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"In saying thanks to God Almighty, on behalf of HE Minister Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) , I hereby declare "the International year of The Reef 2008 in Indonesia officially open." That was the sentence which has been read by Director General Marine, Coasts and Small Island, MMAF Indonesia which marked the official launching of IYOR 2008 in Indonesia at Jakarta Convention Center, on 28 March 2008. The speech then followed by short feature of the beautiful and the damage that has been experience in Indonesia to urge people to do something to save this very important marine resources.

The launching of IYOR 2008 in Indonesia was a collaboration effort between Coral Reef Management and Rehabilitation (COREMAP II), MMAF with the organizer of DEEP Indonesia Exhibition. Besides the exhibition, the IYOR 2008 launching also include the activities such as: Workshop "The Marine Ecotourism depend on Coral Reef". In this workshop which was moderated by Ryani Jangkaru (The News Anchor of one of Indonesia private television network /Trans 7), attend three speakers which are Prof. Syamsul Maarif (Director General Marine, Coasts and Small Islands, MMAF), Dr. Sapta Nirwandar (Director General Marketing, Ministry of Tourism and Culture), and Mr. Widodo from The Nature Conservancy. The workshop summarized that there will be no marine tourism without the existence of Coral Reef. Therefore, we have to save and to protect the coral reef and market them to the world to attract more people to come to see this beautiful ecosystem.

The second activity is the talk show with the theme "The Beauty of Coral Reef." Of course the coral reef is colorful and beautiful. And in this talk show which was moderated by Ms. Prita Laura (News Anchor of News TV Indonesia/MetroTV), the Miss Indonesia Beauty Pageant 2005, Nadine Chandrawinata was attend to tell the audiences how beautiful coral reef. She dive quite regularly, so she can tell about the beauty of coral reef that she was seen directly. The talk show also urge all the audiences and people to act now to save the world's coral reef.

The other activities involved young generations and kids. Two hundred and seventy posters were submitted to the organizer for digital poster competition (view results). Forty four young children produced a beautiful and colorful painting.

The three days event was very successful and more activities still to come. As Minister of Marine Affairs stated "Through the enthusiasm of the Coral Rehabilitation and Management Program, I very much hope that with the full support and cooperation of all stakeholders and the wider community, this International Year of the reef 2008 will be a great success."

This IYOR campaign, give a unique opportunity to increase the efforts to conserve the coral reef, so that the condition is improved, thereby increasing benefits it can provide to the people's welfare.