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State of the Coral Triangle Reports Launched
 The six nations of the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs. Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF)- Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste, launched the State of the Coral Triangle Reports on July 7, 2012 at a side event at the 12th International Coral Reef Symposium in Cairns, Australia. The reports serve as a baseline in mapping the geography, biodiversity and ecosystem values of the Coral Triangle's marine and coastal ecosystems. The reports also identify resource threats and their resulting strain in the Coral Triangle's food security and how the six goals of the CTI's Regional Plan of Action are addressing these. Contributors to the report from the Coral Triangle countries also identified data gaps and research needed to inform regional and national policy development and decision making ADB's Knowledge Management for CTI Project led the development and launch of the report supported by USAID's US CTI Support Program and James Cook University.
A detailed update of the launch, including country highlights, can be downloaded from Coral News the official newsletter of the 12th ICRS.
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Coral Triangle Reefs Threatened, New Study Shows
 A new report finds that more than 85 percent of reefs in the Coral Triangle are directly threatened by local human activities, substantially more than the global average of 60 percent. Reefs at Risk Revisited in the Coral Triangle shows that the greatest local threats to reefs in the countries that make up the Coral Triangle are overfishing, watershed-based pollution, and coastal development. When these threats are combined with recent coral bleaching, prompted by rising ocean temperatures, the percent of reefs rated as threatened increases to more than 90 percent. The report calls attention to the vulnerability of coral reefs in the Coral Triangle and factors leading to degradation and loss. The report also shows that: * On the list of countries most vulnerable to social and economic impacts from the loss of coral reef services such as food, employment, and shoreline protection, five of the six Coral Triangle countries topped the list; * An assessment of the existing coverage and management effectiveness of marine protected areas (MPAs) in the Coral Triangle found that 16 percent of the region's coral reefs are inside MPAs, which is substantially lower than the global average of 28 percent; * Less than one percent of MPAs in the Coral Triangle were found to be fully effective at reducing threats such as overfishing and destructive fishing. The new report was adapted from the World Resources Institute's landmark 2011 global analysis of threats to coral reefs, Reefs at Risk Revisited, supplemented with more recent and detailed data for the Coral Triangle region. MORETo download the full report, follow this link. |
Indonesia's Leading Scientist Calls for Stronger Science to Management Approach in Protecting the Coral Triangle
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Dr. Jompa delivers his plenary speech at
the 12th ICRS in Cairns
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The threat to reefs in the Coral Triangle by 2050 is "so scary I don't want to believe it", said leading Indonesian scientist Jamaluddin Jompa in his plenary address on July 9., 2012 at the 12th International Coral Reef Symposium in Cairns, Australia.
"It will be the end of the Coral Triangle story if it ever comes true," predicted Professor Jompa, who is director of Coral Reef Research at Hasanuddin University in Makassar. Some 90 per cent of regional reefs would be threatened by 2050, he said, citing findings in a new report, Reefs at Risk Revisited in the Coral Triangle, published by the World Resources Institute.
"A presidential advisor asked me how we could make the coral stronger, but it struck me that we should not be asking the coral to keep up with these ecological changes. The challenge for scientists is to come up with the solution for decision-makers," he said. MORE
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NOAA Administrator Cites Coral Triangle Initiative as Beacon of Hope for Marine Resources
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L-R: CTI-CFF Executive Chair Dr. Suseno Sukoyono, Dr. Jane Lubchenco and Dr. Sharifah Zarah Syed Ahmad representing the CTI Council of Ministers Credit: USCTI
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The administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Dr. Jane Lubchenco called the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF) a "beacon of hope" in sustaining marine resources and "the broadest and deepest engagement in regional ocean governance to date." Speaking at the opening of the 12th International Coral Reef Symposium in Cairns, Australia on July 9, 2012, Dr. Lubchenco lauded the CTI-CFF as an example of leadership, multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary partnership, peer learning, and cutting edge scientific innovation. The initiative's unique regional approach to ocean governance is being keenly watched as a model for multi-national partnership to develop and implement solutions that address food security in the face of climate change and ocean acidification.
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CTI-CFF representatives pose with Dr. Jane Lubchenco at the sidelines of the 12th ICRS in Cairns. Credit: USCTI
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Dr. Lubchenco met with CTI-CFF leadership and other representatives at the symposium where she reaffirmed NOAA's commitment to and support of the CTI-CFF as part of USAID's five-year US CTI Support Program. NOAA has directed substantial technical assistance and resources to supporting the initiative because of the significance of the region to biodiversity, food security, and its contribution to the field of practice. MORE
Full transcript of Dr. Jane Lubchenco's speech can be downloaded from NOAA's website while the full video is available at the ICRS website. |
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Coral Triangle Journalist Fellows Attend the 12th ICRS
 | Media fellows at the 12th ICRS
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Eleven journalists covering the six Coral Triangle countries - Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste attended the 12th International Coral Reef Symposium in Cairns, Australia on July 9-13, 2012 as part of a media fellowship program. The fellowship program, organized by US-based communications organization Seaweb, is intended to enhance media coverage of marine and ocean issues by connecting journalists with leading scientific experts and helping them understand the latest developments in the field.
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CTI-CFF Booth at the ICRS
 | CTI officers and partners at the booth. Credit: USCTI
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The CTI-CFF Idea Marketplace booth attracted numerous visitors every day. Visit the CTI Facebook Page for more photos from the booth.
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Coral Triangle Book Event
at the 12th ICRS
 | The Freunds with WWF staff and scientists at the 12th ICRS Credit: S.C.Freund
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Photography duo Jurgen and Stella Freund, together with WWF Australia, had a slide show presentation at the 12th ICRS featuring highlights of their 18-month photo expedition in the six Coral Triangle countries that culminated in the Coral Triangle Book.
Follow this link to preview the Coral Triangle Book.
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CTI-CFF on Australian TV A representative from the Solomon Islands CTI NCC joined prominent international scientists to discuss the future of coral reefs at ABC's Future Forum television program. The latter was recorded at the sidelines of the 12th ICRS and was aired on July 22, 2012.
Follow this link to watch the video of the show/
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