The
451 participants of the Mangrove Ambassadors Programme voiced out
through a selection of 24 “Letters to Leaders” how climate change
is affecting their daily lives at one of the most popular tourism
destinations in Indonesia. The Ambassadors Programme is part of a
joint project by UNWTO and the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and
Creative Economy, supported by the Government of Germany, to promote
climate change mitigation and adaptation measures (6 March, Berlin,
Germany).
School
children are the main protagonists of the Mangrove Ambassadors
Programme, one of the central elements of the project “Sustainable
Tourism through Energy Efficiency with Adaptation and Mitigation
Measures in Pangandaran" (STREAM). Their handwritten letters
explaining how they are impacted by climate change were delivered by
the Indonesian Vice-Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sapta
Nirwandar, to UNWTO during the presentation of the STREAM project at
ITB Berlin. The initiative aims to stress the importance of engaging
local communities in the implementation of any sustainable tourism
project.
“We
hope that our global leaders can do something against climate
change”, said Tiara Citra Dewi, a 14- year-old student, in her
letter.
“Our
children are asking us to take strong action against climate change.
We thank UNWTO for listening to the voices of the next generation of
Indonesia, and we look forward to continue this collaboration and
engage in new initiatives” said Sapta Nirwandar.
UNWTO
underscored the grassroots approach of the project. “STREAM is a
practical example of how the tourism sector can engage local
communities to be part of a sustainable solution in adapting to
climate change”, said UNWTO Executive Director for Competitiveness,
External Relations and Partnerships, Márcio Favilla during the
event.
The
Mangrove Ambassadors Programme involves school children in planting
and monitoring mangroves as an innovative way to promote a local and
long-term sustainable solution to climate change adaptation. Through
the Programme, Indonesia’s future generations become not only an
active part of the fight against climate change in their communities
but also the voice of this movement amongst the older generations.
Other
initiatives of the STREAM project include seminars and workshops to
increase the knowledge of local tourism stakeholders on climate
change response, capacity building on energy efficiency, renewable
energy technologies and energy management systems for hoteliers, as
well the rehabilitation of mangroves and coral reefs by locals and
tourists as a means to naturally capture and store carbon
emissions.
The
STREAM project, with an investment of US$ 1.7 million, aims to
significantly increase the climate change resilience of Pangandaran
and the competiveness of its tourism sector, thereby serving as a
model to be adopted and replicated in other destinations in Indonesia
and South-East Asia.
