Integrating coral reefs into National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs)

Background

The ad hoc committee was established at the 37th ICRI General Meeting in September 2023, Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i, in response to coral reefs, and their associated ecosystems, not being explicitly referenced within the adopted GBF’s 4 goals and 23 targets.

Nonetheless, the GBF remains highly applicable to coral reefs and their associated ecosystems. In this light, it is imperative that ICRI retains its valuable supportive role to CBD parties demonstrating how, and where, coral reefs and their associated ecosystems can be conserved, protected, and restored through the framework. A key mechanism for this is National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs).

ICRI has an important role to play in coordinating consistent views across its member countries, with support from its organisations, on the need for, and substance, of updates and revision to NBSAPs to include coral reefs and their associated ecosystems.

The objective of the ad hoc committee will be to:

  1. Prepare a timeline for the implementation of the Terms of the Reference, according to the ICRI Rules of Procedure.
  2. Develop a guidance document for revising, updating and implementing NBSAPs to integrate coral reef ecosystems, including guidance on reporting and coral reef indicators, populated with the national case studies, and appropriate alternative resources that align with, and build upon, the GBF Monitoring Framework and previous ICRI ad hoc committees.
  3. Engage with ongoing discussions, as appropriate.
  4. Develop national case studies for interested and volunteering countries.
  5. Organisation of an event at the COP16.

 

ICRI resolutions relating to the ad hoc committee


Composition

Chair: TBC

Membership: France, Maldives, USA, Wildlife Conservation Society


Working procedure

The ad hoc committee works virtually and takes advantage of any opportunities for face-to-face meetings in the sidelines of other meetings.