana said that Indonesia as the largest archipelagic country and possesses the highest marine biodiversity in the world is the precise place for hosting WOC 2009 and it was responded by applause from all the participants and guests of about 500 persons. Therefore, the Global Forum On Oceans, Coasts, and Islands fully supports and will totally assist this big event.
The Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries and Governor of North Sulawesi Indonesia accepted the appreciation from Global forum for their ideas and involvement in the effort to maintain marine and coastal ecosystem through the World Ocean Conference 2009 in Manado, North Sulawesi Indonesia.

The Governor of North Sulawesi had an informal meeting with the high-level/eminent participants, among others: Prof. Dr.Biliana Cicin- Sain who was also the head of committee of GOC 2008 and director of Global Forum, Dr. Ibrahim Thiaw, UNEP and Dr. Chu Hoi Nguyen, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Vietnam (local committee head of GOC 2008). At that meeting, they stated their support for WOC 2009. Prof. Dr.Biliana Cicin-Sain said that network of Global Forum that consists of some donor organizations and international NGOs such as World Bank, Global Environment Facility, World Oceans Network, UNDP, and others, all support the implementation of WOC 2009 in Manado. Dr. Ibrahim also said that UNEP fully supports and will participate in preparation of the implementation of WOC. One of the directors of UNEP convinced the Governor of North Sulawesi that the eminent persons of UNEP and UN are attaining to participate in WOC 2009.

In the closing ceremony of the conference, the Governor of North Sulawesi of Indonesia delivered his speech and stated that the committee of World Ocean Conference 2009 is honored to accept all the results of the conference to be discussed on May 11th-15th 2009 at The World Ocean Conference. The Governor also invited all the participants who attended or is not present at the conference but who are interested to participate in The World Ocean Conference 2009.

North Sulawesi Province History

North Sulawesi was established on 23 september 1964. First Governor of North Sulawesi is Mr. Arnold Baramuli. Until 2003, North Sulawesi consist of 2 cities and 3 regencies. They are Manado and Bitung cities also Minahasa, Bolaang Mongondow and Sangihe Talaud regencies. Nowdays, North Sulawesi consist of 4 cities they are, Manado, Tomohon, Bitung, and Kotamobagu also Minahasa, Minahasa utara, Minahasa Selatan, Minahasa Tenggara, Bolaang Mongondow, Bolaang Mongondow Utara, Sangihe, Talaud and Sitaro. North Sulawesi is one of the 32 provinces in the Republic of Indonesia, with its capital city being Manado. This region with an area of 1,533,698 ha is located at 0º30"- 4º 3" North Latitude and 121º127" East Longitude. Based on the regional government system, North Sulawesi is subdivided into the Manado Municipality, Bolaang Mongondow District, Sangihe Talaud District and Bitung Municipality. To the North this region borders on the Republic of the Philippines, Sulawesi Sea and the Pacific Ocean. The Eastern part is on the Maluku Sea and the Southern side is the Tomini Gulf. The western part borders Gorontalo Province which until the end of 2000 was a part of North Sulawesi and then became an own province.

The terrain is extremely mountainous and hilly, stretching from Lembean - Wulur Mahatus mountain chain (in Minahasa) continuing to Mount Ambang- Mount Gambuta (in Bolaang Mongondow). In Sangihe Talaud there are both active and extinct volcanoes, some towering 1,800 - 2,000 meters. Rich volcanic ash has blessed North Sulawesi with fertile lands; the highlands and lowlands producing rice, coconut, clove, nutmeg, vanilla and vegetables. The plains produce rice and corn in Dumoga, Ayong and Sangkub (Bolaang Mongondow). Plateaus in Tondano (Minahasa) also produce rice and corn, while Modoinding is know for its vegetables. Sangihe Talaud is recognized for its high quality nutmeg and Rumbia Trees (Sago Palm the source of a special flour for traditional cookies/snack). North Sulawesi is also endowed with many lakes like Lake Tondano and Lake Moat. The rivers like Ongkag Mongondow, Ongkag Dumoga, Sungai Sangkub, Randangan, Bulia and others are utilized mostly for irrigation of the ricefields. The Tondano River is used to generate electrical power for Manado and Minahasa regions.

Like other regions in Indonesia, North Sulawesi has a typical equatorial climate with two seasons: rainy and dry. Starting in September, cool Northwesterly winds pick up moisture while crossing the South China Sea and arrive in the Sulawesi Sea, about November. The wet season lasts from about November to March, and the dry season April to October. The total number of rain days is 90-130 days with approximately 3.000 mm average annual rainfall. The average temperature is 26 Celsius with the average humidity being 80%. The great 19th century naturalist, Alfred Russel Wallace (1823-1913) was the first to observe that the Indonesia archipelago is inhabited by two distinct sets of wildlife. Wallace's Line, as this boundary is still known, is drawn between Bali and Lombok and between Kalimantan and Sulawesi, and continues South of the Philippines and North of Hawaii to mark the difference in the fauna and flora which belonged to the separate land masses in the last ice age. Indigenous to Sulawesi are the Anoa (dwarf buffalo), Babi Rusa (a wilds boar with tusks growing through the roof of its mouth), black tailless macaques, kuskus, maleo bird (which incubates its 250 gram eggs in mounds of soil warmed by sunlight, hot springs or volcanic vents), tarsier (tarsius spectrum -world's smallest primate) with its head and body length of just 10 cm, brightly colored Red - knobbed Hornbill, etc. Many of these species may seen in Tangkoko Batuangus Nature Reserve and Bogani Nani Wartabone (formerly known as Dumoga Bone) National Park.

