Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TOKYO3242
2008-11-26 07:54:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
INTERNATIONAL CORAL REEF INITIATIVE DRAFTS 2009-2010
how-toVZCZCXRO9918 PP RUEHAST RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHNH RUEHPB RUEHPOD RUEHTM DE RUEHKO #3242 3310754 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 260754Z NOV 08 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9037 RUEAEPA/HQ EPA WASHDC RUCPDC/NOAA NOS WASHDC INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 1146 RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 9155 RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 3507 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 4936 RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 1717
UNCLAS TOKYO 003242
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/J AND OES/ENRC FOR HOLLIS SUMMERS AND KELLY MILTON
PASS TO USAID
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV EFIS EWWT PREL JA MX
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL CORAL REEF INITIATIVE DRAFTS 2009-2010
PROVISIONAL PLAN AT EAST ASIA WORKSHOP
UNCLAS TOKYO 003242
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/J AND OES/ENRC FOR HOLLIS SUMMERS AND KELLY MILTON
PASS TO USAID
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV EFIS EWWT PREL JA MX
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL CORAL REEF INITIATIVE DRAFTS 2009-2010
PROVISIONAL PLAN AT EAST ASIA WORKSHOP
1. (U) Summary: The International Coral Reef Initative (ICRI) held
its fourth East Asia Regional Workshop in Tokyo November 17-19 and
produced a draft provisional plan for 2009-2010 as well as terms of
reference for upcoming meetings. The group's goal is to develop
short and long-term plans to enhance Marine Protected Areas (MPA) in
East Asia and to establish representative MPA networks by 2012. End
Summary.
2. (U) Sixty-five participants representing ten East Asian
governments and twenty-six organizations met in Tokyo November 17-19
for ICRI's fourth East Asia Regional Workshop (EARW),sponsored by
Japan's Ministry of Environment.
3. (U) Ministry of Environment Vice Minister Yoshino opened the
session by renewing Japan's commitment to support healthy marine
ecosystems and ICRI's ongoing work. As requested by Washington,
Econoff followed with opening remarks on behalf of the ICRI
Secretariat. Yoshihiro Natori from United Nations University in
Tokyo and Dr. Vo Si Tuan from the Institute of Oceanography in
Vietnam co-chaired the workshop. Twelve representatives from
organizations that manage MPAs gave presentations that included case
studies, assessments of success and failure, and lessons learned at
the local, national, and regional levels. Speakers engaged in
lively question and answer sessions with attendees, comparing the
methodologies, metrics, and tactics used in ICRI members' programs.
4. (U) By the last day, members had drafted a provisional plan for
2009-2010 which suggests topics to be developed into short-term
(through 2012) and long-term (2013-2020) action plans at the next
EARW slated for 2009. The provisional plan calls for hiring a
consultant to conduct a regional review and gap analysis of MPA
networks and ICRI 2012 goals; Japan offered to provide funding for
the consultant. The plan also calls for upgrading the MPA database
using ReefBase software and holding a regional workshop for
assessment of MPA management effectiveness. The co-chairs will
circulate a draft of the provisional plan to workshop participants
and the Ad Hoc Committee on the ICRI East Asia Regional Workshop for
discussion and revision with a goal of finalizing the document in
one month.
5. (U) The EARW participants also produced draft terms of reference
for future regional workshops to be held in 2009 and 2010. Vietnam
offered to host the next EARW at at a time and location to be agreed
upon between its government and the ICRI Secretariat. Thailand
proposed hosting the 2010 EARW to preceed or follow the 2nd Asia
Pacific Coral Reef Symposium, scheduled for May 2010 in Phuket.
Japan offered to provide funding for some major costs of the 2009
and 2010 EARWs, though other donors are still being sought.
6. (U) The co-chairs will circulate a draft of the terms of
reference to workshop participants and the Ad Hoc Committee on the
ICRI East Asia Regional Workshop for discussion and finalization.
The EARW summary report, the Provisional Plan for 2009-2010, and the
terms of reference for 2009-2010 will be submitted to the next ICRI
General Meeting in Thailand in April 2009.
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/J AND OES/ENRC FOR HOLLIS SUMMERS AND KELLY MILTON
PASS TO USAID
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV EFIS EWWT PREL JA MX
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL CORAL REEF INITIATIVE DRAFTS 2009-2010
PROVISIONAL PLAN AT EAST ASIA WORKSHOP
1. (U) Summary: The International Coral Reef Initative (ICRI) held
its fourth East Asia Regional Workshop in Tokyo November 17-19 and
produced a draft provisional plan for 2009-2010 as well as terms of
reference for upcoming meetings. The group's goal is to develop
short and long-term plans to enhance Marine Protected Areas (MPA) in
East Asia and to establish representative MPA networks by 2012. End
Summary.
2. (U) Sixty-five participants representing ten East Asian
governments and twenty-six organizations met in Tokyo November 17-19
for ICRI's fourth East Asia Regional Workshop (EARW),sponsored by
Japan's Ministry of Environment.
3. (U) Ministry of Environment Vice Minister Yoshino opened the
session by renewing Japan's commitment to support healthy marine
ecosystems and ICRI's ongoing work. As requested by Washington,
Econoff followed with opening remarks on behalf of the ICRI
Secretariat. Yoshihiro Natori from United Nations University in
Tokyo and Dr. Vo Si Tuan from the Institute of Oceanography in
Vietnam co-chaired the workshop. Twelve representatives from
organizations that manage MPAs gave presentations that included case
studies, assessments of success and failure, and lessons learned at
the local, national, and regional levels. Speakers engaged in
lively question and answer sessions with attendees, comparing the
methodologies, metrics, and tactics used in ICRI members' programs.
4. (U) By the last day, members had drafted a provisional plan for
2009-2010 which suggests topics to be developed into short-term
(through 2012) and long-term (2013-2020) action plans at the next
EARW slated for 2009. The provisional plan calls for hiring a
consultant to conduct a regional review and gap analysis of MPA
networks and ICRI 2012 goals; Japan offered to provide funding for
the consultant. The plan also calls for upgrading the MPA database
using ReefBase software and holding a regional workshop for
assessment of MPA management effectiveness. The co-chairs will
circulate a draft of the provisional plan to workshop participants
and the Ad Hoc Committee on the ICRI East Asia Regional Workshop for
discussion and revision with a goal of finalizing the document in
one month.
5. (U) The EARW participants also produced draft terms of reference
for future regional workshops to be held in 2009 and 2010. Vietnam
offered to host the next EARW at at a time and location to be agreed
upon between its government and the ICRI Secretariat. Thailand
proposed hosting the 2010 EARW to preceed or follow the 2nd Asia
Pacific Coral Reef Symposium, scheduled for May 2010 in Phuket.
Japan offered to provide funding for some major costs of the 2009
and 2010 EARWs, though other donors are still being sought.
6. (U) The co-chairs will circulate a draft of the terms of
reference to workshop participants and the Ad Hoc Committee on the
ICRI East Asia Regional Workshop for discussion and finalization.
The EARW summary report, the Provisional Plan for 2009-2010, and the
terms of reference for 2009-2010 will be submitted to the next ICRI
General Meeting in Thailand in April 2009.
SCHIEFFER