Fakultas MIPA Universitas Udayana Dukung Kerjasama Indonesia dan UAE dalam Pembangunan Pusat Riset Mangrove Internasional di Bali

Jimbaran, 21 May 2024 - In order to strengthen cooperation between the Government of Indonesia and the Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in efforts to rehabilitate and preserve the mangrove ecosystem in Indonesia, the two countries agreed to build the Mohammed bin Zayed – Joko Widodo International Mangrove Research Center (MBZ-JKW IMRC) in Bali. This research center aims to become a center for the development of mangrove ecosystem research at both national and international levels, and can support increasing planting success and developing mangrove species in Indonesia.

In a series of events at the 10th World Water Forum, H.E. Amna Bint Abdullah Al Dahak, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, visited Udayana University (Unud) to inspect research facilities and the availability of human resources for researchers, especially those related to mangrove research at Udayana University.

The delegation from the UAE who participated in this visit consisted of H.E. Amna Bint Abdullah Al Dahak, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, Dr. Mohammed Al Hammadi as Assistant Undersecretary of Biodiversity and Marine Life Sector, Dr. Ebrahim Aljamali as Director of Fisheries Sustainability Department, Hiba Alshehhi as Director of Biodiversity Department and Fatima Al Hammadi as Advisor to Minister Office.

Also accompanying the visit of the UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment delegation to Udayana University, namely from the Indonesian Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment led by Kus Prisetiahadi as Assistant Deputy for Climate Change and Disaster Management.

The UAE delegation and the Ministry of CoMarVes were received in the meeting room of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences Building, Jimbaran Campus by the Chair of the Institute for Research and Community Service, Unud, the Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, and the Dean of the Faculty of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. Also present were representatives from the Unud Environmental Research Center, CRESOS, and the Wolbachia research group. On this occasion, a summary of mangrove research that had been carried out by lecturers at Unud was also presented. The delegation's visit ended with a visit to the integrated MIPA laboratory.

It is hoped that in the future Udayana University can play an active role in the development of MBZ-JKW IMRC which aims to become a center for research development on mangrove ecosystems in Indonesia and internationally. The presence of MBZ-JKW IMRC is expected to bring great benefits to the preservation of mangrove ecosystems which are critical for environmental balance and climate change mitigation.