Minutesofthe30thICRIGeneralMeeting

Pattaya,Thailand,1-4December2015

SummaryoftheGeneralMeeting

The30thICRIGeneralMeeting(GM),andthesecondandfinalmeetingunderthe2014-2015Japan-ThailandSecretariat,washeldfrom1stto4thDecember2015inPattaya,Thailand.ThroughthesupportfromJapanandUNEP,delegatesfromseveralcountriesandorganisationswereabletoattendandparticipateinthemeeting.Intotal,69delegatesfrom20ICRImembercountriesandorganisationsattendedthemeeting(Appendix1).

Observersfromthefollowingcountriesandagencieswerewelcomedatthemeeting:

- Malaysia- Cambodia- TheReef-WorldFoundation

1. ReportsfromICRIbodies

Members'reports

Mr.TadashiKimura,fromtheJapanWildlifeandResearchCentre(JWRC)andrepresentingtheICRISecretariat,summarizedtheresultsofthemembers’reportsthatwerebasedontherevisedreportingformatpresentedatthe29thICRIGM.

TheSecretariatreceived11outof33andeightoutof32governmentandorganizationreports.Governmentsreportedanaverageof5.1projects(59projectsintotal)whileorganizationsaveraged4.0projects(32projectsintotal).Activitiesfocusingon“Scienceandmonitoring”themedominatedGovernmentprojects,while“Capacitybuilding”and“ICM”activitiesweresimilarlyrepresented.“Capacitybuilding”and“Scienceandmonitoring”activitieswereequallyrepresentedinorganizationprojects,with“ICM”relatedactivitiesnotfarbehind.“Review”activitieswerenothighlyprioritizedandwerethelowestforboth.Organizationstendedtoengageothersectorslightlymorefrequentlythangovernments,whilegovernmentsreportedhighersuccessfulzoningactivities.

Supportingdocuments:Presentation“SummaryResultsonMembers’Reports”

Blue-FinanceBarbadosProject

Ms.AngeliqueBrathwaite(Barbados)sharedtheplansfortransformingtheBarbadosMarineManagedArea(BBMA)intoaworld-classdestinationtoexperiencemarinebiodiversity,andhighlightedthefocusonstrongstakeholderengagementintheplanningprocess.Theneedforsustainablefinancingwasacknowledgedattheonsetoftheproject,andworkingwithBlue-Finance

(BF),thepublic-privatepartnership(PPP)modelwasidentifiedasamechanismtohelpachievetheobjectives.

Mr.NicholasPascal(CRIOBE-Blue-Finance)elaboratedontheprogressoftheBFBarbadosProject,aninitiativefirstproposedduringthe28thICRIGM.Thedrivingforcebehindtheprojectwastherecognitionthatnewapproachesforsecuringsustainablefinancingwasrequired,andfocusedontheBMMAasthefirstdemonstrationsite,whereBFassistedwithsettingupthePPPnegotiations.Underthepartnershipagreement,theMinistryofEnvironmentandDrainageoutsourcethemanagementoftheBMMAtoanoperator,whowillabsorballfinancialrisksandreducetheneedtoinvestpublicfunds.Theoperatorwillgeneratestablerevenuesfromthetourism“fees”.Currently,BFissupportingzonationeffortswithintheBMMA,continuationPPParrangementandhelpingcoordinatefundraisingactivitieswithimpactinvestors.

Movingforward,theprojectislookingatinitiatingafeasibilitystudyinColombia,andinitiatingsimilarprojectsatoneCaribbeansiteandoneotherregionalseassite.

Supportingdocument:Presentation“BlueFinanceQuickUpdates”

KomodoNationalPark

Ms.TriWahyunifromtheMinistryofEnvironmentandForestry,Indonesia,presentedonwastemanagementstrategiespracticedwithinKomodoNationalPark,oneoftheimportantregionwithintheCoralTriangleandaUNESCOWorldHeritagesite.

Themaindrivingforcefortheprogramwastoaddressincreasedtourismpressuretothearea.The5-yearproject,initiatedin2014inpartnershipwithWWF,involveswiderangingstakeholderinvolvement.TheIntegratedWasteManagement(IWM)ProjectisaimedatacreatingamodelofsustainablewastemanagementwithinKomodoNationalPark(KNP),andstartedwithaninceptionstudybyWWFin2014.Movingforward,theprojectaimstoimprovecommunityopportunitiesandtheprivatesectortomanagewasteandbenefitsfromwastemanagementandadvocatinglocalgovernmenttoproducepolicytosupportwastereductionprograminManggaraiBarat.

Supportingdocument:Presentation“IntegratedWasteManagement(IWM):BuildingPartnershipforEffectiveManagementofKomodoNationalPark”

15YearsofIFRECOR

Mr.FrancisStaub(ICRIForum)sharedthatsinceitscreationin1999bytheFrenchgovernment,IFRECORworkedforthesustainableprotectionandthepreservationofcoralreefswithinFrance’sterritories,andcomprisesscientists,NGOs,socio-economicprofessionalsandparliamentarians.Mr.StaubhighlightedsomeofIFRICOR’spast,ongoingandfutureactivities,anddescribedthefourth2016-2020actionplanthatwillbeadoptedbythenationalcommitteeofIFRECORMarch2016.Thenewplanwillcontinueworkingonandenhancingpastworktotackleissuesrelatedsustainablemanagementofcoralreef,mangrovesandseagrass.

TheactivitiesorganizedincelebrationofIFRICOR’s15thAnniversaryincludedtheproductionofavideo,fundraisers,meetingsduringCOP21,publicationontheimpactofclimatechangeoninfrastructureincoastalandinter-tropicalmarinezones.

Mr.NicolasPascalfollowedupwithanupdateonIFRECOR’sprojectoneconomicvaluationofcoralreefecosystemservices,whichcovered10overseasterritoriesbetween2009and2015.UsingtheTEEBapproach,theproject,undertakenincollaborationbetweenfourresearchinstitutes,demonstratedtheroleofcoralreefintheeconomicdevelopmentofislands.Particularly,coralreefsgenerated€450Mtotheisland’sGDPeveryyear,withinvestmentsbyover700companiesandsupportingover20,000jobsdirectly.Coralreefsalsoprovidedover€600Mofcoastalprotectionservices,andcapturedovertwomilliontons(Mt)ofcarbondioxide,whilesupportingatotalstockofbetween40and60Mt.

Supportingdocument:Presentation“IFRECOR:15yearstowardcoralreefmanagement”

SecretariatReportsCaseStudiesbyWWFJapan

Ms.MasakoIwamoto(Japan)explainedthattherationalebehindthepreparationofthecasestudies,whichwasproposedduringthe29thICRIGM,wastohighlighttheimplementationofcoralreefconservationandmanagementthroughcommunity-basedapproachesthatemphasizedland-seaconnectivity.

Mr.MasayukiGonda(WWFJapan)sharedonlessonlearnedfromthecasestudies,whichwerecompiledfromeightmodelsiteslocatedinFiji,Indonesia,Japan,USA,Australia,Granada,MaldivesandThailand.

Thestudyidentifiedthreecommonsuccessindicatorsamongtheeightmodelsites,namely,theestablishmentoflocalcommunitybasedconservationinitiatives;activeandsustainedcommunityengagementtomainstreamactivitiesamonglocalstakeholders;andastrongscientificbasisforevaluatingprogressandsharingtheinformationwithlocalcommunitiesandgovernment.Inaddition,allstudieshighlightedthestrongemphasisofICM,andreinforcedtheneedtoestablishstrongstakeholderengagement,particularlytoleverageontraditionalusesoftheenvironment;theadoptionofadaptivemanagementthatconsidersbenefitofstakeholders;activeengagementofpolicymakerswithineachcommunity;andtheneedforstrongsciencethroughoutthelifeoftheproject.

