ICRI Secretariat 2003-2005Taking things forward with the UK

Robert Baldi

Marine and Waterways Division

UK arrangements for the Secretariat

• UNEP-WCMC provides Secretariat functions from 1 July 2003 for two years

• UK, the Seychelles (our co-host) and ICRI Members determine policy and the path that ICRI follows

• UK and Seychelles co-chair meetings ofICRI’s Co-ordination & Policy Committee

UK arrangements for the Secretariat

• Why UNEP-WCMC for the UK Secretariat?

Enables Secretariat to draw on previously acquired experience and knowledge of the working of ICRI

Provides an opportunity for joined-up working on coral reef issues

UK arrangements for the Secretariat

• Secretariat will also use their expertise in a joined-up way to develop ideas, initiatives, and local development projects that can help to implement ICRI and WSSD goals

Working with our co-host

• UK attaches considerable importance to ICRI’s partnership approach

Seychelles co-chairs CPC meetings Planning to host a CPC meeting in our

co-host’s country Provision of a scholarship opportunity

to UNEP-WCMC

What we want to achieve

• Our framework for action is based on the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, which contained a number of key coral reef issues:

“develop national, regional and international programmes for halting the loss of marine biodiversity, including coral reefs and wetlands”

“Implement…the programme of action called for by the International Coral Reef Initiative”

“Establish representative networks of marine protected areas by 2012”

What we want to achieve

What we want to achieve

• We want to establish approaches and strategies to focus on outcomes, so that ICRI can contribute to protecting and better managing coral reefs:

Challenging ICRI to take the lead on marine protected areas.

What we want to achieve

Greater co-operation and co-ordination between UN bodies, regional seas programmes and donor agencies etc

Encourage developing country participation and ensure participation is at the right level

Greater private sector engagement to support local development projects

ICRI meeting, Nov ’03

• Integration of ICRI into and linkages with a number of initiatives:

The Caribbean WW2BW initiative The World Parks Congress Preparations for Barbados+10 (SIDS) Promotion of sustainable tourism

and fishing practices

ICRI meeting, Nov ’03

• The importance of marine science:

Preparations for ICRS in Okinawa

UN work on a Global Marine Assessment

Assessing monetary damage caused to reefs by ship groundings

ICRI meeting, Nov ’03

• We sought to define a number of emerging issues in the international environment:

Defining fossil corals (for CITES) Trade in coral products (e.g. aquaria) Inclusion of cold water corals in ICRI

ICRI meeting, Nov ’03

• The UK offered 3 grants to small-scale projects. The following were successful:

Monitoring of Portland Bight Protected Area (Jamaica)

Setting up MPAs close to Urban Areas (Philippines)

Site Exchange with St Lucia Marine Management Area (Bonaire)

Develop programmes for halting the loss of marine biodiversity, inc. coral reefs and wetlands

TARGET ACTION TAKEN

Strengthen joint management plans and international networking

Raise awareness of importance of coral reefs. Press for action to protect and manage them

• Funding of projects. Co-ordinating with other secretariats, e.g., Ramsar

• ICRI Newsletter and new-look website. ICRI presence in international meetings

• ICRI participation on WW2BW and international meetings, including sharing best practice

Greater co-operation and co-ordination between UN bodies, regional seas programmes and donor agencies

Encourage developing country participation and at right level

Greater private sector engagement to support local development projects

TARGET ACTION TAKEN

• Hosting of the Secretariat by UNEP-WCMC alongside UNEP’s Coral Reef Unit.

• Identification of contacts and funding developing countries’ and OTs’ attendance

• UK-funded conference on sustainable tourism (WW2BW)

ICRI Forum

• For further details of all the small-scale projects, the minutes of the meeting, discussion fora and all ICRI documents (including this presentation), please visit the ICRI Forum at:

www.icriforum.org