10TH ANNIVERSARY ICRI MEETING HELD IN THE SEYCHELLES

From: Reefcheck, April 2005

The 10th anniversary meeting of the International Coral Reef Initiative was held from April 25–27, 2005 in Mahé, The Seychelles. The meeting was co-chaired by Rolph Payet of the Seychelles and John Roberts of the United Kingdom. Seventy-five participants, including three new members, attended the meeting. RC Executive Director, Gregor Hodgson, represented Reef Check. The meeting produced a number of decisions, including one to have GCRMN do a post-tsunami follow-up to their Status of Coral Reefs of the World report. A draft resolution on reef rehabilitation was also proposed (see below). To view a summary of the meeting, click here.

ICRI Meeting Proposes Resolution on Artificial Reef Restoration and Rehabilitation
One of the outcomes of the ICRI meeting was a draft resolution on reef restoration. Various commercial and non-commercial organizations have proposed a range of ‘engineering’ techniques as reef reconstruction or rehabilitation techniques, including:
- A mechanism using wire frames through which electricity is passed to accrete calcium carbonate and accelerate the growth of transplanted corals;
- Installation of artificial reefs, including concrete structures; and
- Mechanisms for re-cementing and re-gluing corals and other organisms to the substratum.

These techniques have recently been brought to the forefront due to reef damage from the 2004 tsunami. The following is an excerpt from the proposal, click here to read the full resolution that was adopted by ICRI this month:

"The proponents of this Resolution, the ICRI Operational Units, CORDIO, GCRMN, ICRAN and Reef Check, while acknowledging that some innovative and new approaches to coral reef conservation and management may have limited applications, are concerned that there have been insufficient peer-reviewed, long-term scientific studies of reef rehabilitation using these and other techniques and that there have been few cost-benefit analyses to assess effectiveness of the methods over natural recovery processes. The available evidence suggests that some of these techniques may be useful in specialized cases, but have limited or no application and value for large-scale coral reef rehabilitation. In addition to effectiveness considerations, construction of any engineered structure on a coral reef must be evaluated against any potential environmental damage caused during construction or later degradation."

Seychelles tenure ends on high but cautious note

Seychelles Nation - 30.04.2005

Seychelles came out shining when delegates attending the ICRI conference recently reviewed the country's recent achievements and its efforts to preserve the endangered coral reefs.

The Minister for Environment and Natural Resources Ronny Jumeau outlined some of the country’s successes as he opened the third International Coral Initiative (ICRI) at the Plantation Club and Resort on Monday April 25.

However, he only did so after stating the global threats that the demise of coral reefs poses to the world, and also named the challenges ahead and how Seychelles is planning to overcome them.

Key among the achievements were those realised during the last two years, when UK and Seychelles have been co-chairs of the world conservation body.

In words similar to those used by other delegates and guests, Minister Jumeau rightly said that drawing world attention to the situation of coral reefs during the Mauritius International Meeting of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) held in January this year was a landmark goal achieved.

"Those of you who could not be there to see how we managed to get United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan to champion the cause of coral reefs in a small island setting missed a truly historic occasion for ICRI.

"You should have seen the faces of the hosts of other organisations and causes vying, unsuccessfully I might add, for Mr Annan's presence and a spot on his extremely heavy schedule," Mr Jumeau said.

He was referring to the side coral reef event that President James Michel of Seychelles hosted at the Mauritius SIDS meeting and gave its successful organisation as proof of how well the two co-chairs have worked together and complemented each other to realise the "huge success."

He hinted at some of the reasons why no country should sit on its laurels and referred to the status of coral reefs of the World Report for 2004, the foreword of which was co-written by President Michel and President Tommy Remengesau of Palau, the other SIDS which has taken over the co-chair of ICRI with Japan.

The minister said that according to the report, the prognosis for the coral reefs is very dire indeed, and gave the current world situation, with words that are still being echoed in news headlines around the world, which we published in the Tuesday edition of Seychelles Nation.

Minister Jumeau said Seychelles is not sitting back and waiting for its largesse.
"We have done a lot of work on coral reefs under the ICRI umbrella these past 10 years, and especially since the devastating 1998 El Nino.
"The December 2004 tsunami has only stiffened our resolve," he said, and gave the following developments:

. Seychelles is about to launch a national coral reef task force which will supercede the existing national coral reef monitoring network, and enable more proactive coordination of coral reef protection and rehabilitation on the various islands.

. The Seychelles Centre for Marine Research and Technology and Marine Parks Authority (SCMRT-MPA) and a number of non-governmental organisations are increasingly active in coral reef work, and promoting public awareness.

. The country has numerous educational materials being used in schools, where environmental education of all types is part of the curricula.

. Seychelles has strengthened planning and development laws to reduce sedimentation and other impacts on coral reefs. The protection of coastal habitats has become even more of a priority in Seychelles town and country planning authority and a nationwide concern among the population following the devastating effect of the December 26 tsunami.

. Seychelles has launched an environmental enforcement network and training programme involving government, including the Seychelles People's Defence Forces, the private sector, non-governmental organisations.
It will soon be formalised through a memorandum of understanding between all partners, with the aim of ensuring that poaching and other damaging impacts on the country's reefs and marine reserves van be minimised.

Minister Jumeau said that as ICRI celebrates its 10th anniversary, this country hopes to achieve effective  management and sustainable use of coral reefs.

"We also hope to raise global and local awareness even more in this dire hour of the coral reefs and increase political and financial commitment to marine conservation and management in partnership with one another," he said.