Supportingdocument:Presentation“CaseStudies:FromRidgetoReef.Implementingcoralreefconservationandmanagementthroughacommunity-basedapproachemphasizingland-seaconnectivity”

ICRI20-YearReview

Mr.TadashiKimura,onbehalfoftheICRISecretariat,summarizedtheoutcomeofthedesktopreviewofICRI’s20-yearhistory,akeydeliverableofcurrent2014-2015ICRISecretariat.Mr.Kimura

explainedthatduetoadelayinthepreparation,theSecretariatwouldnotpresentthereportforadoptionatthe30thGM;instead,theSecretariatwilluploadthedraftreportonICRIForumsubsequentcommentsandinputsbymembersbeforeitsadoptionremotely.

ThemainobjectivesofthereviewaretoprepareacompilationofICRI’sachievements,andbasedonthecompilation;developaquestionnairesurveyforICRImemberstohelpimproveICRI’srelevanceandvalueforitsmembers.

Mr.KimuraprovidedahistoricaltimelineofICRI,themainactivities,andkeyoutputs,withthereviewfocusingspecificallyonkeydocuments,recommendations,resolutionsandpublications.ThereviewhighlightedtheimportantroleofICRIastheonlyinternationalframeworkofgovernmentsandnon-governmentalorganizationfocusingonmanagementofcoralreefsandrelatedecosystems.

Dr.CliveWilkinsonfollowedupwithanoverviewofthehistoryofGCRMN,akeyoperationalarmofICRI.Gleaningfromthelessonslearnedfromhisexperience,Dr.WilkinsonrecommendedthattheGCRMNshouldkeeppublishingregionalandglobalcoralreefstatusandtrendsakeyproductofthenetwork;includenumbers,statisticsorimpactfulstatementsthatwillsendclearmessages;continuetobuildandnurturepartnershipsnotcompetition;archivemetadataandsummarydata,notrawdata;andtokeepcommunicationwithinthenetworkopenandregular.Inessence,hesuggestedthattheGCRMNcaninitiate“ReefScientistssansFrontier”initiativetoleverageonthepoolofscientistskeenandabletocontributetoregionalandglobalefforts.

Supportingdocument: Presentation“20yearreviewofICRIactivities”

Presentation“CommentsonICRI,GCRMN,ClimateChange”

AdHocCommittees

ExistingAdHocCommitteesreportedontheirworksincethelastICRIGeneralMeetinginOctober2014.

CoralReefAssociatedFisheries

Mr.NicholasPascal(CRIOBE-Blue-Finance),onbehalfofthecommittee,providedanupdateonthecommittee’sactivitieswhichincludedthedisseminationofthetwoshortfilms“SnapperSpawn”and“SpawningAggregations-NaturalNumbers,Episode05”.Inaddition,thecommitteecontinuedtoprovideregularemailupdatesonfishaggregationstomembersandpartners.ThecommitteehascontinuedtoengageICRImemberstoencourageinformationsubmissiontoSCRFAFishAggregationDatabase,prepareddatasheetstohighlighttheimportanceoffishaggregationsforcoralreefhealth,andpublishedakeypaperFishandFisheries.

Supportingdocuments: Presentation“CoralReefAssociatedFisheries”

StatusReport“World’sFishAggregations2014”

Discussion:

- Ontheco-chair’squeryifthecommitteeintendstocontinueitswork,Ms.MakikoinformedmembersthattheToRforthecommitteeisactivetill2016,andthus,thecommitteeisexpectedtocontinueitsactivities.

AdhocCommitteeonEconomicValuation

Mr.NicholasPascal(CRIOBE-Blue-Finance)providedtheupdateonthecommittee’sactivitiesanditsstrategiesmovingforward.

Thecommitteerecognizesthatmanyothergroupsarealreadyengagedineconomicvaluationefforts,andthesuggestedthattheitsroleshouldtransitionfromundertakingeconomicvaluationstudiestofocusingoncommunicatingandraisingawarenessontheeconomicbenefitsofcoralreefsanditspositiveeconomicreturnsasapublicinvestment.Inaddition,thecommitteeshouldworktoencouragecountriestoapplyconcretemitigationstrategiesandtoprovideadvicetocountrieswishingtosetupalegalframeworktoencourageprivatefundingforcoastalmanagement.TheseactivitiesareinlinewithAichitargets2,10and20.

Todate,thecommitteehasfocusedondisseminatinginformationoncoralreefeconomicvaluationpolicybriefssupportandpresentationsatevents,andcoordinatedinformationonrelevantinternationalandregionalinitiatives.WorkinginclosecollaborationwithIFRECOR,thecommitteeconductedatrainingworkshopontheeconomicsofecosystemandbiodiversity(TEEB)ofcoralreefintheWiderCaribbean;producedguidelinesformitigationofdamagesandcompensationschemes;andtwotechnicalbriefsonecosystemservicesvaluationtopolicymakersandemergingfinancingmechanismsandtheirpotentialtocontributetolong-termconservationfinancing.

TheAHCoperatewithtwoseparatearms–onefocusedoncommunicationanddisseminationofinformationandtheotherfocusedonpreparationofguidelinesandtechnicalbriefs.

TheToRforthecommitteeremainsactivetill2016.

Supportingdocuments: Presentation“AdHocCommitteeonEconomicValuation”

RegionalLionfishCommittee

Ms.AngeliqueBrathwaite(Barbados)gaveabriefsummaryofactivitiesonbehalfofthecommittee,andsharedthatthepurposedofthelionfishmanagementworkshopconductedinPanamainNovember2015wastobringtogetherkeyresourcemanagers,fishermenanddecisionmakerstoshareinformationandlessonslearnedfromsuccessfullyimplementedlocalornationalstrategies.Thethematicworkshopfocusedonidentifyingbestmanagementtoolsandeffectivemethodstoeradicatelionfish,effectivemanagementstrategiesandpoliciesandraisingawarenessamongstakeholders.

Onekeyrecommendationarisingfromtheworkshopwastheneedtocreateofeconomicincentivestomaintaininterestamongfishermenanddivingoperatorstocontinuewithlionfisheradication

activities.Thecommitteealsoacknowledgedtheneedtoincreaseoutreachandeducationalactivitiesandtostandardizesocio-economicmethodsandpromotesustainableandresponsiblefisheriesbyusingpurposebuilttrapsthatonlytargetlionfishaskeyupcomingactivities.

Movingforward,thecommitteesuggestedthatitsfocuscanbeexpandedfromsolelyfocusingonlionfishtoincludeabroaderspectrumofinvasivespecies,andpreparedarevisedToRtocommunicatethisnewdirection.

Supportingdocument:

EnforcementandInvestigation(CoralReefCSI)

Mr.DavidGulko(Hawaii),leadfortheEnforcement&InvestigationCommittee,presentedontheproposedICRICoralEcologicalCharacterizationTool,whichwasadaptedfromtheexistingtoolusedinHawaiitoprovideameanstoevaluatethefunctionalorservicevalueofcoralsthatcanbeusedindecisionsregardingcostsandeffectivenessoftransplantingorrestorationversuscompensatorymitigationmeasures.

Mr.Gulkosummarizedthemetricsunderpinningtheecologicalcoralvaluationtoolandconductedawalk-throughofthetoolinExcel,whichhasbeendevelopedtoevaluatetheecologicalvalueforanycoralreefsystemanywhereintheworld.Heencouragedmemberstotestthetoolandprovidefeedbackforitsenhancement.

ThecommitteerecommendedcontinuingitsactivitiesbasedontheexistingToRwhichcoverthedevelopmentofMPAenforcementandcompliancestandards,providingtrainingforICRImembersandotherstakeholdersandthedevelopmentofvaluationtoolstoassesslostinecosystemsservices.

