CTI-CFF Holds Dialogue with Partners
 | Dr. Ongkili (middle seated) together with CTI-CFF Interim Regional Secretariat Development Partner Representatives Photo: MOSTI
|
The Chairman of the CTI-CFF Council of Ministers, Dr. Maximus Johnity Ongkili, who is also the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) in Malaysia, met with representatives of various development and non-profit organizations supporting the CTI-CFF on September 7, 2012 in Sabah, Malaysia. The dialogue, which was attended by representatives from the Interim CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat and partner organizations such as the Asian Development Bank, the Australian Government, the US Agency for International Development, and the Worldwide Fund for Nature, discussed the progress being made in the establishment of the permanent CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat in Indonesia and sought continuous support to ensure the implementation of the CTI-CFF Regional and National Plans of Action. The dialogue also aimed to bring together various efforts in setting up a regional financial architecture for various CTI-CFF priority projects at the regional, national, and local level. MORE
|
|
Indonesian President Receives "Valuing for Nature Award" For Leadership in Establishing the CTI-CFF
 | |
Dr. Andrew Steer (President/CEO, World Resources Institute), Frank Loy (Trustee, Nature Conservancy) and Roger Sant (Trustee, World Wildlife Fund) present H.E. Dr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono with the "Valuing Nature Award"
Photo: WRI
|
Three leading global environmental and conservation organizations honored Indonesia's President H.E. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono with the first-ever "Valuing Nature Award" for his leadership in recognizing the importance of natural resources and working to conserve them. Indonesia, particularly in relation to its globally important biodiversity, forest and marine resources. President Yudhoyono was specifically being recognized for his leadership in establishing the multilateral Coral Triangle Initiative, which will sustain extraordinary marine and coastal resources in six countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste. Catalyzed by President Yudhoyono, the Coral Triangle Initiative brings together an unprecedented partnership of governments with public sector, private sector, NGOs and others, and offers a model for connecting marine conservation to the health and security of local communities.
The award was presented by the Nature Conservancy, World Resources Institute and WWF at a dinner in New York City on September 25, 2012, coinciding with the United Nations General Assembly meetings. MORE
|
New Report Examines Legal and Policy Gaps in the Management of the Live Reef Food Fish Trade in the Coral Triangle
 | |
Click to download the report
|
WWF has launched a report revealing legal and policy gaps in the trade of live reef food fish in the Coral Triangle, highlighting the urgent need for a comprehensive management framework-starting with a moratoria on humphead wrasse-to help address threats to the region's dwindling seafood supply.
The report, Legal and Policy Gaps in the Management of Live Reef Food Fish Trade in the Coral Triangle Region, was launched on September 6, 2012 at the 10th Seafood Summit held in Hong Kong. It examines the legal and policy framework for the live reef food fish trade (LRFFT) in the Coral Triangle countries - Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and East Timor.
The report looks at four key areas: ecosystem approach to fisheries management; port state measures; trade and market measures; and combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. The report goes on to compare the domestic implementation of LRFFT using benchmarks established under relevant international instruments and CTI management goals. The report highlights rends in terms of gaps in domestic legal frameworks and options are provided for CTI countries to improve LRFFT management. MORE
|
CTI Southeast Asia Validates Proposed Priority Projects in Malaysia
 | |
CTI Southeast Asia consultants and Malaysian NCC representatives at the inception workshop
Photo: Primex
|
The Asian Development Bank/Global Environment Facility -funded Coastal and Marine Resources Management in the Coral Triangle-Southeast Asia (CTI Southeast Asia) Project held its in-country inception workshop in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia on September 4-5, 2012. During the workshop, CTI Southeast Asia consultants presented the scope of work, outputs, and expected outcomes of the new project and validated with the Malaysian CTI National Coordinating Committee the proposed priority sub-projects that address the five goals identified in the Regional Plan of Action and in the Malaysian National Plan of Action. These include:
- Priority seascapes and marine protected areas - profiling of marine ecosystem of Malaysia in the Sulu-Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion; establishing a sustainable palm oil industry and marine industries in the Silam and Darvel Bay; capacity building on ecosystem approach to fisheries management (EAFM) and marine protected area management;
- EAFM and threatened species protection - developing alternative livelihood in Kota Marudu - Pitas District; community-based ecotourism in three sites; and addressing illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing of coral reefs; and
- Climate change adaptation - project scoping, vulnerability assessment and special studies; capacity building on using vulnerability assessment tools; assessment and Implementation of climate change adaptation measures; and monitoring and evaluation. MORE
|
|
|
|
|
|
Malaysia Completes Scientific Expedition to Map Biodiversity in Sabah
 On September 6-28, 2012, a team of scientists from Malaysia, the Netherlands and Australia embarked on a three-week scientific expedition that will examine coral reef health, marine biodiversity, and the socioeconomic benefits in the proposed one-million hectare Tun Mustapha Park in Sabah, Malaysia. Data gathered from the expedition will be used to finalize the zoning of the park and raise public awareness on the benefits of protecting and managing marine ecosystems. MORE |
|
Conservation Expert Urges CT Countries to Pursue Payment for Ecosystem Services Initiatives
 | | Click photo to watch the video |
Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, one of the world's leading experts in Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES), challenged the Coral Triangle countries to pursue PES initiatives, particularly for coastal areas, during the session "Conversation in Conservation: PES and New Frontiers in Sustainable Financing" held in Manila on September 18, 2012.
Mr. Rodriguez is Vice President at Conservation International and the former Minister of Environment and Energy for Costa Rica. MORE |
Click the cover photos to download the publication
|
|
