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News & Updates CTI Updates High-level Coral Triangle Initiative meetings here this week
News & Updates CTI Updates High-level Coral Triangle Initiative meetings here this week
Nov
19
2009
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| Honiara, The Solomon Star, SENIOR officials from the six countries involved in the Coral Triangle Initiative will meet in Solomon Islands this week to discuss the progress of the Initiative which focuses on safeguarding coral reefs, fisheries and food security in the Coral Triangle region. The Coral Triangle is the world’s richest marine area, containing 76% of all known coral species, 37% of all known coral reef fish species and 53% of the world’s coral reefs. It is found within the territories of six countries: Malaysia, Indonesia, Timor Leste, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Solomon Islands. In 2004 Solomon Islands was included as a Coral Triangle nation, recognising its significant contribution to the abundance of marine life in the area. The coastal waters of Njari Island, near Gizo, in Western Province, contain the second highest concentration of marine diversity in the Coral Triangle, after Raja Ampat in Indonesia. Ministers and senior officials from Coral Triangle countries will be taking part in two high level meetings this week; the 5th Senior Officials Meeting in Honiara at the Heritage Park Hotel on Tuesday and Wednesday and the Second Ministerial Meeting in Gizo on Thursday. Both Meetings are chaired by the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Meteorology; 5th Senior Officials Meeting by Rence Sore, Permanent Secretary for MECM and 2nd Ministerial Meeting by Hon Gordon Darcy Lilo, Minister for MECM. The Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Hon. Dr Derek Sikua will be welcoming visiting Ministers & their delegates prior to the Ministerial Meeting in Gizo on Wednesday night. Solomon Islands Coral Triangle Initiative -lead Ministries will be represented at the Ministerial Meeting by Gordon Lilo Darcy, Minister for Environment, Conservation and Meteorology, chair for the Meeting, and the Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources, Hon. Nollen Leni. The Western Provincial Government Premier, supported by The Minister for Provincial Government & Institutional Strengthening, Hon. Maelagha, will host the meeting in Gizo. The Australian Minister for Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Hon. Peter Garrett MP will be participating in the Ministerial Meeting because Australia is Partner Government to the Coral Triangle Initiative. The Coral Triangle Initiative National Coordinator, Ms Agnetha Vave-Karamui emphasises that while the Coral Triangle holds the highest marine & coastal diversity in the world and supports major fisheries and hundreds of millions of people, it is under serious threat. “The principle source of income and export revenue in Coral Triangle countries is fish and other marine resources and the Coral Triangle marine ecosystem is facing impacts from rapid population growth in the surrounding countries and a growth in international trade. “There is significant pressure being placed on the ecosystems from over fishing, unsustainable fishing practices, damage from pollution and the impacts of climate change. “Fish stocks are being depleted and species of tuna are significantly declining in numbers. Mass coral bleaching and sea level rise from climate change will pose increasing threats in the coming decades,” Ms Vave-Karamui said. Ms Vave-Karamui said that because the majority of communities in Solomon Islands live on the coast and rely on coastal resources for food, damage to coral reefs will directly threaten the lives of these people. “Our coral reefs provide us with food and our coastal ecosystems including mangroves provide protection for our coasts from erosion and bad weather. “It is important that we work towards better management and protection of our marine environment.” In response to these threats, the six Coral Triangle countries formed the Coral Triangle Initiative in 2007 to safeguard the region’s marine and coastal resources for the millions of people who rely on them. This is the second time that Solomon Islands has hosted a Coral Triangle Initiative event, which shows significant political will and support from Solomon Islands Government. In the packed agendas for these meetings, countries hope to reach agreement on issues regarding the establishment of a permanent Regional Secretariat for the Initiative, to recommend a Joint Communiqué on climate change adaptation for the United Nations Climate Change Conference in December and to share information on the progress of the implementation of national plans of actions. Since 2007, the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Meteorology and the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources has worked with stakeholders to develop a National Plan of Action that will localise the Regional Plan adopted by Leaders during the Coral Triangle Initiative Leaders Summit in May this year in Manado, Indonesia. USAID, the Global Environment Facility, the Asian Development Bank and the Australian Government are supporting the implementation of the Solomon Islands National Plan of Action. Mr Rence Sore, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Meteorology said that it is a great privilege to be holding high-level meetings in Solomon Islands for such an important programme. “The Coral Triangle Initiative is focused on regional cooperation which means that Solomon Islands can maximise its national efforts to sustainably use and develop our marine resources. “Being part of such a multinational initiative means that we can share knowledge, skills and resources with five other countries on how best to safeguard our coral reefs, our coastal waters and our small islands for the benefit of all Solomon Islanders. “With over 80% of Solomon Islanders relying on marine resources for their livelihoods, it is vital that these resources are managed and protected in a way which guarantees their survival for current and future generations. “Hosting these meetings is just one way in which Solomon Islands is actively participating in supporting this initiative.” Source : The Solomon Star, Monday, 16 November 2009 |
| Last Updated on Friday, 04 December 2009 11:21 |