Supportingdocument: Presentation“EnforcementandInvestigation”

Excelspreadsheet“ICRICoralEcologicalCharacterizationTool”

GCRMNUpdate

RecapofagreementsfromGM29

Mr.JerkerTamelander(UNEP)gaveabriefrecapoftheGCRMNworkinggroup(WG)meetingatGM29,whereGCRMN’sprimarypurpose,herobjectivesandactivitiestowardsachievingtheseobjectiveswerediscussed,aswellastheneedsandrequirementsforglobalcoordination,scientificdirectionandstrengtheningofthenetwork.TheWGconcurredthatGCRMN’smainsubstantiveactivitycontinuestobethepreparationofglobalandregionalstatusreports,withtheCaribbeanreportprovidingatemplateforsubsequentreporting.Theneedtoestablishcommonprincipalsandmaintainthenetwork’scohesivenessandindependencewasalsohighlighted.

Severalpriorityactionswereproposed,includingthepreparationofaguidancedocumentforpreparingGCRMNregionalreportswhichiscurrentlybeingdevelopedbyDr.JeremyJackson.However,limitedprogresshasbeenmadeontheotheridentifiedpriorityactions,includingthe

preparationof“job-scopes”foraglobalcoordinatorandsciencedirector;mappingaprocessfortransitioningGCRMNtoanewinstitutionalstructure;developmentofaregionalreportfortheEastPacific;initiationdiscussionsinotherregions;andIdentifyingfocalpointsinallregions,wherepossiblethroughprocessestowardsthepreparationofregionalreports.

Supportingdocument: Nil

GuidanceforRegionalReportingPreparationProcess

Dr.JeremyJackson(ScrippsInstitutionofOceanography,SmithsonianInstitutionandGCRMN),providedanupdateonthepreparationoftheguidancedocumentforregionalreporting,whichiscurrentlybeingdrafted.

Dr.JacksonreiteratedthatthepurposeofGCRMNreportsistoproviderigorousscientificassessmentsofthechangingconditionofcoralreefecosystemsandprovideactionablerecommendationsformanagementandpolicy.Thereportsshouldthuscreateastandardizedinventoryanddatabaseforthekindsandqualityofbiologicalandenvironmentaldata;analyzethestatusandtrendsofreefpopulationsandenvironmentsandassessthemultiplefactorspotentiallyresponsibleforchangesinreefconditions;makepolicyrecommendationsbasedonthescientificfindings;andstriveforinclusivenessinstrengtheningregionalnetworks.

ThekeylessonslearnedfromthepreparationoftheCaribbeanreportweretheneed:

- forproperplanninganddevelopment,headedbyastrongleadwithstrongscientificbackgroundandtheformulationofdatasharingagreements

- torecognizecostsassociatedwiththeprocess–mantime,datamanagement,workshops,etc.-andaddressfundingneedsforthedurationoftheproject

- toidentifyessentialdatatypesandscreeningofdataforqualityandusability- fordatamanagementandsharing- forrobustdataanalysis,interpretationandpresentationoffacts/trendsasabasis- forinclusivereportpreparation- forwell-plannedandengagedlaunchandoutreachactivities- toensureimpactandlegacy

Supportingdocument:“GuidelinesforthedevelopmentofregionalGCRMNreports”

StatusUpdateonRegionalReportingfortheEasternTropicalTropicsandWestIndianOcean

Mr.JerkerTamelander(UNEP)sharedthatEasternTropicalPacificregionhasalonghistoryofresearchandmonitoringwithsomedatasetsgoingbacktothe1960s,buthadnotpreviouslyundertakenacomprehensivecoralreefanalysis.TherecentlysubmittedproposaltoCPPS/LimaConventionCoPwillallowtheregiontoinitiateaprojecttocompilingacompletebibliographyondatafromtheregionandworktowardspreparationofaregionalreportfollowingtheCaribbeanreportmodel.

FortheWesternIndianOcean,theregionalreportprocesswasinitiatedin2014throughEUfundedprojectsandimplementedthroughtheIndianOceanCommission(COI).Todate,aninventoryofnationalmonitoringdatahasbeencreatedwithworkshopsandexpertmeetingsorganisedin2015toanalysedataandpreparethereport,whichisplannedforcompletioninthefirsthalfof2016forlaunchatICRS2016inHawaii.

Supportingdocument:Presentation“GCRMNEasternTropicalPacificandWIO”

GCRMNCaribbeanReport

Ms.AngeliqueBrathwaite(Barbados)sharedthatsincethelastmeetinginOct2015,asteeringcommitteehasbeensetupcomprising12members,andwithsupportfromtheFrenchgovernment,UNEP-CEPandUNEPcoralreefunit.

Thecommitteeiscurrentlyfocusingonmonitoringactivities,includingstreamliningmonitoringguidelinesandtestingthem.Awiderangeofdatawasidentifiedforcollection,anddiscussionsareongoingonhowtocollectandanalysethem.Threelevelsformonitoringareplanned–highlyrecommended(mostrigorous),recommended(basic)andminimumstandards(entry-level).Areviewonexistingdatabasesintheregionwillbeundertakenthatwillformthebasisforthedevelopmentofaregionaldatabase.

2016plansincludeagreementonsoc-economicandecologicalguidelines;trainingworkshop(JamaicaApril2016);communicationplanformethodsandapproaches,andpromotionofnational“buyin”fortheguidelinesviatheSPAWCoP2016;supportbiophysicalmonitoringatonesite(Venezuela);submissionofabstractatICRS2016.

ENSOandBleaching

DrMarkEakin(NOAA)presentedanoverviewofthe2014-2016coralbleachingreportandoutlook,includingthe2015-2016ElNinoevent.

Dr.Eakinsummarizedthetimelinefortheevent,whichstartedinJune2014inthecentralpacificandCaribbean,withbleachingaffectingreefsinthesouthandeasternPacificinthefirsthalfof2015,with100%bleachingreportedonsomearea.BleachingintheIndianOceanwasalsorecordedinthefirsthalfof2015,althoughnotassevereasthePacific.Inthe2ndhalfof2015,bleachingintheCentralPacificandCaribbeanintensified,withsomeareasreportingsignificantmortality(e.g.,Kiribati).Overall,bleachingin2015particularlysevereinHawaii,withwidespreadbleachingintheCaribbean.Sofar,30%ofreefsglobalexposedtoAlertlevel1or2.Currently,bleachingstresshasbeensuppressedduetothetyphoonsandmonsoons,butsomeelevatedSSTisbeingreportedintheCTregion.

ThecurrentElNinoisconsideredthestrongestrecorded,andlikelytosurpassthe1998event.ElNinoforecastexpectedtocontinueinto2016,beforetaperingofflaterin2016.Modelpredictionsforlaterpastof2016arenotdefinite.Currentdataindicateover80%certaintythat2015willbewarmestyearonrecord,duetocontinuedincreaseinoceanheatcontent.

BleachingriskthroughMarch2016islowforCaribbeanbuthighincentralandeasternPacificaswellasAustralia,andsouthernIndianOcean.BleachingriskfromApriltoJune2016suggestthatextensivebleachingislikelytoreturntotheIndianOcean,SoutheastAsiaandtheCaribbean,withsubstantialbleachingintheCaribbeanextendingtothelatterhalfof2016.The2016bleachingexpectedtobebad,affectingdifferentregionsatdifferenttimes,andNOAAappealedforICRImemberstosubmitbleachingobservationstoitscoralwatchprogram.

Supportingdocument:Presentation“2014-16CoralBleachingReport&Outlook(including2015-16ElNiño)”

AWorldwithoutReefs?ResponsetoGCBE3

Dr.GregorHodgson(ReefCheckFoundation)highlightedthecontributionsofDrJeremyJacksonandDrCliveWilkinson,inpushingthecoralreefagendaoverthelastfewdecades.Heencouragedmemberstorespondmoreaggressivelytoaddresschangingreefconditions,particularlytoencouragegovernmentstoinvestmoreresourcesinaddressingtheissues.Hehighlightedtheneedtoimprovingmonitoringprograms,sothattheyaremorecomprehensive.

