International Coral Reef Initiative

The International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) is an informal partnership among nations, international organisations and non-government organisations to help protect coral reefs globally. It aims to implement Chapter 17 of Agenda 21, Aichi Target 10 of the Convention on Biological Diversity's 10 year Strategic Plan, and other relevant internationally agreed objectives and targets. It does so by:

raising global awareness on the plight of coral reefs around the world
promoting the sharing of best practices in coral reef management and building capacity of coral reef managers around the world
ensuring that coral reefs are included in relevant international deliberations.

It is the "only global entity solely devoted to coral reefs".^[1]

History

ICRI was established in 1994 at the initiative of eight founding nations: Australia, France, Japan, Jamaica, the Philippines, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It was launched at the First Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity, held in the Bahamas in December 1994, and subsequently announced at the high level segment of the Intersessional Meeting of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development in April 1995. The first General Meeting of members was held in Dumaguete, Philippines, in June 1995 where ICRI's foundational documents were adopted: its "Call to Action" and "Framework for Action" for achieving sustainable management of coral reefs and related ecosystems.^[2] The "Call to Action" was renewed in 1998 at the first International Tropical Marine Ecosystems Management Symposium held in Townsville, Australia and endorsed by over 300 delegates from 49 nations.^[3] A Continuing Call to Action (and associated Framework for Action) was further adopted at ICRI's 28th General Meeting in October 2013 in Belize.

Governance

The Initiative functions through a rotating Secretariat hosted by member Nations; since 2001 the Secretariat has been hosted in partnership by a 'developed' nation and a 'developing' nation. The Secretariat is responsible for organising General Meetings of members, drafting documents, coordinating membership, and liaising with relevant international organisations. It presents of Plan of Action (or hosting objectives) for its hosting period at the inception of its hosting period. The Secretariat has been hosted by the following Nations:

the United States of America (1995–96)
Australia (1997–98)
France (1999-2000)
Sweden and the Philippines (2001–03)
The United Kingdom and the Seychelles (2003–05)
Japan and Palau (2005–07)
The United States of America and Mexico (2007–09)
France and Samoa (2009-2011)
Australia and Belize (2012–14)
Japan and Thailand (2014-16).

The governing body of ICRI is its General Meetings, held at least annually and where members can adopt decision, resolutions and recommendations on specific topics. ICRI has also encouraged since its inception the holding of regional meetings and workshops to develop coordinated regional responses to coral reef threats. The most active region in this regard has been East Asia which holds annual regional ICRI workshops.

Networks and Committees

ICRI has established Operational Networks and temporary Ad Hoc Committees, which are working groups set-up on a temporary basis to progress specific issues or tackle specialized topics related to coral reef management. The most well-known Operational Network is the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network which produces global and regional reports on the status of coral reefs on a regular basis.^[4] Information provided in these reports intends to help management and conservation decisions.^[5]

ICRI and the United Nations

Although ICRI is not a United Nations body, it is regularly cited in UN documents such as Secretary General Reports.^[1] Most recently, it was cited in resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly at its 67th session in November 2012.^[6]

References

1 2 Report of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, August 2011 A/66/298
↑ The ICRIforum website http://www.icriforum.org/
↑ http://itmems.org/previous.htm
↑ GCRMN website http://gcrmn.org
↑ http://www.reefbase.org/global_database/default.aspx?section=m1
↑ United Nations General Assembly resolution on 'Oceans and the Law of the Sea', 23 Novembre 2012 http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=A/67/L.21

External links

http://www.icriforum.org/ Home Page
http://gcrmn.org/ Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network

Corals and coral reefs

Stony corals	Scleractinia Blue coral Brain coral Elkhorn coral Hermatypic coral Chalice coral Pillar coral Staghorn coral Table coral

Soft corals	Alcyonacea Black coral Bamboo coral Organ pipe coral Sea fans Sea pens

Coral reefs	Atoll reef Cay Fringing reef Microatoll Coral reef fish Census of Coral Reefs The Structure and Distribution of Coral Reefs Catlin Seaview Survey

Coral regions	List of reefs Deep-water coral African coral reefs Amazon Reef Andros, Bahamas Belize Barrier Reef Coral Sea Islands Coral Triangle Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Great Barrier Reef Maldives Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System New Caledonia Barrier Reef Pulley Ridge Raja Ampat Islands Red Sea Southeast Asian coral reefs

Coral diseases	Coral bleaching Black band disease Skeletal eroding band White band disease White pox disease

Protection	Coral Reef Alliance Coral reef protection Green Fins International Society for Reef Studies Project AWARE Reef Check Reef Ball

Other	Artificial reef Aquaculture of coral Coral dermatitis Precious coral Coral rag Coral reef organizations Coral sand Coralline alga Environmental issues with coral reefs Fire coral Reef resilience Rugosa (extinct) Symbiodinium Tabulata

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