| Introduction |
- The International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) was launched in 1994 to promote partnership among
the governments of developed and developing countries, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international
organizations, multilateral development banks, and private sector to work towards conservation, sustainable
use, and effective management of coral reefs and their related ecosystems. The increasing number
of national initiatives undertaken through global and regional cooperation demonstrates the success
of ICRI.
- The countries that initiated ICRI were soon joined by many others. The UNEP joined as an international
organization partner. In addition, three of UNEP's Regional Seas Programs-the Caribbean Action Plan,
South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), and the East Asian Seas Action Plan through
its Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA)-were among the original supporters of ICRI
when it was launched in 1994.
- At the invitation of the Government of the Philippines, ICRI held its first international workshop
in May 1995 at Dumaguete for over 120 participants from around the world. The Dumaguete workshop
adopted a call to action and a framework for action, which provide the basis for future international
and regional actions and cooperation.
- In its subsequent phases, ICRI worked at implementing the Framework for Action at the regional
and national levels. As an initial step, ICRI planned and held regional workshops for all countries
with coral reefs. These regional workshops were based loosely on the areas covered by UNEP's Regional
Seas Programme.
- At the invitation of the Government of Indonesia, the first ICRI Regional Workshop for the East
Asian Seas was convened at the Sahid Bali Hotel, Denpasar (Bali) during 18-22 March 1996.
- Representatives of Australia, the Kingdom of Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea,
Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam attended
the workshop. In addition, representatives from the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC-UNESCO),
the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the
International Coral Reef Initiative Secretariat, the World Conservation Union (IUCN), the International
Center for Living Aquatic Resource Management (ICLARM), Wetlands International (Indonesia), the Association
of Southeast Asian Marine Scientist (ASEAMS), the Siam Environment Club, and the Marine Science Institute
of the University of the Philippines also participated.
- The first workshop was organized by the UNEP Regional Coordinating Unit for the East Asian Seas
Action Plan (RCU/EAS) with financial contributions and cooperation from the governments of Indonesia,
Japan, and Denmark, as well as the cooperation of the ICRI Coordinator.(Items 1-7 referred to report
of the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) Regional Workshop for the East Asian Seas, UNEP
1996).
- The Bali workshop adopted the East Asian Seas Regional Strategy, which provides a basis for implementing
the ICRI Call to Action and framework for action in the East Asian Seas region.
- In the next phase, ICRI promoted country priority at the national level.
- At the invitation of the Government of Japan, the Second ICRI Regional Workshop for the East Asian
Seas was held at the Okinawa Convention Center, Okinawa during 16-20 February 1997.
- Representatives of Australia, Brunei Darussalam Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines,
Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam participated in the workshop. In addition, representatives
from UNEP headquarters, UNEP/RCU/EAS, IOC/UNESCO, IUCN, universities and international non-governmental
organizations attended.
- 12. This report consists of the record of the proceedings of the ICRI Second Regional Workshop for the East Asian Seas (Okinawa, 16-20 February 1997).
Ministry of the Environment Government of Japan |