He said this is the only way to ensure a sustainable future for all, especially those countries and communities that are heavily dependent on coral reefs and related coastal eco-systems for their survival.

On his own behalf, that of his ministry and the Government of Seychelles, thanked co-chairs Rolph Payet and John Robert for the commendable work they did during their tenure.

Delegates at the ceremony were treated to songs sung by school children which stressed on the dire need to conserve the remaining corals.

The children had participated in a song competition in the primary category of which the Independent School team of two, Analise Bonnelame and Amanda Michel, came first, as the Beau Vallon School team won the top prize in the secondary category.

Seychelles, UK hand over ICRI chair to Palau, Japan

Seychelles Nation - 27.04.2005

The coral reef protection torch has been handed over to Palau and Japan, as the two-year lead role played by Seychelles and the UK comes to an end.

The chair of the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) was relinquished on Monday evening at a Seychelles–UK co-hosted reception at the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Botanical Gardens headquarters.

Celebrating its tenth anniversary, the ICRI leadership traditionally goes to one developed state and one developing, a tradition maintained with Japan and Pacific island Palau taking over from the UK and Seychelles.

In a speech marking the hand over British High Commissioner, Diana Skingle, highlighted the role of teamwork in successful reef conservation.

"Partnership is what ICRI is all about. Partnership between like minded countries, partnership between concerned professionals and partnership between today's young people."

High on the list of achievements of the two-year Seychelles–UK mandate has been the meeting held at January's Mauritius Small Island Developing States (Sids) summit, attended by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

"ICRI has established a sense of an international coral reef community, providing a voice for coral reefs in international discussions," said the High Commissioner, pointing to the Sids summit as the fruition of this work.

Environment principal secretary Rolf Payet, who co-chaired the ICRI on behalf of Seychelles along with UK’s John Robert, also raised the Sids meet as one of the highlights over the last two years.

"Together we have demonstrated how governments can proactively work with NGOs and produce visible and tangible results," said PS Payet, before he and Mr Robert presented representatives of Palau and Japan with coco de mer nuts, symbolising the hand over of the ICRI leadership.

ICRI was started in a meeting in the Philippines in 1995 in order to provide a focus on the plight of reefs and on the actions necessary to save them.

The organisation brings together governments, NGOs and other stakeholders to address coral reef conservation and management with the aim of reducing coral reef destruction.

Since its inception ICRI has convened biannual or annual general meetings; undertaken international and national workshops and produced publications to raise awareness and mobilise governments and stakeholders to take action to reverse the degradation of coral reefs.

Coral Reef Damage Could Have Global Impact

http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/30524/story.htm

Date: 26-Apr-05
Country: SEYCHELLES
Author: George Thande

A fifth of the world's reefs have been damaged beyond repair, the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) said.

Another 50 percent are under imminent or long-term threat because of rising sea levels most scientists blame on global warming, the group said.

"The reefs help to feed millions of people in the developed world," the group's co-chairman Rolph Payet told reporters at the group's annual meeting in the Seychelles.

"Many species of fish depend on coral reefs for their food or protection and the collapse of the reefs would lead to elevated costs of fish worldwide," he said.

Although islands are perceived as the principal victims of coral degradation, Payet said it could affect many other countries worldwide.

"The threat to coral reefs is certainly not just an island problem because reefs, including the largest ones, border continents and large countries alike," said Payet, who is also a top environmental official in the Indian Ocean archipelago.

Payet urged industrialised countries "which contribute overwhelmingly to global warming" to commit more money to coral reef monitoring and management programmes.

ICRI has reported coral damage in almost 100 countries around the world, with some parts of the Indian Ocean so badly affected researchers fear large areas could be without any living coral within two decades.

The ICRI meeting of scientists and government officials is expected to produce an assessment of the damage to reefs caused by the Dec. 26 Indian Ocean tsunami.

© Thomson Reuters 2005 All rights reserved

Coral Reef Damage Could Have Global Impact - Experts

By George Thande, Reuters  Apr 25, 2005

VICTORIA - The demise of the world's coral reefs could threaten coastal communities as global fish stocks fall, an international conservation group said on Monday.

A fifth of the world's reefs have been damaged beyond repair, the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) said.

Another 50 percent are under imminent or long-term threat because of rising sea levels most scientists blame on global warming, the group said.

"The reefs help to feed millions of people in the developed world," the group's co-chairman Rolph Payet told reporters at the group's annual meeting in the Seychelles.

"Many species of fish depend on coral reefs for their food or protection and the collapse of the reefs would lead to elevated costs of fish worldwide," he said.

Although islands are perceived as the principal victims of coral degradation, Payet said it could affect many other countries worldwide.

"The threat to coral reefs is certainly not just an island problem because reefs, including the largest ones, border continents and large countries alike," said Payet, who is also a top environmental official in the Indian Ocean archipelago.

Payet urged industrialised countries "which contribute overwhelmingly to global warming" to commit more money to coral reef monitoring and management programmes.

HONOLULU : A school of manini fish pass over a coral reef as a snorkeler swims over at Hanauma Bay Many coral reefs are dying from water pollution (Donald Miralle/Getty Images)

ICRI has reported coral damage in almost 100 countries around the world, with some parts of the Indian Ocean so badly affected researchers fear large areas could be without any living coral within two decades.

The ICRI meeting of scientists and government officials is expected to produce an assessment of the damage to reefs caused by the Dec. 26 Indian Ocean tsunami.