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Western Indian Ocean Coral Reef Task Force Workshop

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The regional coral reef networks in the Western Indian Ocean have been active since 1999, coordinating and reporting on coral reef monitoring activities through the Nairobi Convention Coral Reef Task Force (CRTF), and the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN), with support from multiple sources.

The partnership of the GCRMN, the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC-COI), CORDIO, and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission’s Coral Specialist Group, CRTF and the national CRTF members produced a detailed coral reef status report for the Western Indian Ocean in 2017 in accordance with the 2018 COP8 decision. The report was an update to the publication by the GCRMN in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2008. The 2015 Regional State of the Coast Report for the WIO highlighted insights into the enormous economic potential around the WIO, the consequential demand for marine ecosystem goods and services to match the increasing human population, the pace and scale of environmental changes taking place in the region and the opportunities to avoid serious degradation in one of the world’s unique and highly biodiverse oceans. The WIO region and partners actively contributed to the GCRMN Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2020 report.

With renewed focus on scientific support to policy through the Science-Policy Platform of the Nairobi Convention, and the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in December 2022, a new phase of activities is being initiated with support from the Nairobi Convention. The hosting aim of this workshop is to revitalize and enhance capacities of national coral reef task force (NCRTF) members for the integrated management of coral reefs and associated ecosystems, monitoring and reporting on ecosystem health.

The specific objectives of the workshop will be to:

  • Establish a new workplan, including priorities for monitoring and use of data, and continued engagement in the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network;
  • Reconfirm coral reef monitoring tasks within the CRTF by confirming technical membership by country and roles, and coordination mechanisms;
  • Strengthen data sharing and repository mechanisms for the regional Coral Reef Monitoring Network;
  • Recognize the headline indicators and monitoring framework adopted for the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, to identify mechanisms for supporting national coral reef management and reporting under the framework of the Nairobi Convention, Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network, Convention on Biological Diversity, and Sustainable Development Goals.

The CRTF workshop, “Enhanced capacities of national coral reef task force (CRTF) members on integrated management of coral reefs and associated ecosystems, monitoring and reporting on ecosystem health” will take place in Moroni, Comoros – 1 – 3 March 2023.

As part of the workshop, the ICRI Secretariat will provide an overview of ICRI with key major updates for the Plan of Action 2021 – 2024 and the next General Meeting. ICRI will be accompanied by the GCRMN Global Coordinator from the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), to present GCRMN and the network’s next steps.

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