The Japan and Thailand Secretariat, 2014-2016

Hosting objectives:

• Implement ICRI’s “Continuing Call to Action” and “Framework for Action 2013” in compliance with the “Organisation and Management Procedures”
• Organize two General Meetings:
  • GM 29: Oct. 20-23, 2014, Okinawa, Japan
  • GM 30: 2015, Thailand (TBD)
• The 3 themes will be
  1. Engaging other sectors: While climate change and ocean acidification are impacting coral reef ecosystems globally, minimizing other anthropogenic pressures would increase the ecological resilience on a local scale. Under this theme, we discuss the necessity and ways to engage other sectors to address these anthropogenic pressures. A technical Workshop on engaging other sectors – community-based coral reef management was held during the 29th General Meeting. A technical Workshop on engaging other sectors – community-based coral reef management was held during the 29th General Meeting.
  2. Reef zoning for multiple use: Many countries have problems in planning for and implementing sustainable exploitation of reef resources. Under this theme, we discuss the potential of reef zoning for multiple use (e.g., tourism, fisheries, biodiversity conservation, etc.) and ways to introduce it.
  3. Revisiting ICRI’s place among multilateral environmental agreements, other international bodies and initiatives: ICRI is a voluntary initiative which will mark its 20th anniversary during this hosting period. In the last 20 years, many other initiatives have come into existence. Under this theme, we discuss ICRI’s place in the international conservation community.
• Maintain and enhance ICRI’s visibility in international fora: CBD COP12 (Republic of Korea, 2014), World Parks Congress (Australia, 2014), Ramsar COP12 (Uruguay, 2015), ICRIForum (website), etc.
  • CBD COP 12 side event
• Support the activities of the following groups:
  • Operational Networks (only GCRMN is currently active)
  • Current and new Ad Hoc Committees (Caribbean Regional Response to Lionfish Invasion, Economic Valuation of Coral Reef Ecosystems, Coral Reef Enforcement and Natural Resource Investigation, Coral Reef Associated Fisheries)
  • Regional initiatives (only East Asia is currently active)