The3rdglobalcoralbleachingeventisoccurring,andmoreeffortneedstobecommittedtotrackingmanagementaction,includinglookingintogeneticsolutionstomanagement.Withpredictedseverebleachingin2016,Dr.HodgsonhasbeeninvolvedineffortstolobbyandpushthecoralreefagendaatCOP21inParis.

Despitethecurrentbodyofavailableinformation,thereisstillalackofknowledgeonthestatusofglobalreefs,althoughthegeneraltrendindeclineisapparent.Thereisthereforeaneedtoimprovemonitoringandtrackmanagementactions,promotenetworkingamongmonitoringunits,andgeneratesustainablefundingforlong-termmonitoring.

Supportingdocument:Presentation“AWorldwithoutReefs?ResponsetoGCBE3”

LocalProtectionandGovernance

DrJeremyJackson(ScrippsInstitutionofOceanography,SmithsonianInstitutionandGCRMN),gaveabriefoverviewoftheconclusionsarisingfromthe2004GCRMNCaribbeanreport,whichhighlightedtheneedforstronglocalprotectiontohelpusbuytimeasweworktowardsfindingconcretesolutions.

Long-termdataindicatethatcoralcoverintheCaribbeanhastaperedsincethemassivedieoffinthe1970’s,promptingthequestionthatiflocalstressorshavebeenthemajordriversofcoraldeclineup,thenweshouldbeabletopredictgeographicvariabilityincoralcoverbasedonlysocio-economicindicatorsastheultimatedriversoflocalstress.Totestthis,astudywasundertakentoscoreCaribbeanlocationswithlong-termdatabaseduponstandardmetricsofgovernance,wealth,populationdensityandeffectivenessoffisheriesregulationsandconductedaPrincipalComponentsAnalysis(PCA)ofthelocationsbasedonthesefourfactors.

Thestudyshowedthemannerinwhichnationsgovernthemselves,thepopulationdensities,andwealtharemajordeterminantsofreefhealth,andtherefore,actionstoreducelocalstressshouldhelptoprotectand/orrestoredegradedreefs.

Supportingdocument:Presentation“Coralcover,localstressandglobalclimatechange”

2. RegionalInitiatives

UNEPCoralReefPartnership/RegionalSeas

JerkerTamelander(UNEP)presentedabriefoverviewoftheglobalpartnershipthatmobilizesUNEP,RegionalSeasandotherpartnersinactionstoincreaseuseoftheecosystemapproachtosustainecosystemservices,usingcoralreefsasaflagshipandindicatorsystem.

UNEPsupportstheincreaseduseoftheecosystemapproachestosustainecosystemservices,usingcoralreefsasaflagshipandindicatorsystem,andworkingthroughthenetworkofglobaltechnicalpartnerstodevelopandexchangeapproaches,toolsandpolicyframeworks.

Focushasbeenonresilience,valuationofecosystemservices,dataandinformationmanagementforEBMandinstitutionalsupportandoutreachprogram.

Supportingdocument:Presentation“UNEPCoralReefPartnership/RegionalSeas”

PERSGA

PERSGA,theregionalorganizationfortheconservationoftheenvironmentoftheRedSeaandGulfofAden,hasprogressedonits1982RegionalActionPlan,withactivitiesfocusingassessmentofcoastal-marineenvironment,thedevelopmentofguidelinesforsustainableresourcemanagement,thepromotionofthelegalbasisforcooperativeeffortsandsupportinginstitutionalmechanism.In2005,theorganizationpreparedthereport“ProtocolConcerningtheConservationofBiologicalDiversityandtheEstablishmentofnetworkofProtectedAreasintheRedSeaandGulfofAden”,whichfocusesprimarilyontheconservationofthecoralreefsalongPERSGAregion.Sincethen,eightMPAs,allcontainingcoralreefs,havebeendeclared,withanotherfourproposed.

In2011,anMoUforcooperationamongportstatecontrolwasestablished,followedbyanMoUforcooperationinfisheriesmanagement&aquaculturein2014-2015.

PERSGAhasalsoinitiatedactivitiestofacilitatetheregiontomeetvariousAichitargets,focussingoncapacitybuildingprogramstomainstreambiodiversity,promotesustainablefisheries,reduceinvasivespecies,minimizereeflossandrestoreecosystems,reducepollution,andincreasethenetworkofMPAs.

Supportingdocument:Presentation“PERSGA’smissionandregionalinitiativesinregardtoconservationofCoralReefsoftheRedSea&GulfofAden”

GlobalDevelopmentandEnvironmentalPolicyLandscape

JerkerTamelander(UNEP)notedthatICRI,GCRMNandherpartnershavealonghistoryinmeasuringandusingcoralreefindicators,andrecommendedthatthenetworkconsiderpromotingtheuseofreefrelatedindicatorsintheSDGindicatorframework,particularlyunderGoal14,wherecurrentindicatorsfocusmoreongovernancethanonstateofthemarineandcoastalenvironment

WithregardstoUNEA,hesuggestedthatICRImembersmayconsiderprovidinginputsoncoralreefstoUNEA-2andinthedevelopmentofresolutions.Inaddition,theICRIGMmayalsoconsiderprovidinginformation,guidanceorrecommendationsinthisregardtoitsmembership.

Supportingdocument:Presentation“2030DevelopmentAgendaandtheSDGs”

3. TechnicalWorkshoponMPAManagement

Mr.PhongsuwansharedthatthetechnicalworkshoponMPAmanagementwasbyproposedbythe2014-2015Japan-ThailandICRISecretariattofacilitatesharingoncasestudiesandlessonsonMPAmanagementamongresourcemanagers.Inaddition,theworkshopintroducedtheapplicationofMarineSpatialPlanning(MSP)asatooltofacilitatemarineandcoastalmanagement,includingitsroleinMPAmanagement.

Heintroducedthechairforthesession,DrHughKirkman,whohasanillustriousacademiccareerbeforejoiningUNEPheadCOBSEAandmanageGEFprojects.

MPAManagementandMarineSpatialPlanningatRegionalandGlobalLevels

Theopeningpresentation,givenbythesessionchair,Dr.HughKirkman,focusedonmarinespatialplanning(MSP)andecosystem-basedmanagement(EBM),whichshouldnotbeconfusedwithmaritimespatialplanning,whichistheusualapproachbygovernmentstodevelopplanstobettercoordinatethevariousmarineactivities,ensuringtheyareasefficientandsustainableaspossible.However,thatframeworkisnotcomprehensivefromanecosystemperspectiveduetoalackofintegratedgovernancelinkinghumanactivitiestoenvironmentalmanagementthatseldomincludedconservationofmarineecosystems.Thisisfurtheracerbatedbytheincreaseincoastaldevelopmentaroundtheworld,whichinadvertentlyleadstotrade-offsbetweenresourceexploitationandecosystemservices.Examplesfromtheoilandgasindustries,installationofwindfarms,marinepollutionandindustrialdevelopmentalongcoastlinesillustratehowsuchtrade-offs,withoutthebenefitofEBMintegratedontothespatialplanningframework,haveledtothedemiseofmanycoastalandmarineecosystemstheworldover.

ResourcesmanagersandthewiderconservationcommunitythusneedtoworktoengageindustrialstakeholdersinEBMbylearningandusingthelanguageofindustry,usingcasestudiestodemonstratehowprivatesectorengagementcanbeachieved,andbyshowinghowEBMincreasesmanagementefficiencyandpotentialprofitability.

