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GCRA Project in Bali Nominated for
SKAL International Ecotourism Award

The Pemuteran coral regeneration program, a GCRA project, has been nominated for the First SKAL International Ecotourism Awards, to be presented at the SKAL World Congress in Cairns, Australia, Nov. 3-8, 2002. Areas for consideration include, among others, underwater, beaches and wildlife

The SKAL award recognizes projects that enhance tourism and safeguard environmental protection. The award is based on the following criteria:

  • Contribution, conservation and improvement in natural areas for sustainable development

  • Policies, strategies and programs, not copied from elsewhere

  • Effective coordination between government, private enterprise and local communities

  • Strict criteria for low impact and sustainable use

  • Insurance that portion of income generated remains with local community

  • Education, training and information programs available to the community and tourists

SKAL International is a professional, international association of tourism professionals worldwide, with more than 500 chapters. In Indonesia, there are chapters in Bali, Jakarta, Surabaya and Yogyakarta.

For more information about the award, contact: Debe Campbell, balidewi@indosat.net.id, SKAL International Indonesia.

About the Project

Twenty-eight GCRA coral nursery structures are installed in the Pemuteran Village Marine Protected Area in Northwest Bali, Indonesia, in cooperation with the Municipality of Pemuteran, Gahawisri (the Balinese Watersports Federation), local dive shops and hotels, and other local stakeholders.  With a total length of 300 meters, this is the largest Biorock coral reef nursery and restoration project worldwide, exceeding the combined sizes of all other ongoing projects in the Pacific, Caribbean, and Indian Ocean.

The project, although still in the early stages, already has the majority of local coral species in cultivation. Their enhanced growth rate, reproduction, and resistance to environmental stress provides a critical reservoir of healthy corals to resist future hot periods caused by global warming and to restore damaged reefs and vital fishing areas once destructive human practices can be halted.

Photos of Bali's reef restoration project.