Over one-half
Coral
of the world's population lives
ReefTargeted Research &
within 100 kilometres
Capacity Building for Management
of the sea.
Coral Reef Targeted Research
& Capacity Building for Management
Local Government Initiative
Compiling and disseminating reef friendly
practices for local government
images: Priya Mathur
Implications for Coral Reef
Progress to Date
3. Presentation of pilot results at
Management
ITMEMS 3.
Outcomes
1. Compilation of reef-friendly practices. The local government leaders representing
· Better business models for running local
coral reef communities from around the world
government, in line with coral reef
A compendium of good management practices
Anticipated outcomes include (1) better
(e.g., from Mexico, Philippines, Cook Islands,
sustainability needs as interpreted by
for coral reefs, based on sound science
informed local government leaders who
Tanzania, Fiji, PNG, Hawaii, Australia, Belize)
the scientific community.
and documented in the literature, has been
understand the implications of their
compiled by the Research Institute for the Sub-
discussed a compendium of coral reef friendly
development policies and business practices
· Introduction of more cost-effective
tropics (RIS), a Japanese NGO. These practices
practices and the pre-test results in
on coral reefs. (2) commitment by local leaders
management interventions targeting
range from Integrated Coastal Management,
the Philippines.
to change business as usual that threatens
coral reefs and tropical marine
erosion management and waste water
coral reef ecosystem health and productivity
ecosystems.
treatment, to Marine Protected Areas,
by adopting reef friendly practices; and (3)
tourism guidelines and restrictions on
a demonstration effect which catalyzes the
Goals
fishing and equipment. These practices,
response of other local government officials
- To `green' policies and business
including the rationale, methods, results
to take action and champion needed
practices of local government so that
and lessons learned, have been drawn from
reforms.
they align with those factors essential
coral reef management contexts around
to maintaining coral reef health and
the world.
productivity.
- To develop the capacity of the Coral Reef 2. Pre-testing of good practices.
Targeted Research & Capacity Building
A representative sample of the coral reef
for Management (CRTR) Program's
friendly practices compiled above was vetted
Centers of Excellence to partner with
in stakeholder consultations with Philippino
local governments throughout their
Mayors and other local government leaders in
target regions in the identification,
Alaminos City, Pangasinan, Philippines in early
dissemination and uptake of these
August 2006. Over 80 stakeholders attended
good practices.
the day long workshop, which included a
briefing on the declining state of coastal and
The Issues
marine resources in the Philippines, estimates
The Commitment by mayors and other local
- Unsustainable fishing (such as blast and
of economic loss from degraded coral reefs,
government leaders to take on board several
cyanide fishing) and coastal management and what some communities were doing in
of these good practices in response to threats
practices
response.
to coral reefs in their own communities is
More information
- Lack of public awareness, limited
Examples of field tested best practice for
expected, along with a statement calling local
acceptance of rules and low level of
coral reef management in the Philippines were
government leaders to action and road map
The University of Queensland is the
compliance
presented to stakeholders for discussion, along
outlining key next steps that they can take to
Project Executing Agency (PEA). More
with those examples from other parts of the
protect coral reefs in their communities.
information about the CRTR Program
- Lax enforcement
world. Local government leaders were both
can be obtained from the PEA:
- Lack of plans/ordinance for coral reef
disturbed by the accelerated rates of coral reef
4. Publication of Manual and Brochures
management
C/O Center for Marine Studies
degradation and consequent loss of resources
in three languages for broad
The University of Queensland
- Lack of alternative income generating
rents in the Philippines (e.g., in the fisheries and
dissemination.
St Lucia QLD 4072
activities to reduce human impacts on
tourism sectors) and hopeful that this could be
Australia
Feedback from the Local Government Leaders'
the reefs.
turned around with decisive and appropriate
Forum and plenary discussions involving a broad
actions.
Telephone: +61 7 3365 4333
- Lack of funding
group of stakeholders will be incorporated into
Email: info@gefcoral.org
a final report. This will also be reviewed by the
coral reef research community to ensure that
The CRTR Program is a partnership
recommendations are robust and based on
between the Global Environment
good science. An illustrated brochure of these
Facility, The World Bank, The
University of Queensland (Australia),
coral reef friendly practices will be published
the United States National Oceanic
initially in English, Spanish and Tagalog for
and Atmospheric Administration
broad dissemination to local governments which
(NOAA) and approximately 40
depend on coral reef goods and services.
research institutes and other third
parties around the world.
The four sites or Centers of
Excellence are Southeast Asia:
Marine Science Institute of Bolinao,
University of the Philippines; East
Africa: Institute of Marine Sciences,
University of Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar,
Tanzania; Mesoamerica/Western
Caribbean: Unidad Academica
Puerto Morelos, Universidad Nacional
Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico; and
Australasia/South Pacific: Heron
Island Research Laboratory, Centre
for Marine Studies, The University of
www.gefcoral.org
Queensland, Australia.

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