THE GOVERNOR OF NORTH SULAWESI PROVINCE

Greetings from Manado ‘the land of smiling people’

We have to give thanks to God Almighty for His love and blessings that the Government of North Sulawesi, in collaboration with the Ministry of Marine and Fishery Republic of Indonesia, will hold the International Ocean Science, Technology and Policy Symposium as a supporting event for the World Ocean Conference in 2009.
This symposium will discuss various aspects related to ocean including physical, biological, technological and social economic aspects, which will be presented in the 28 parallel sessions for three days. The purposes of this symposium are:

As an arena for sharing latest information among the scientists, managers, practitioners, entrepreneurs and policy-makers of their knowledge and understanding;
As a promotional event for inviting leaders and experts from various countries, directly or indirectly, to attend the WOC 2009 in Manado, North Sulawesi.

Manado, North Sulawesi is a strategic place to hold this symposium for its beautiful scenery of ocean, and its richness of natural resources and unique cultures. Therefore, it is hoped that participants of both WOC and symposium and other international events could help promote the exotic beauty of Manado, North Sulawesi as an attractive place for tourist destination and for investment.
Several famous and beautiful places are Bunaken Marine Park, the Flower City of Tomohon and the Bonita City of Bitung which have abundant various spices, mouth-watering seafood and many other ‘not to miss’ places for tourists to visit.
Ahead of us is a multinational event, an international event which will bring up North Sulawesi and Indonesia in the global stage, it is the World Ocean Conference (WOC) which will be held on May 11 – 15, 2009. With the WOC 2009 we hope to introduce to the world that North Sulawesi is an exceptional place for trade, tourism and investment. This is part of promotion of a region in a global scale.
I am certain that the event of World Ocean Conference 2009, will open the eyes of the world that Indonesia is blessed with numerous stunning places for tourism and is a safe and prospective area for investment. Therefore, our target is after WOC, in which we expect that it will trigger the growing and developing of investment and tourism in Indonesia and North Sulawesi.
Finally, I would like to welcome your participation in the International Ocean Science, Technology and Policy Symposium 2009. May God Almighty bless us with all wisdom and strength to develop our beloved region and country.

Thank you.

GOVERNOR OF NORTH SULAWESI

S. H. SARUNDAJANG

THE MINISTRY OF MARINE AFFAIRS AND FISHERIES

INTERNATIONAL OCEAN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND POLICY SYMPOSIUM 2009

The Government of Indonesia will host the World Ocean Conference 2009 (WOC’09) in Manado, the capital city of North Sulawesi Province, during May 11 - 15, 2009. In conjunction with that global event, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) and The Provincial Government of North Sulawesi will co-organize an International Ocean Science, Technology, and Policy Symposium as a side event of the WOC’09. The symposium will be held during May 12 - 14, 2009 at the same site of the WOC’09 venue.

The symposium will cover various aspects related to oceans including physical, biological, technological, and social economic. Altogether, there will be 31 different topics to be discussed at parallel sessions during three days activity. It is organized in such a way that participants and speakers may involve in more than one sessions, and freely mobile, in order to gain maximum benefits of their presence.

The objective of the symposium is to share information among scientists, managers, practitioners, entrepreneurs, and policy-makers on their recent and current experiences. It is a global arena for participants to introduce their new inventions, great ideas, research findings, derived methods and technologies of production, as well as resource policy advices, in order that everybody may improve his/her capacity in their respective field and specialization. Being a side event of the WOC’09, the symposium may also provide information directly and indirectly to the leaders and prominent figures from around the world who attend the WOC’09, to seek for a common understanding on the benefits and impacts of ocean to world society.

The host city of Manado is a seaside beautiful place, rich in natural and cultural resources. Hence, participants of the WOC’09, symposium, and other related events may also avail themselves of the wonders of Manado and its enthralling surrounding places. The famous and most beautiful Bunaken Marine Park, the flowery town of Tomohon and the tuna town of Bitung.
In this regards, I sincerely invite you to participate and to involve in the symposium.

I do hope that your participation will bring forward useful and meaningful impacts toward the sustainability and long-existences of our shared and common ocean ecosystem.

Sincerely Yours,

Freddy Numberi,
Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries
Republic of Indonesia

UNESCO Support WOC

comes from UNESCO. It was proved by the support that comes from 50 countries after the Governor of North Sulawesi, SH Sarundajang deliver the speech in front of Intergovernmental Oceanography Commission, Forty-first Session of The Executive Council, UNESCO forum. Based on the information from Bureau of Government and Public Relation, North Sulawesi Secretary of Province, Governor was inviting the entire representative to make an action regarding with saving the earth through ocean, especially, to concern about the global warming. Governor also said that WOC 2009 is the right moment for discussing the impact of global warming to ocean, and the role of ocean to climate change.

Moreover, Governor also gives an idea to make Bunaken National Park to become the Marine Mega biodiversity. The support then comes from UNESCO World Heritage Center. The Indonesian Ambassador for UNESCO Prof. Dr. M Aman Wirakartakusuma states the appreciation for action taken by Governor in saving the earth. Through his speech, Governor gains support from The World Conservation Union (IUCN), National Geography, Wild-life Conservation Society (WCS), The National Academics of Sciences, Secretariat of the International Year of the Reef, Conservation International (CI), World Wild Fund, The Nature Conservacy, USAID, State Department USA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Dr. Gerhand Kuska (Environment Section, office of the President of USA). Manado Post, Monday, June 30 2008