Marine Protected Areas Could Help the Pacific | |
A fisherman in Papua New Guinea Credit: USAID CTSP/T.Read
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Increases in aquaculture investments and designation of marine protected areas are key strategies that could be adopted to help Pacific Coral Triangle countries adapt to climate change, says a new report from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). Climate change and development strategies for coastal communities of the Pacific coral triangle countries was launched on September 18, 2013 at a workshop co-hosted by the government of Vanuatu, ADB and IFPRI, assessed development strategies for the Pacific Coral Triangle countries in response to projected impacts of climate change on key coastal and marine resources. The IFPRI/ADB report delivers policy advice for strengthening institutional capacity in preparation of economic analysis of climate change and development strategy plans at the national level. The report developed a fisheries sector supply and demand model covering six key fisheries: tuna, other oceanic fin fish, coastal fin fish, coastal invertebrates, freshwater fin fish, and freshwater invertebrates. MORE
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Threats to Coral Reefs Continue
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Coral reef system in the Philippines Credit: CTSP
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Philippines' Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said on August 23, 2013 more action was needed to save the reefs of the Coral Triangle, an important marine area encompassing Asia Pacific countries, including the Philippines, in the face of growing threats to their ecosystems from overfishing, pollution and climate change.
While the Philippines has taken steps to protect its reefs and the marine life they host, more effort is necessary to develop sustainable solutions for the threatened reefs in the Coral Triangle, a global hot spot of marine biodiversity, Paje said.
"We face a crisis on the continued degradation of our fragile ecosystems and resources that could endanger the survival and quality of life of future generations," Paje said in a press release. "Investing in coastal and marine protection can certainly help ensure a better future for our children and a better environment for all." MORE
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Timor-Leste Sends Team to Philippines for MPA Field Training | |
A trainer demonstrates the use of a GPS devise to map MPA boundaries Credit: ADB
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A Timor-Leste contingent recently participated in a hands-on field training session on marine protected areas (MPAs) management held in two coastal towns in the province of Cebu in the Philippines on August 19-28, 2013. The field training and learning visit was part of Timor-Leste's Coral Triangle Initiative National Plan of Action on marine protected areas. The Timor-Leste team visited the towns of Argao and Boljoon in Cebu and interacted with local government officials and Philippine experts who conducted most of the field training sessions. Timor-Leste is seeking to gain valuable learning experiences out of the training which it will in turn implement in its two MPAs, namely Atauro and Batugade, which are being established to become part of a fully functional regionwide Coral Triangle MPA System. MORE
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Upcoming Events
CTI-CFF Coordination Mechanisms Working Group Meeting
November 2013
World Coral Reef Conference
Manado, May 2014
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Threatened Marine Ecosystems Get Boost from US$4.5 Million Grant from the GEF
The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors approved a project on September 30, 2013 to support the "Capturing Coral Reef and Related Ecosystem Services Project", with US$4.5 million in grant funding provided by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
This regional project will design innovative models for valuing mangrove, sea grass and coral reef ecosystems services to inform policy and decision making for improved environmental stewardship of these critical resources.
The project focuses on Indonesia and the Philippines, where coral reefs and related ecosystem services are critical to livelihoods, food security and climate resilience.
The grant will be administered by the Global Change Institute of the University of Queensland. The University is contributing US$2 million in additional financing and research partners will provide another $3.9 million in contributions. An additional $21.9 million in parallel co-financing is provided by World Bank-financed projects: the Coral Reef Rehabilitation and Management Program-Coral Triangle Initiative (COREMAP-CTI) in Indonesia and the Rural Development Project in the Philippines. MORE
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