Onestrategytoaddressthisistomakecollaborativegovernanceandintegratedmanagementsynonymous,whichemphasizedinteractionsamongmultiplebiophysicalandhumandrivers.ThisisthekeyprincipalunderpinningMSP,whichfocusesonmanagingmultipleuseconflictswiththeecosystemstheyinteractwithdirectlyorindirectly.TheDPSIR(Drivers,Pressures,State,Impacts,Responses)modelisausefultoolinMSPthatcanbeadaptedandappliedforecosystemmanagement,assessment,indicatorselection,andcommunication.TherearemanygoodexamplesofMSPinaction,calledassuchorreferredtobyotherterms,fromtheEU,EastAsiaandSoutheastAsia,whichillustratehowintegratedapproachesthatincludesEBMcanbenefitallstakeholders

whilemaintainingecosystemintegrity.ThegoalisforathirdofthetotalareaoftheEEZsoftheworldtohaveapprovedMSPframeworksby2025.

Supportingdocument:Presentation“MarineSpatialPlanningandEcosystem-BasedManagement”

EffectiveApproachesforGoverningMarineandCoastalAreas–ACaseforKohTao

ConflictinginterestsamongusersontheislandofKohTao(KT)necessitatedthedevelopmentofnewapproachestounderstandandaddresstheseissues,andDr.SuvaluckSathumanusphan,fromMahidolUniversity,presentedthebasisofastudythatlookedintothesystemofgovernanceinKohTaotoidentifytheprincipleschallengesforachievingthesustainableuseoftheisland’smarineandcoastalresources.

Onekeyoutcomeofthestudywastoacknowledgethatgovernanceismorethangovernment;instead,itinvolvesthe“interactionofgovernmentandthegoverned”,andiseffectivelythesumtotalofinfluenceoverhumanexertednotonlybythegovernment,butalsobydiverseinstitutionsthatencompasspolitical,economic,religious,social,media,educationandotherstructures.

Naturalresourcegovernanceisthustheinteractionofthegovernmentanditscitizenstomakeandimplementdecisionsaffectingnaturalresourcesandnaturalresourceusers,andshouldbebasedontheprincipalsofaccountability,participation,transparency,ruleoflaw/predictabilityandaccesstojustice.Governanceshouldbeadaptivewithfeedbackloopsthatallowreviewandrevisionstostrengththeprocess.

TheKohTaostudy,whichwasbasedonacomprehensivelegislativereviewandquestionnairesurveys,showedthatrespondentsprioritizedpublicutilityissuesasaprecursorofenvironmentaldecline.Thestudyalsohighlightedalackofintegrationandcoordination,alimitationtoinformationdisseminationandcommunicationandtheuncertaintyassociatedwithpublicparticipation.

Movingforward,thestudyidentifiedthatforKohTaotoachievesustainablemanagementofmarineandcoastalresources,thereneedstobeeffortsneedtoenhancetheknowledgeofresponsibleorganizations,improvethequalityoftheinformationanditsdissemination,encouragemoreengagedofpublicparticipation,enforceequitablelegislationandcommunicateopenlyandhonestlyparticularlywhenaddressingproblemsorcomplaints.

Supportingdocument:Presentation“Effectiveapproachesforgoverningmarineandcoastalareas-acaseofKohTao”

MPAManagementinThailand

Dr.AnuwatNateewathanafromtheDepartmentofMarineandCoastalResources,explainedthatThailandhasalwaysprioritizedmarineandcoastalecosystemprotection,althoughthedecisiontoimplementmarineprotectedareas(MPAs)accordingtointernationalguidelineswasonlyconcretizedin2004,afterrecognizingthatMPAsareusefultoolsforachievingtheconservationandsustainableuseoftheKingdom’sbiodiversity.ThailandsubsequentlyadoptedthesixIUCN

categoriesforMPAs,whichrangeinprotectionfromstrictnaturereservestomoreintensivelymanagedresourceareas.

Thailand’sMPAsframeworkcomprisethreegeneralcategories;areasmanagedforsustainableuse,whichmayallowextractiveuses;areaswhereextractiveusesareexcludedandothersignificanthumanpressuresminimized(no-take),andgeneralareascoveringoverthewidermarineandcoastalenvironmentunderasustainablemanagementframework.

TostrengthenThailand’smarineandcoastalecosystemmanagement,aNationalAdvisoryBoardonProtectedAreas(includingMPAs)wasestablishedin2011,andworkingwithrelevantgovernmentandnon-governmentstakeholders,promulgatedtheMarineandCoastalResourcesManagementPromotionAct,whichwasenactedinJune2015,asatoolforestablishmentandmanagementofMPAsinThailand.

Supportingdocument:Presentation“MarineProtectedAreasManagementinThailand”

Questionsfromthefloor:

- Dr.AbdulRahimGorYaman(Malaysia)askedifthenewactisavailableinEnglish,andMr.PhongsuwanclarifiedthattheActiscurrentlybeingtranslatedandwillbemadeavailableontheDMCRwebsite.

- Dr.VoSiTuan(Vietnam)askedhowMSPaddressesland-basedsourcesofpollution,andiftherewasadifferencewiththeICMapproach.Dr.KirkmanagreedthattherearemanysimilaritiesbetweenMSPandICM,andperhapsitismoreacaseofdefinitionandsemantic.Mr.JerkerTamelander(UNEP)addedthatMSPshouldbeviewedasatoolusedforaplanning,whichisalsoapartoftheICMframework.

- Ms.MargaretVakalalabure(Fiji)concurredwiththesecondpresentationthatcommunicationandinclusivenessarekeyinreachingouttolocalcommunities,asseenFiji’sexperienceaswell,andtimeinvestedinengagingthemwillpaydividendsinthelong-run.Inaddition,sheopinedthatthebottom-upapproachescanbesometimesbemoreeffectiveinrealizingchangeinthelong-runthantraditionaltop-downapproaches.Dr.Sathumanasphanaddedthatapproachesshouldbetailoredtomeettheuniquesocial,ecologicalandpoliticalrealitiesofeachlocalarea,andthiswillrequiretimeinvestedtounderstandthesituationonthegroundandbuildsystemsthatreflectandbuildonthem.

MPAManagement–ACaseStudyfromKohTao

FollowingonfromtheearlierpresentationbyDr.Satumanasphan,Dr.SakananPlathong,fromthePrinceofSongklaUniversity,sharedontheissuesrelatedtothemanagementofKohTao(KT),particularlyduetotheintensivecoastaldevelopmenttomeettheheavytourismdemands,resultinginmultipleimpactsthatdamagedvastcoralreefareas.

Thecoralreefparticipatorymanagementframeworkwasusedtoidentifyissuesanddevelopeffectivemanagementinterventions,whichleveragedstronglyonpublicparticipationinnaturalresourcesmanagement,andthisiscommunicatedinthereport“StrategicPlan:IntegratedMarine

andCoastalResourcesManagementofKohTao”.Inaddition,MSPwasusedstrengthenandstreamlineexistingzoningandmanagementplans.

Thestudyidentifiedseveralstrengthsandopportunitiesthatallowedthedevelopmentofaneffectivemanagementstrategy,particularlysupportaffordedbylocalcommunitiestopromotenaturalresourcesconservation.However,thestudyalsorecognizedlimitationrelatedtolackoftechnicalcapacityandmanpoweramongmanagementagencies,sustainablefinancing,ineffectivelawsandregulations,andmanagingtheecologicalcarryingcapacityrelatedtotouristsnumbers.

Supportingdocument:Presentation“ManagementofCoralReefofKohTao.”

Questionsfromthefloor:

- Ms.AngeliqueBrathwaite(Barbados)askedifthegovernmentviewedthe“communityagreement”inapositiveway,andMr.Plathongexplainedthatittooktimetogetsupportandrequiredactiveengagementamongallstakeholders.

- Mr.NicolasPascal(France)askedaboutthefinancialsustainabilitymechanismforKT,andMr.Plathongclarifiedthatfundingisprovidedbythecentralgovernmentandisalsosupplementbylocalprograms.

MPAManagement–ACaseStudyfromKohChang

Dr.ThamasakYeemin,fromtheRamkamhaengUniversity,presentedthecasestudyandlessonslearnedfromKohChang(KC),whichwasselectedaregionaldemonstrationsiteforcoralreefmanagementundertheUNEP-GEFproject.

TherewasrecognitionthatthecoralreefsofKC,likemanyotherrecreationalislandswithheavytourismimpacts,sufferedfromsedimentation,unregulateddivingandillegalfishing,whichwerefurtherexacerbatedbybleachingeventandstorms.

Acausalchainstudywasundertakentoidentifytherootcausesofimpacts,focusingprimarilyonactivitiesthatincreasedpublicawarenessandeducation;enhancingnetworkingamongagenciesandstakeholders;assessedtourismcarrycapacityandinstallationofmooringbuoys;increasedcapacitybuilding;promotedsustainablelivelihoods;andimprovedsitemanagementtosupportcoralreefrehabilitation.OutcomesfromthestudywasusedtodevelopasustainableecotourismprogramforKC.

Theprojectshowedthebenefitsofeffectivecollaborationbetweenscientists,localcommunitiesandlocalgovernmentofficialstointegratescientificdataintopolicyandadaptationpractices.Inaddition,aspartofthereefrehabilitationprogram,theprojectfoundthatartificialreefsitescanbeusedtosupportecotourismandserveasalivinglaboratoriesforstudents.Finally,theprojectacknowledgedthatcapacitybuilding,publicawarenessandeducationthroughdisseminatingprintedmaterialsandtrainingcourses,workshopsandseminarsforstakeholders,youth,studentsandlocalgovernmentofficialscanenhanceresilienceincoastalcommunities.

Supportingdocument:Presentation“MPAManagement–ACaseStudyfromKohChang,aregionaldemonstrationsiteforcoralreefmanagement”

Questionsfromthefloor:

- DrMarkEakin(NOAA)askedifanycitizen-sciencetypeprogramshavebeenimplemented,e.g.,reportingbleachingobservations.Dr.Thamasakclarifiedthatcurrently,onlyMarineParkofficersareinvolvedinrecordingandreportingincidences,butagreesthatacitizenscienceprogramwillbebeneficialandwillsuggestthattheteamlookintoitsfeasibility.

- Ms.IngeYangesa(Indonesia)askedhowillegalfishingismanagedinKCtoensurethatlivelihoodsarenotaffectedwhileensuringhabitatprotection.Dr.ThamasakexplainedthatinKC,themainimpactwasrelatedtogeartype,whichwasaddressedbyprovidingthefishermenwithalternativegearaddressedbyprovidingthefishermenwithalternativegearandtrainingonhowtousethem,allfundedthroughtheprojectandsupportfromthecentralgovernment.

- Dr.CliveWilkinson(Australia)askedifthefocusofthecoraltransplantationprogramhadshiftedfromscientist-ledrehabilitationtocommunityparticipation-typeprograms,andifbleachingresistantcoralsareconsideredintheprograms.Dr.Thamasakexplainedthatbothtypesofprogramsareimplemented,andthateffortsarenowbeingfocusedonresilientspeciesselectionfortransplantationfollowingthedemiseofmostofthetransplantsafterthelastbleachingeventin2010.

- Mr.JerkerTamalander(UNEP)suggestedthattomanagedivingimpacts,theMPmanagementcanconsiderintroducingtheGreenFinsprogramtothediveoperators.Mr.PhongsuwansharedthattrainingfortheGreenFinsandReefWatchprogramswereconductedpreviously.

MPAandEcoregionintheAndamanSea

Dr.PetchManoprawitr,DeputyoftheIUCNSoutheastAsiaGroup,presentedoneffortstoenhanceecosystemresiliencethroughthedevelopmentofMPAnetworkandMSPinThailand’sAndamanSeaarea.

TheAndamanSeahosts17nationalmarineparks,3non-huntingareasand1biospherereserve,andprotects62%ofcoralareas,41%ofseagrassbedsand20%ofmangroves.However,the2010globalbleachingeventresultedinextensivecoralmortalitywithinmanyreefsarea,butaffecteddifferentareasdifferently.Withrisingseasurfacetemperatures(SSTs)expectedtobecomethenewnormal,thequestiononhowtomanagereefsandincreaseresiliencewereraised,andeffortsweremadetoanalyzebleachingpatternsacrossAndamanbioregiontoidentifyresistantandfastrecoverycommunities.

Aprojectwasinitiatedtodevelopresilienceindicatorsandtodevelopanassessmentindextoevaluatetheresiliencepotentialofreefsites.

Theobjectivesoftheresilienceassessmentindexaretoguidemanagementbyaidingzoningplanning,addressingland-basedandvessel-basedpollutionandraisingawarenessandtourismoutreach.Theprojectidentifiedtheimportanceofsystematicspatialplanningtoenhanceecosystemresilience,whichshouldberepresentativeoftheareaandreplicable,includeidentifiedcriticalhabitats,andtheincorporationofothertypesofMarineManagedAreasintoconservationplanning.

Understandingregionalconnectivitywasalsorecognizedasanimportantaspectoftheresilienceplanning,andtrans-boundarydialoguebetweenThailandandMyanmarisrequiredtoaddressthelargerresiliencequestionwithintheAndamanregion.

Theprojectindentifiedgapsinknowledgethatcouldbeaddressedinmoredetailthroughmorespecificprojects,includingconnectivityassessmentandtheidentificationofsourceareas,understandingcoralsizeclasses,fishcommunitystructureandherbivorywithinreefsandmanagementeffectivenessofMPAstoaddressresilience.

Inaddition,currentMPAsystemsshouldbecomplimentedbydevelopmentofcommunity-basedMPAsorLocallyManagedMarineAreas(LMMAs)toenhanceconnectivityofcoastalhabitat,near-shoreandoffshorehabitatsbetweenformalMPAs.ThiscanleadtooptimalMPAnetworkdesignforAndamanseaarea.

Supportingdocument:Presentation“BuildingecosystemresiliencethroughthedevelopmentofMPAnetworkandMarineSpatialPlanninginThailand’sAndamanSea”

CommunitiesofSeaGypsiesinRelationtoMarineandCoastalManagement

Dr.NarumonArunotaifromChulalongkornUniversitypresentedthesocialscienceaspectofmarineandcoastalmanagement.Dr.Arunotaipromotestheincorporationofsocio-scienceinthecreationofmarineprotectingareas,whichtendtobeecosystems-focused.Thereisaneedtocoupletheprotectionofcoralreefsandrelatedecosystemswiththeprotectionofthepeoplewhotraditionallyusedandoftentimes“wisely”,andineffect,protectedthem.TheMokenorseagypsieshavelivedanddependedontheresourceswithintheAndamanSeaforcenturiesandhavealwayslivedasindependentandfree-movingcommunities.

TostrengthenmarineandcoastalmanagementinThailandandtheregion,programsneedtobemoreinclusive.Thereisaneedtoreconsiderorexpandthemeaningof“protection”sothatitisnotprohibition-focused,butinsteadshouldbeopeneduptowiderparticipationandacceptance,enablinglocalcommunitiestodevelopareasandformsofprotectionthroughsocialmeansandbasedonculturalstrengths.Thiscanbeachievedbymovingawayfromatop-downdesignationorestablishmentofMPAstowardsabottom-upandparticipatoryapproachthatisprocessinsteadofgoaloriented.

Supportingdocument:Presentation“Seaofhope:connectinglocalfishingcommunitieswithMPAs”

Questionsfromthefloor:

- DrGregHodgson(USA)suggestedthattheuseofLMMAandMMAcanbeusedregionallyinsteadofMPA.

CaseStudyonMPAManagementfromCambodia

Mr.KimSokha,theheadofMarineFisheriesConservationDivisionoftheFisheriesAdministration,Cambodia,sharedonCambodia’sjourneyinestablishingCambodia’sfirstMPAinKohRong,covering40,000haandincludesthreecommunityfisheriesareas.

