The Indonesian government, supported by Green Climate Fund (GCF), Conservation International (CI), and Konservasi Indonesia launched the Blue Halo S. Blue Halo S Indonesia is an integrated and comprehensive approach to managing the conservation of marine and fisheries resources, including ecological and economic circle between marine production and protection.

The program was launched during the Tri Hita Karana Forum, which was part of a side event of the G20 Summit and Ocean 20 conference which focused on maritime issues.

Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment said that Indonesia is fully committed to being at the forefront of climate change issues through integrated ecosystem protection and fisheries production.

“The Blue Halo S program will be very beneficial for Indonesia for we are one of the countries to apply measurable and sustainable fishing policies which are based on the fishing quota that generates a new economy from blue carbon that will support the maritime sector,” Luhut said in the Blue Halo S Launch and Signing of Blue Halo S with Green Climate Fund event on Nov. 13, 2022.

The Blue Halo S initiative will support a resilient marine economy in Indonesia through better alignment of ecological and economic incentives. Blue Halo S will also integrate two elements of marine management that are often deemed contradictory, namely environmental protection and economic production.

Under the Blue Halo S initiative, economic benefits from sustainable development of marine resources will be reinvested in environmental protection. In time, the process will increase natural resources that support commercial production. This “protection-production” framework is the basis for Blue Halo S approach.

Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono explained that marine conservation areas, which are limited, provide important environmental and ecological services. Well-managed conservation areas will improve ocean health and create economic opportunities for local communities. Moreover, the Blue Halo S is supported by a blended finance approach.

The approach is aimed to mobilize public and philanthropic funding in a strategic manner to boost private investment in marine conservation and sustainable development. The Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment with Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry will coordinate the implementation of the Blue Halo S financial model and oversee cross-policy activities and innovative finance.

In the same event, GCF also announced the agreement on Project Preparation Facility (PPF) which worth US$1.5 million which will kickstart Blue Halo S in Indonesia. The preparation of the GCF funding proposal will be coordinated by Conservation International which will contribute US$350,000 to co-finance the PPF.

Blue Halo S aims to raise US$300 million from GCF and other sources for a blended finance scheme, consisting of a grant facility for the Blue Ecosystem Adaptation Mechanism (BEAM) and Blue Bond to be jointly developed with the Indonesian government.

“This highly innovative initiative will serve as a model for sustainable ocean conservation and fisheries management. It is an example of what can be achieved by working in partnership and clearly shows the halo effect, that environmental protection and economic production need not be mutually exclusive,” said Yannick Glemarec, Executive Director of the Green Climate Fund.

Pilot activities of Blue Halo S program will be conducted in Fishery Management Area 572 located in the western part of Sumatra. The pilot activities will include investments in the protection and rehabilitation of blue carbon ecosystems, support for marine protected area expansion and management, sustainable fisheries management, and inclusive blue economy development. All of these are expected to contribute toward enhanced climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience in Indonesia.

“Indonesia has long been a leading country in ocean protection.  We are glad to see the Blue Halo S framework being piloted here. This model is very scalable and replicable. We are optimistic that it can be adapted for marine ecosystems in other regions of the world in the future,” Meizani Irmadhiany said, Senior Vice President and Executive Chair of Konservasi Indonesia.

Writer: Eri Sutrisno
Editors: Ratna Nuraini/Elvira Inda Sari/Penny P. Rusman
Translator: Wisnu Wardoyo