1. REGIONAL EFFORTS FOR THE CONSERAVATION OF CORAL REEFS THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MPA NETWORK YOSHINAKA Atsuhiro Ministry of the Environment, Japan CBD-ICRI Side Event at COP 9 Marine Biodiversity and the International Year of the Reef Celebrating International Year of the Reef (IYOR) 2008

2. Background MPA networks & Coral Reefs Global target: Development of representative networks/systems of MPAs by 2012 (WSSD, CBD COP-7)  Further efforts are needed to meet the global target Coral Reefs are among the most biologically rich ecosystems sustaining vast majority of livelihood and economic hearth of coastal nations Establishment of MPAs on coral reefs is a useful option to manage these systems especially currently in the context of resilience to large-scale threats like coral bleaching

3. Background East Asia region Rich and diverse marine and coastal ecosystems including Coral Triangle, the global center of marine biodiversity Coral reefs and related ecosystems are the key ecosystems in East Asia while many of the reefs are at high risk and need conservation Many regional and national initiatives and programs on MPAs are going on, while most of the countries are still at a developing stage toward MPA global target and many challenges are remaining

4. BackgroundICRI 2005 USA AustraliaFranceSweden/ Philippines UK/ Seychelles ICRI Call to Action; ICRI Framework for Action ICRI Renewed Call to Action GCRMNReefCheck ReefBase ICRIForum ICRIN ICRAN & CORDIO Japan/ Palau 1995 2008 2000 Mexico/ USA Started in 1994. Designated 2008 as the International Year of the Reef A unique partnership of governments, international organizations, scientific entities, and NGOs committed to reversing the global degradation of coral reefs and related ecosystems (e.g., mangroves, seagrass)

5. Background ICRI’s involvements in MPAs & East Asia ICRI Recommendation on Developing MPA Networks (ICRI General Meeting, Tokyo, April 2007) Mexico-US Secretariat Plan of Action  Enhance MPAs  Revitalize regional approach including through ICRI Regional Workshop East Asia Regional Workshop  Bali, Indonesia, 1996  Okinawa, Japan, 1997  Cebu, Philippines, 2001

6. International Coral Reef Marine Protected Area Network Meeting ICRI East Asia Regional Workshop New Regional Initiative Proposed and accepted at the ICRI General Meeting (Washington DC, January 2008):  “International Coral Reef Marine Protected Area Network Meeting /4th ICRI East Asia Regional Workshop” in 2008  Follow-up meetings in 2009 and 2010 Overall objectives are to facilitate conservation of coral reefs and related ecosystems through developing of MPA networks in East Asia by:  Taking stock information of MPA implementation, identifying gaps and challenges  Developing a regional strategy as a basis for regional cooperation

7. International Coral Reef Marine Protected Area Network Meeting Objectives (2008) ICRI East Asia Regional Workshop Objectives (2008) To bring together policy makers, MPA managers, experts and practitioners in East Asia and other regions Increase understanding of status and challenges of MPAs/MPA networks on coral reefs and related ecosystems Discuss on how East Asian countries can enhance developing MPA networks on coral reefs and related ecosystems toward 2012 global target To plan the way forward until 2010 as a preparatory meeting

8. International Coral Reef Marine Protected Area Network Meeting Expected outputs (2008) ICRI East Asia Regional Workshop Expected outputs (2008) Stock information (i.e., status, challenges and good practices) Provisional plan for development of the regional strategy, including:  Regional MPA database  Regional human network  Regional ecological network Provisional TOR of possible 2009 and 2010 meetings

9. International Coral Reef Marine Protected Area Network Meeting Status of planning ICRI East Asia Regional Workshop Status of planning Ad Hoc Committee developed in ICRI  Planning of the meeting (i.e., agenda, participants, etc.)  Draft plan to be submitted to ICRI GM, July 12-13, Florida Time: 17 th – 19 th November 2008 (3 days) Location: Tokyo, Japan Hosted by: Ministry of the Environment, ICRI

10. International Coral Reef Marine Protected Area Network Meeting Benefits to countries ICRI East Asia Regional Workshop Benefits to countries Sharing lessons learned and good practices Identifying solutions to tackle challenges Identifying important ecological regions and finding ways of multilateral cooperation to establish and manage such sub- regional MPA networks Providing opportunities to meet with relevant key people and to reach out to relevant information and opportunities, and building a regional framework/network of cooperation to keep such opportunities and momentums Reaffirming existing policies and criteria on developing MPAs/MPA networks and building upon them a new policies Developing regional MPA database network system that can benefit policy development and raising awareness in national level

11. For more information: www.icriforum.org Getting in touch: YOSHINAKA Atsuhiro atsuhiro_yoshinaka@env.go.jp