TheMPAwasestablishedincollaborationwithFFI,SongSaaFoundationandfundedbyvariouscountriesandagencies,withtheaimmeetCambodia’s10-yearstrategictarget,aswellasencouragesustainablemanagementoftheresourceswithinthearea.Theprojectadoptedastrongparticipatoryapproach,engaginglocalcommunitiesattheearlystagesoftheprocesstogettheirsupportandbuy-in.Thiswascomplementedbysocialandecologicalsurveystoprovidethenecessarydataandinformationtoguidetheformulationofthemanagementplan.

Movingforward,long-termhabitatmonitoringandevaluationprogramsarebeingimplementedincollaborationwithFFIandotherstakeholders.

Supportingdocument:Presentation“EstablishingCambodia’sFirstMPA-theStorySoFar”

Questionsfromthefloor:

- Dr.HughKirkman(Australia)enquirediftheareaisanMPAorFisheriesManagementArea,andMr.Sokhaexplainedthatbasedoninternationalterminology,theareaisconsideredasaMPAbutiscalledbyadifferentnameunderCambodianlaw,althoughtheobjectivesaresimilar.

- Mr.KeeAlfianaskediftheplannedmonitoringprogramincludesotherassociatedecosystems,andMs.Westexplainedthattheprogramwillincludeseagrassareas.

CaseStudyonMPAManagementfromCuba

Ms.AylemHernendezAvilaandMs.JuliettGonzalezMendezfromtheNationalCenterofProtectedAreasofCuba,presentedonthemainmanagementandplanningresultsfromCuba’sexperienceinmanagingMPAs.

TheysharedthatthearchipelagoandtheinsularshelfofCubacoversanareaof110,922km2,with360,000km2ofterritorialwaters.NumerouslegalinstrumentsprovidethelegalframeworkforInsituconservationandmanagementofCuba’sNationalSystemofProtectedAreas(SNAP),whichiscoordinatedatthreedifferentlevels,andtakesguidancefromtheNationalSystemPlan.UnderSNAP,211ProtectedAreashavebeenidentified,ofwhich104areMPAscoveringanareaof3,304,276.88hectares,andaccountingforover91%ofthetotalprotectedareascoverage.

Inaddition,CubahasinitiatedaprogramonimplementingaregionalapproachtothemanagementofmarineandcoastalarchipelagosinprotectedareassouthofCuba,withtheaimtoconservemarinebiodiversityandpromotesustainablyusedthroughanextended,strengthenedandintegratednetworkofcoastalandmarineprotectedareasintheSouthernArchipelagosregion.Theprogramcoreactivitiesincludeafocusonenvironmentaleducation,communicationandparticipation;studiesoneconomicvaluationofecosystemservicesandhumanwelfarewithinMPAs;sustainablefisheriesandtourismwithinMPAs;administrativestrengtheningofMPAs;

implementationofbiodiversitymonitoringsystems;thecontrolofalieninvasivespecies;andtheestablishmentofnurseriesforcoralreefrestorationwithintheMPAs.

Supportingdocument:Presentation“MarineProtectedAreasinCuba:Mainmanagementandplanningresults”

4. MeetingOutcomes

Ms.MakikoYanagiyaandMr.NiphonPhongsuwanco-chairedSession6ofthemeeting.

ReportbackfromAdhocCommitteesRegionallionfishcommittee

Onbehalfoftheregionallionfishcommittee,Mr.FrancisStaubinformedthatthecommitteerecommendedtheextensionofitsToRforanotheryearto2016.Thecommitteealsoproposedtoexpandthefocusofitsactivitiestoincludegeneralinvasivespecies.

Mr.DaveGulkosupportedtheproposal,andagreedthatitistimelyforthecommitteetoexpansionthescopeofitsactivities.

Astherewerenoobjectionbymemberstotherecommendedextensionofthecommittee’sToRtill2016,Ms.Yanagiyaconfirmedtheextension,andrequestedthecommitteesubmittherevisedToRtoreflecttheagreedextensionandexpansioninthescopeofactivities.

Enforcementandinvestigation

Mr.DaveGulko,leadfortheenforcementandinvestigationcommittee,sharedthat10membershaveaskedtotrialtheICRICoralEcologicalCharacterizationTool,andhaveprovidedfeedbackonadditionalfeaturestheywouldliketoseeincorporatedintothetool,includingasectionondecisionpathwaysandresultsinterpretation.

MiscellaneousbusinessReportbackfromGCRMNsidemeeting

Mr.JerkerTamelander(UNEP)sharedtheoutcomesofthesidemeetingoftheGCRMNthatwaswellattendedbyrepresentativesfromvariouscountriesandorganizations.

ThemeetingreaffirmedthatthedecisionsandrecommendationsfromGM29provideasetofprinciplesthatshouldguideGCRMNactivitiesandfurtherdevelopment,andbasedonthat,anumberofadditionalrecommendationswereproposed.

TherewasconsensusthatICRIcontinuetodevelopandstrengthentheGCRMNtoensurethatherkeyobjectiveofpreparingperiodicregionalassessmentscanbemaintained.GCRMNshouldaimtobethego-tosourceforcoralreefinformationformultipleusers,usingscientificallyrigorousandinclusiveregionalandglobalreportingprocess,asameanstoachievethis.

Insummary,themeetingrecommendedthefollowingactivities:

- ThecurrentandincomingICRISecretariatscontinuethediscusscoordinationmechanismsoftheGCRMN,withaviewtostrengthenownershipofthenetwork;

- DevelopadraftToRfortheglobalcoordinator,includingroleinpreparationofregionalandglobalreports(recognizingchangedrequirementsasaresultofsignificantprogressmadeintheregionalworkofGCRMN),andidentifypossiblefundingmechanisms;

- DeveloplistofregionalcontactsforGCRMN;- Identificationofgapsandopportunitiesintermsofregionalreporting;- EncourageGCRMNcommunitytoparticipateinICRSsession(sessionnumberfromJJ);- HoldameetingatICRSforGCRMNrepresentativesfromregionsattendingICRS,onthe

sidelinesofthesymposium.

Supportingdocument:Presentation“GCRMNPattayaminutes”

Discussion:

- Dr.HughKirkmansuggestedtheinclusionofmetadatainthedatacollectionprocess,andMr.Tamelanderclarifiedthattherecommendedprocessofdatacollationalreadycapturesthecollectionofmetadata.

- Dr.CliveWilkinsonsharedthatutilityofReefBaseasthemaindatabaseandrepositoryofcoralreefrelatedinformationhasbecomediluted,andcommendedNOAAforofferingtotakeovertheroleforcollatinginformationanddataoncoralbleaching.

- Dr.GregorHodgsonhighlightedtheneedtocontinuallyseeksustainablefundingtokeepthenetworkgoing,andofferedReefCheckasapossiblerepositoryforanyvarietyofcoralreefdatasetsinitsrevisedGoogleEarthdatabase,aswellasaplacetohosttheGCRMNGlobalCoordinator;

- Dr.MargaretJohnsonsuggestedthatthediscussionbecontinuedinthecloud,andwassecondedbyMr.JerkerTamelander.Dr.Hodgsoncounter-suggestedthatadefinitiveteambeformalizedwithanidentifiedleadbeforetheendofGM30;

- Dr.WilkinsonremindedthemeetingthatICRIhadpreviouslyestablishedamanagementgroupspecificallytaskedtodirectandguidetheGCRMN,andperhapsthecurrentSecretariatcanconsiderappointinganewmanagementgroup;

- TheSecretariataddedthatitwilltakeallsuggestionsandcommunicateittomembersinthecomingweeks.

SouthAsiaCoralTaskForce

Dr.MonammadKhurshid(SriLanka)sharedonactivitiesundertheSouthAsiaCorporativeEnvironmentProgram(SACEP),aninter-governmentalorganizationofeightmemberstates(Afghanistan,Bangladesh,Bhutan,India,Maldives,Nepal,PakistanandSriLanka)establishedin1982withthedecisionbodyofthegoverningcouncilcomprisingofMinisters.

TheoverallobjectiveoftheSACEPistoprotectandmanagethemarineenvironmentandrelatedcoastalecosystemsoftheregioninanenvironmentallysoundandsustainablemanner,andthisisrealizedthroughtheSACEPActionPlanthatprioritizesactivitiesonintegratedcoastalzonemanagement(ICZM),oil-spillcontingencyplanning,humanresourcedevelopmentandenvironmentaleffectsofland-basedactivities.

AspartofSACEP’sinitiativetosafeguardcriticalcoralreefecosystems,theSouthAsiaCoralReefTaskForce(SACRTF)wasestablishedtoactivelyparticipateandsupporttheeffectiveimplementationofexistingnationalregulations,actionplansandstrategiesforthemanagementofcoralreefsandassociatedecosystems;andtopromotethedevelopmentofthestrategiclinkagesforenhancedregionalcooperationandtheestablishmentofaneffectivenetworkedsystemofmarineandcoastalprotectedareasintheSouthAsianRegion.TheSACRTFcomprisestwogovernmentrepresentatives,onecoralreefexpert,andoneadministrativerepresentativefromeachcountry,togetherwithinternationalNGOoragencies(e.g.UNEP)representatives.TheTaskForcesiscurrentlyfocusingonimprovingtheeffectivenessofmanagementofexistingMarineProtectedAreas(MPAs),improvinginformationexchangeanddatamanagementacrosstheregion,enhancingregionalcooperationandresponsestoregionalmarineandcoastalresourcesmanagementchallenges,capacitybuildingandimplementingviablelivelihooddiversificationforlocalcommunities.Todate,theTaskForcehasdevelopedaregionalstrategyforcoralreefmanagementinSouthAsia,andiswillingtobepartofthe“GlobalCoralReefPartnership:TowardsanEcosystemApproachtoCoralReefManagement”initiative.Supportingdocument:Presentation“SouthAsiaCoralReefTaskForce”

5. TheFutureComingEventsUNEA2

Mr.JerkerTamelanderreemphasizedthatICRIcanconsiderraisingrelevantissuesattheupcomingUNEA2meeting,andofferedUNEP’sassistancetoidentifykeyrecommendationandtodrafttheappropriatewordingifICRIsochooses.

ICRS

Mr.TamelanderreiteratedtheearliercallbyDr.JeremyJacksonformemberstoconsidersubmittingabstractstotheGCRMNsessionatICRS2016inHawaii.

Mr.DaveGulkoenquiredifICRImemberswouldliketoconveneameetingbeforethestartofICRS,andofferedtohostaroomatastategovernmentfacilityorassisttoenquirefromthesymposiaorganizersifaroomatthevenuecanbemadeavailable.Dr.GregHodgsonsupportedtheproposal,andaddedthatICRIshouldmakegreaterefforttoengagepastmemberstorejoinwhilecontinuingtoattractmoremembers.

IUCNWCC

Mr.TamelanderhighlightedthatseveralsessionscoveringcoralreefissueshavebeenidentifiedatthenextWCCandrecommendsICRIinvolvementtoraisetheprofileofcoralreefsatthecongress.NOAAofferedtohostanICRIeventattheUSpavilion.

Dr.GregHodgsonsuggestedthatICRIproceedwithcoordinatingameetingfollowingendorsementbytheSecretariat,andthecurrentJapan-ThailandSecretariatofferedtocoordinatethemeetingandfinalizedetailsoveremail.Mr.TadashiKimurasuggestedasidegroupbeformedtodiscussthisandtoprepareaproposaltotheSecretariat.AsnomembersobjectedtoanICRIsidemeetingatthe

WCC,theSecretariataskedMr.Gulkotoleadtheworkinggroupwhowillformulatetheagendaforthemeeting.ThefollowingindividualsandorganizationsofferedtoserveontheWG:

Mr.DaveGulko(Lead)

Dr.BrittParker(NOAA)

Mr.JerkerTamelander(UNEP)

Mr.FrancisStaub(ICRIForum)

Dr.MargaretJohnson(GBRMPA)

Dr.BenPalmer(GBRMPA)

Dr.GregHodgson(ReefCheck)

Dr.KeeAlfian(ReefCheck)

Mr.NiphonPhongsuwan(ICRISecretariat)

Ms.MakikoYanagiya(ICRISecretariat)

Thecurrentsecretariatwillconsulttheincomingsecretariatwithregardstothemeeting.

ITMEMS5

ITMEMS5willbeheldfrom25to28February2016inBohol,Philippines,andtheupdatedinformationonthesymposiumhasbeenuploadedonICRIForum.ThepartnersforthesymposiumincludethegovernmentsofJapanandPhilippines,UNEPandtheReef-WorldFoundation.Currently,sixsessionshavebeenconfirmed,andthedraftprogram,includinga4-daytrainingprogramforsitemanagers,hasbeenprepared.

SummaryofJapan-ThailandSecretariatactivities

Mr.TasashiKimura,presentedasummaryoftheactivitiesoftheJapan-ThailandSecretariatfor2015-2016.Theactivitieswerebasedontheplanofaction2014-2016thatwaspresentedatGM28.

Twogeneralmeetingswereconvened,andtwotechnicalworkshopswereheldinconjunctionwithin2015theGMs.Inaddition,theSecretariatalsoprepareda20-yearreviewofICRItorevisitICRI’splaceamongmultilateralenvironmentalagreementsandotherinternationalbodiesandinitiatives.

TomaintainandenhanceICRI’svisibilityininternationalfora,asideeventwasheldattheCBDCOP12andWorldParksCongressin2014,RAMSARCOP12,aswellasupdatesonICRIForum.

TheSecretariathascontinueditsactiveengagementwiththeGCRMN,andsupportedtheworkofthecurrentandnewadhoccommittees.Inaddition,theSecretariathasalsocontinuedsupportingactivitieswithintheEastAsiannode.

Presentationofincomingsecretariat

Mr.SylvianFourrierfromtheFrenchEmbassy,confirmedFrance’scandidacyintakingoverthenextICRIsecretariat,whichreinforcesFrance’scommitmenttocoralreefconservation,andisalignedwiththecontinuedsupportofIFRECOR.Currently,theco-secretariatcountryhasnotbeenconfirmed.

TheICRISecretariatwillsecuremember’scommentsandpostthedecisiononICRIForum.

Closingremarks

Ms.YanagiyathankedmembersfortheiractiveparticipationduringtheJapan-ThailandICRISecretariatterm,andhighlightedtheaimtomakeamorerelevantandoperationalorganizationbyorganizingactivitiesthatbenefitstakeholders.

Mr.PhongsuwansharedthatThailandbenefitedgreatlyfromherinvolvementinICRIandthesecretariat,andthankedeveryone,particular,theICRIGM30organizationcommitteeforthesupport.

Inclosing,theco-chairsthankedeveryoneandlookedforwardtoacontinuedpartnership.

OnbehalfofallICRImembers,Mr.JerkerTamelanderthankedtheJapan-ThailandSecretariatfortheirleadershipduringtheircurrentSecretariatterm.Dr.CliveWilkinsonseconded,andsuggestedthatICRIforma“ReefScientistssansFrontier”andtoleverageontheexistingexpertiseofretired“greybeards”likehimself,Dr.CharlesBirklandandDr.BernardSalvatwhoarestillactiveandwillingtocontributetheirtimeandexpertise.HealsothankedtheUSstategovernment,throughNOAA,forthecontinuedsupporttoICRI.

Appendices:

Appendix1 Agenda

Appendix2 ListofParticipants

Appendix3 GCRMNminutes