Strengthening our role as caretakers of the sea, reflections on World Oceans Day

Strengthening Our Role as Caretakers of the Sea: Reflections on World Oceans Day

By: Suseno Sukoyono, Vice Chair, CTI Interim Regional Secretariat

On June 8, 2011, the Coral Triangle countries joined the rest of the world in celebrating World Oceans Day—an annual event that commemorates the vast resources of our oceans and inspires collective action to sustain them.

This year’s celebration comes on the heels of the United Nations’ launch of the UN Decade on Biodiversity—a global rallying call to halt and reverse biodiversity loss within the next ten years. On this World Oceans Day, the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF) echoes this call by strengthening its role as steward of the world’s epicenter of marine biodiversity—the Coral Triangle.

The UN Decade on Biodiversity supports the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020 and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, adopted during the Convention on Biological Diversity’s 10th Conference of the Parties in 2010. The plan envisions that by 2050, biodiversity will be valued, conserved, restored, and wisely used—maintaining ecosystem services, sustaining a healthy planet, and delivering essential benefits for all people.

This call to action comes at a critical time. New studies reveal that biodiversity loss continues at an unprecedented pace in the world’s oceans and coral reefs. Coral reefs, which serve as essential habitats for fish and as cradles of marine biodiversity, are under increasing threat. The Reefs at Risk Revisited report released by the World Resources Institute in February 2011 warned that more than 60% of the world’s reefs face immediate threats from overfishing, destructive fishing, coastal development, and pollution. It further projected that thermal stress and acidification could place over 90% of reefs at risk by 2030, and nearly all by 2050.

The urgency of this problem cannot be ignored. The loss of biodiversity in marine ecosystems directly affects the lives and livelihoods of millions who depend on these resources for survival.

The role of the CTI-CFF as steward of the Coral Triangle has never been more vital. The Coral Triangle spans six million square kilometers of ocean and coastal waters encompassing Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste. It is home to over 500 species of reef-building corals, 3,000 species of fish, and more than 120 million people who directly depend on its resources. However, up to 80% of reefs and fisheries in the region are at risk and require urgent management interventions. In response, the six countries formed the CTI-CFF—an unprecedented multilateral partnership to protect and sustain this critical ecosystem.

Since its launch in May 2009, the CTI-CFF has made significant progress by working with national and local governments, non-government organizations, and development partners to address biodiversity threats. Activities are guided by the five goals of the CTI Regional Plan of Action:

• Strengthen management of seascapes
• Apply an ecosystem approach to fisheries management
• Develop and strengthen the management of marine protected areas
• Implement climate change adaptation measures
• Protect threatened marine species

In 2011, the CTI-CFF has been at the forefront of marine conservation and sustainability efforts. In April, representatives from all Coral Triangle countries gathered in Honiara, Solomon Islands, to identify tools and strategies for implementing early actions, vulnerability assessments, and climate change adaptation measures—laying the groundwork for a Climate Change Regional Early Action Plan.

In May, conservation managers from the six CTI-CFF countries convened in Batangas, Philippines, to exchange best practices and strengthen the management effectiveness of marine protected areas (MPAs). These MPAs are critical for conserving biodiversity, protecting fish spawning and nursery habitats, and serving as platforms for food security, research, and eco-tourism—ultimately improving the well-being of coastal communities.

Later that month, in Wakatobi, Indonesia, mayors and governors from coastal municipalities across the Coral Triangle launched the CTI Local Governance Network—an expanding alliance of local government leaders committed to protecting the marine environment through integrated coastal management.

Although the outlook for the world’s reefs remains concerning, decisive action is already underway. Large-scale initiatives like the CTI-CFF—while complex and requiring long-term commitment—demonstrate that with collaboration, scientific innovation, and shared responsibility, the world’s coral reefs and their biodiversity can be sustained for current and future generations.

With this collective mission in mind, we invite everyone to join us this World Oceans Day in our call to preserve and sustain the rich biodiversity of our planet—our oceans, our Coral Triangle, and ultimately, our own lives and livelihoods.