International Coral Reef Initiative The International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) is a global coral reef conservation partnership among governments, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations. Mexico and the United States are currently serving as co-Secretariat. Lunched 14 years ago in an effort to raise the plight of coral reefs on the international agenda, ICRI, was one of the very first public-private partnerships. The ICRI chair rotates among the partner governments every two years. The United States is thrilled to be co-chairing ICRI with the government of Mexico at this exciting and critical time, especially during the International Year of the Reef.

ICRI The ICRI approach is to mobilize governments and stakeholders to improve management practices, increase capacity and political support, and share information on the health of these fragile ecosystems. At the international level, ICRI operates to insure that the issues affecting coral reefs are raised and considered in development, implementation and review by the widest possible range of international programs and forums.

Mexico-United States ICRI Secretariat OBJECTIVE To ensure the long-term survival, productivity, and recovery of coral reefs and related ecosystems by fostering and maintaining their resiliency through awareness, conservation and management. For our two-year tenure, the United States and Mexico will work with ICRI members and through other fora to raise awareness of the importance of coral reefs, to encourage conservation of reef habitats, and to build capacity for improved management.

Major themes of the Secretariat Promote sustainable fisheries Promote understanding and recognition of the environmental services coral reefs provide Encourage integrated ecosystem management from watershed to reef slope. Enhance monitoring and research Strengthen enforcement capacity and encourage compliance. The co-chairs have adopted a Plan of Action to improve reef resiliency by promoting: sustainable fisheries; awareness of the environment services coral reefs provide; improved monitoring, research and management of reef systems; and improved capacity for enforcement of regulations/laws that protect coral reefs.

Designation of IYOR 2008 “Recognizing that ten years later there continues to be an urgent need to increase awareness and understanding of coral reefs, and to further conserve and manage valuable coral reef and associated ecosystems, the International Coral Reef Initiative designated 2008 as the International Year of the Reef (IYOR 2008).” - International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) October 2006 Thus far, more than 75 organizations and countries have designated an International Year of the Reef Focal Point to ensure coordination of their IYOR activities.

IYOR 2008 Goals International Year of the Reef 2008 (IYOR 2008) will: Strengthen awareness about the ecological, economic, social and cultural value of coral reefs and associated ecosystems Improve understanding of the critical threats to coral reefs and generate both practical and innovative solutions to reduce these threats Generate urgent action at all levels to develop and implement effective management strategies for conservation and sustainable use of these ecosystems. IYOR is activity oriented and has had enjoyed a good reception due to hard work on the part of many.

IYOR 2008 - Organization Events and activities beach clean-ups workshops beach clean-ups exhibits symposiums publications news features The campaign will consist of a wide range of events and activities that will take place throughout the year 2008 and around the world. Activities range from science workshops and report publications to beach clean-ups and art exhibits. There have been symposiums, workshops, exhibits and national declarations.

A complete listing of activities and events can be found on the event calendar at www.IYOR.org .

Emirates Diving Association newsletter In the News Emirates Diving Association newsletter CTO Newsletter There have been articles in local and national newspapers (to date about 150 articles published around the world), newsletters and magazines

The British Indian Ocean Territory IYOR Stamp The IYOR posters and educational materials, as well as stamps, will live beyond 2008.

Sustainable Tourism and a Healthy Marine Environment Underpins individual livelihoods Generates revenue for the GNP Healthy marine and coastal environments are an essential underpinning of sustainable livelihoods in many small island developing states and especially in the Caribbean. According to a World Resources Institute report, coral reef associated fisheries in the Caribbean provide net annual revenues valued at an estimated US $310 million. The same study showed net benefits from dive tourism totaling an estimated $2.1 billion per year in 2000 and the value of reefs for shoreline protection at $700 million to $2.2 billion per year. The impacts of coastal development, sedimentation and pollution from inland sources, marine-based pollution (e.g., from cruise ships, tankers, yachts, and oil infrastructure), and overfishing on coral reef ecosystems threaten to jeopardize the economic value of coral reef goods and services in particular the tourist industry which contributes a total of about $105 billion annually to the Caribbean economy.

Engaging the Tourism Sector Great Barrier Reef Guidelines for Tourism and Recreation 1999 UNEP Coral Reef Unit develops communication tools for tourists 2002 CORAL Leads the Tourism Initiative of the ICRAN Mesoamerican Reef Alliance 2004 Coral Triangle Initiative –eco-tourism development 2008 ICRI members know that to conserve healthy coral reefs they must engage private industry sectors especially tourism and fisheries. ICRI members have done this for some time, and those mentioned are only a few that have developed programs, projects and literature to enable tourism to be a benefit rather than threat to coral reefs.

Lesson Learned Can talk the talk but not walk the walk Tourists Fishermen Dive operators Hoteliers Land developers Environment and tourism ministries Most tourists visiting coral reef areas can verbalize that coral reefs are special and need to be conserved Most dive operators know they need to preserve the source of their livelihoods Most hoteliers know that poor waste management is not healthy for business Most developers can see that construction run off spoils offshore habitats But somehow knowing what should be done, and even knowing what they can do does not translate into action.

Lesson Learned How do we go from “I know” to “I do” Practical, economical, easy to do steps Incentives Examples are materials already being used such as the pocket sized ”Marine Wildlife Viewing Guidelines” by U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration which could be given out at every possible point: information kiosks, on the back of tour boat ticket, posted on the boat itself Expansion of the use of in-flight feature videos about coral reefs and etiquette expected No anchor zones which are actually enforced Tax or other incentives for private, on site waste management systems

Lessons Learned Collaborations are useful Partnership efforts are making progress Sharing of expertise Wise use of limited resources Would an overarching coordination of collaborating effort help? Maybe – keep duplication down Maybe not – so much spent on coordination little left for action The many partnerships have gotten the public to the talk the talk level of understanding. Tourism has grown to be the largest employer in the world from the ground up. Maybe that is how the efforts to have it be a benefit to conservation should continue to advance.

RECOMMENDATION Have to keep on keeping on Lots of work on sustainable tourism related to coral reefs Engagement of environment ministers and heads of state, and tourism ministers needs to continue Engagement of tour and dive operators and hoteliers and restaurateurs needs to continue Communicating the message to the public needs to continue Progress is being made. We are just not at the point of a mature responsible tourism environment as yet.

RECOMMENDATION Evaluation of projects, brochures, programs, trainings Follow through with evaluation of results Adjust where needed Stop doing what is ineffective We must make a concerted effort to learn what does work with evaluation criteria built into any project/program and be willing to let go of a good idea which is not effective.

Tourism is a potent force for conservation. we need to use it wisely. We need to develop our strategies based on our failures and successes.

International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) www.icriforum.org Thank you