ED Statement on the Celebration of Earth Day

Press Statement

EARTH DAY 2021

CTI-CFF commits support and cooperation to restore the world’s ecosystems

The Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security (CTI-CFF) through its Regional Secretariat is one with all the member nations in celebrating Earth Day with this year’s theme “Restore our Earth.”

The immense and dreadful impact of COVID-19 around the world continues to be felt. Many lives were lost and are still struggling to survive.  Economies and social activities have been shut down to save human lives.

On one end, decrease in human activities such as burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, ocean pollution, carbon emissions, plastic pollution, and the like has given the deteriorated environment to regenerate and to revive back. Studies revealed that lockdown found to reduce water and air pollution including carbon dioxide and and nitrogen dioxide emissions in many countries.

We, at CTI-CFF, believe that we should take this opportunity to create a master plan at the national, regional, and international levels to sustainably restore the world’s ecosystems. Thus, CTI-CFF is fast-tracking the completion of its next decade long Regional Plan of Action (RPOA 2.0) to be able to sustain and protect particularly the marine and ocean environments that provide numerous benefits to the current and future generations, at least in our Coral Triangle region.

CTI-CFF will continue to facilitate regional collaboration around sustainable development policies and practices related to the marine environmental resource exploitation by providing concrete conservation actions with good governance whilst recognizing the distinct and unique political, cultural, economic and social context of the Coral Triangle member countries.

Let us all continue to work together to protect and save our Earth!

DR. MOHD KUSHAIRI MOHD RAJUDDIN

Executive Director, CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat