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  • 03 May 2014

The six CTI-CFF countries have nominated a total of 13 of their most important marine protected areas (MPAs) to the Coral Triangle Marine Protected Area System (CTMPAS). These sites are as follows:

  • Anambas Islands Marine Recreational Park, Indonesia
  • Wakatobi National Park, Indonesia
  • Pangumbahan Marine Turtle Park, Indonesia
  • Savu Sea National Marine Park, Indonesia
  • Turtle Islands Park, Malaysia
  • Tun Mustapha Park, Malaysia
  • Kulungi Locally-Managed Marine Area (LMMA), Papua New Guinea (PNG)
  • Lolobau LMMA, PNG
  • Tarobi LMMA, PNG
  • Tubbataha Reefs National Park, Philippines
  • Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary, Philippines
  • Zinoa Marine Conservation Area, Solomon Islands
  • Nino Konis Santana National Park, Timor-Leste

An Advisory Committee is currently evaluating the nominated areas for admission into the CTMPAS as either Category 3 (Priority Development Sites) or Category 4 (Flagship Sites), based on the criteria set out in the CTMPAS framework for effective management of MPAs in the Coral Triangle. The committee will submit its recommendations to the CTI-CFF MPA Technical Working Group, which is expected to announce the successful nominations during the formal launch of the CTMPAS at the World Coral Reef Conference (WCRC) in Manado, Indonesia.

The CTMPAS is being developed as part of the six countries’ commitment under the CTI-CFF Regional Plan of Action for 2010-2020. Its launch marks a major milestone after five years of work by the countries and their development partners, including the U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), World Wide Fund for Nature, and Conservation International.

“There are nearly 2,000 MPAs at various levels of management effectiveness scattered across the Coral Triangle, and their benefits are well recognized by all six countries. Individually, these countries are making progress in increasing the benefits of marine and coastal protection within their boundaries,” said Dr. Alan White, senior scientist at TNC. “But there is growing recognition that current efforts are insufficient to address issues such as protecting economically important transboundary species. Regional cooperation is the next critical step to ensure sustained benefits from these shared resources.”

The CTMPAS is envisioned to include connected, resilient, and sustainably financed MPAs that are designed to generate food and income benefits for the region’s coastal communities, while conserving its rich biological diversity.