The Rio+20 Secretariat has released the zero draft of the outcome document for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), to be held in Rio de Janeiro on 20-22 June, 2012. In the section on [Oceans and Seas, SIDS], the following paragraph is referring to ICRI and coral reefs:
78. We recognize that oceans are critical to sustaining Earth’s life support systems. Careless exploitation of the oceans and their resources puts at risk the ability of oceans to continue to provide food, other economic benefits and environmental services to humankind. We stress the importance of the conservation, sustainable management and equitable sharing of marine and ocean resources. We also recognize the significant economic, social and environmental contribution of coral reefs to island and coastal States, and support cooperation based on the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI), and the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI).
This zero draft will serve as the basis for negotiations on a Rio+20 outcome document. These negotiations (known as “informal informal” negotiations) are scheduled to begin later this month. To see the schedule of informal-informal negotiations, visit the Rio+20 website at: http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.php?page=view&nr=663&type=230&menu=38