Indonesian President Yudhoyono Honored with “Valuing Nature Award” in NYC

New York, NY — Three leading global environmental and conservation organizations honored Indonesia’s President H.E. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono with the first-ever “Valuing Nature Award” for his leadership in recognizing the importance of natural resources and working to conserve them. Indonesia, with an area of nearly 2 million square kilometers (772,204 square miles) and a population of over 200 million, is one of the most important countries in terms of sustainability—particularly for its globally significant biodiversity, forests, and marine resources. The award was presented by The Nature Conservancy, World Resources Institute, and WWF at a dinner in New York City on September 25, 2012, coinciding with the United Nations General Assembly meetings.

President Yudhoyono was specifically recognized for his leadership in establishing the multilateral Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI), which works to sustain extraordinary marine and coastal resources across six countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste. This region is one of the most biologically diverse on Earth, home to more than 75% of all known coral species and over 37% of coral reef fish. In total, the coral reefs, mangroves, and associated natural habitats are valued at approximately US$2.3 billion, providing jobs, food, and business opportunities for millions of people. Catalyzed by President Yudhoyono, the Coral Triangle Initiative brings together governments, the private sector, NGOs, and other partners—offering a model that connects marine conservation with community well-being and food security.

Under President Yudhoyono’s administration, Indonesia pledged to establish 20 million hectares of marine protected areas by 2020, with strong enforcement and sustainable financing. To date, Indonesia has achieved 13.4 million hectares of marine protected areas, exceeding its 2010 target of 10 million hectares.

The three organizations recognize President Yudhoyono’s significant contributions to valuing nature and look forward to his continued conservation leadership.

Statements from the organizations:

“Some leaders prioritize economic growth, others social equity, and yet others environmental protection. But Indonesia, under President Yudhoyono, is showing that smart environmental policies, smart growth policies, and smart social policies can be mutually reinforcing,” said Andrew Steer, President of the World Resources Institute. “The world is watching and admiring this quest for a triple win.”

“There is an urgent need to scale up the pace and collaboration in marine conservation because the challenge simply cannot be conquered by one nation alone,” said Glenn Prickett, Chief External Affairs Officer for The Nature Conservancy. “President Yudhoyono understands this, and recognizes the extraordinary marine life abundance and diversity in the Coral Triangle region. His personal call for action to address threats in this globally important region led to the start of the Coral Triangle Initiative. Today, CTI has given the world a tremendous opportunity to value nature and realize tangible benefits by managing marine resources in a way that builds our natural capital.”

“The Coral Triangle Initiative has been a powerful catalyst for positive change in a region rich in biological diversity, but that desperately needs better protection for its precious and fragile marine and coastal resources,” said Catherine Plume, Managing Director of World Wildlife Fund’s Coral Triangle Program. “While important actions are underway, we hope that all stakeholders involved in this initiative will redouble their sustainability efforts in the region.”

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Source: World Resources Institute, The Nature Conservancy, WWF