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News
- admin
- 01 May 2019
Manado, Indonesia, 30 April 2019 – Marine and environment conservationists, experts, and key government officials from Coral Triangle (CT6) member countries – Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste – gathered for a three-day consultation workshop to identify and discuss regional priorities for the CT region.
Mr. Alick Misibini, who represented and read the message of Mr. Melchior Maliki, CTI-CFF Chair of Committee of Senior Officials, said that the workshop is another pivotal step towards ensuring that CT6 member countries stay on course to address the region’s ongoing and future needs, especially meeting the aspirations of its people and future generations.
Mr. Misibini called on the participants to focus on climate change challenges, reduction of land-based pollution on coastal ecosystems, responsible and sustainable development of marine and coastal natural resources, and emphasis on innovative and context-specific approaches to rationalize and deepen marine protected areas and seascapes efforts. He also emphasized the need to bring people and communities to the forefront of regional discussions, using lessons and experiences of various stakeholders within the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) platform. Furthermore, strengthening the financial architecture of CTI is deemed a priority to invest in regional programs as well as support nationally-based projects.
On the other hand, Dr. Hendra Yusran Siry, Interim Executive Director of Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF), said that “the consultation workshop is intended to ensure that the renewal of the regional plan of action (RPOA) of the CT6 focuses on the countries’ commonalities and is consistent with positive impacts on shared concerns. It is expected that the RPOA identifies feasible strategies aligned with global commitments as well as national targets across CT6 member countries.”
Dr. Siry noted the importance of exchanging views and gaining insights from experts not only from the six member countries but also from Development Partners such as USAID and international NGOs including Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, Wildlife Conservation Society, WorldFish, WWF, and networks like the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network to create a more accurate picture of the CT region. In addition, learning from similar regional initiatives and international experiences will enhance the CTI-CFF regional priorities.
“The presence of these organizations will help in the identification of current and emerging issues so that future actions respond to them. This will also ensure more cohesive and coordinated efforts towards the growth and development of the CT region,” Dr. Siry said.
The 10-Year Regional Plan of Action was first endorsed in 2009 and has been the guiding framework of the CTI-CFF. It has resulted in a wide range of accomplishments in the CTI region, including improved ecological indicators in selected sites where most investments have taken place, strong partnerships and networks of technical and financing partners, recognition of key leadership of women in sustaining marine resources, development of tools for ecosystem-based fisheries management, and the establishment of the CTI Regional Secretariat.
The three-day consultation workshop was organized by the CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat in partnership with the North Sulawesi Government, USAID Department of Interior, and USAID Oceans, held in Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. (Janet Rosalie Anne Polita)
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About CTI-CFF
The Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security (CTI-CFF) is a multilateral partnership of six countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste (CT6). These countries work together to conserve marine and coastal resources in the region.
The CTI-CFF was formally established during the Leaders’ Summit in 2009 with approval from the leaders of the CT6 countries. They adopted the CTI Regional Plan of Action (CTI RPOA), a strategic action plan with five goals:
- Designation of effectively managed seascapes
- Application of an ecosystem approach to fisheries management
- Establishment of a fully functional marine protected area system
- Strengthening climate change adaptation and resilience
- Improving the status of threatened marine species