| www.globaloceans.org | Vol.3 No.1 February 2005 |
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In This Issue
Editorial Report on Events - Mauritius International Meeting (MIM): A Summary Opening Session Highlights - Statement of the MIM Secretary-General Anwarul Chowdhury - Statement of the MIM President P.R. Berenger MIM Outcomes - Mauritius Strategy - Mauritius Declaration Parallel Events at the MIM - Reefs, Island Communities, and MPAs - Statement of UN Secretary- General Kofi Annan at the Reefs Event - Mobilizing Implementation of Ocean and Coastal Management in SIDS - Ocean Caucus Viewpoint - Duncan Currie, Greenpeace - Nirmal Jivan Shah, Nature Seychelles Tsunami Interventions at the MIM Toward Mauritius 2005 Paper Series About Us |
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
The 3rd Global Conference on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands will be held on January 23-27, 2006 at UNESCO, Paris. For future information about the conference, please check the Global Forum website at www.globaloceans.org. |
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Editorial
In this issue of the Global Forum newsletter, we first focus on the results of the International Meeting to Review Progress on the Implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States (MIM) held in Port-Louis, Mauritius on January 10-14, 2005, including the highlights, the outcomes, and some viewpoints about the conference. The statements delivered by the Secretary-General and the President of the meeting set the tone for the conference, which is one of sobriety and purpose, reflecting the tragic context of the recent tsunami disaster in which the meeting has taken place and the urgency of moving on in the face of such crisis and other pressing issues faced by SIDS. The outcomes of the meeting, particularly the Mauritius Strategy, reiterated that the Barbados Programme of Action remains the blueprint for SIDS and the international community to address national and regional sustainable development in SIDS, and specified requirements for more effective implementation. Also in this issue are reports on parallel events at the MIM, including one organized by ICRI on behalf of the governments of Seychelles and the United Kingdom, along with NGO partners, on promoting marine conservation, in particular the use of Marine and Coastal Protected Areas (MCPAs), in SIDS and advancing a partnership among governments, NGOs and the international community designed to contribute to meeting related global conservation targets and thereby sustaining livelihoods in island communities. This event illustrates what the Global Forum parallel events at the MIM aimed to encourage: discussions of what has been done and what needs to be undertaken to implement the oceans and coasts agenda of SIDS, and discussions on how to achieve synergy among related efforts in SIDS partnership activities. Throughout the MIM, statements of sympathy for the victims of the tsunami disaster prefaced most of the statements given by leaders of the UN system, government and intergovernmental organizations, and civil society. The Mauritius Strategy highlights SIDS vulnerability with regard to disasters and contains provisions on strengthening the Inter-Agency Strategy for Disaster Reduction and related mechanisms for improving national disaster mitigation. Through the UN coordinated response to the Tsunami event, UNESCO and its IOC have been requested to lead the establishment of a basin-wide Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System designed to benefit and protect all the countries concerned, and based on IOC's experience in coordinating the Pacific Tsunami Warning System since 1965. In this issue, the UNESCO strategy for establishing an early warning system in the Indian Ocean, with the intention of extending it to be a multi-hazard system with global coverage is described along with perspectives of various sectors. The newsletter also points to a website on the World Conference on Disaster Reduction (WCDR), which was an opportunity to consider SIDS-specific concerns. The newsletter also provides information on a number of reports prepared by the Global Forum for the MIM, which we hope you will find useful. Dr. Patricio Bernal Global Forum Co-Chair |
The Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands, created at the WSSD in Johannesburg in September 2002, aims to advance the interests of oceans - incorporating 72% of the Earth; coasts - the home of 50% of the world's population; and islands - 43 of the world's nations are small island developing states, which are especially dependent on the oceans. The Forum is composed of individuals from governments, intergovernmental and international organizations, and non-governmental organizations (environmental, scientific/technical, industry, and foundations) with the common goal of achieving the sustainable development of oceans, coasts and islands.
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| REPORT ON EVENTS |
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International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States:
January 10-14, 2005 (Adapted from the Earth Negotiations Bulletin report) The International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action (BPOA) for the Sustainable Development of Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) was convened in Port-Louis, Mauritius on January 10-14, 2005. It was attended by 18 Presidents, Vice-Presidents and Prime Ministers, around 60 ministers and 2000 delegates, civil society representatives and journalists from 114 countries, and by 15 UN or multilateral agencies. Two days prior to the meeting, informal consultations were held to advance negotiations on the Draft Strategy Paper for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of SIDS. During the first three days of the meeting, further Main Committee deliberations were held on the Mauritius Strategy as well as interactive panel discussions in plenary on the themes: environmental vulnerabilities of SIDS; special challenges of SIDS in trade and economic development; role of culture in the sustainable development of SIDS; addressing emerging trends and social challenges for the sustainable development of SIDS; and building resilience in SIDS. A high-level segment took place on Thursday and Friday, comprising a general debate and two roundtables focusing on the comprehensive review of the BPOA, mobilization of resources, and capacity building, respectively. Side events and partnership activities dealing with a wide range of SIDS issues also took place throughout the meeting. At the conclusion of the meeting, delegates adopted the Mauritius Declaration and the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action on the Sustainable Development of SIDS. Conference coverage was provided by the Earth Negotiations Bulletin for the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). The IISD summary report of the conference may be obtained from: ENB full conference report (pdf) Other major websites for the Mauritius conference: SIDSNet: the global network for small island developing States UN Website for Mauritius International Meeting Brief History of the BPOA The BPOA was the outcome of the UN Global Conference on Sustainable Development of SIDS held in Bridgetown, Barbados on April 25-May 6, 1994. It is a 14-point programme that identifies priority areas and specific actions necessary for addressing the special challenges faced by SIDS. The priority areas include: climate change and sea-level rise, natural and environmental disasters, management of wastes, coastal and marine resources, freshwater resources, land resources, energy resources, tourism resources, biodiversity resources, national institutions and administrative capacity, regional institutions and technical cooperation, transport and communication, science and technology, and human resource development. In December 2002, the UN General Assembly decided to convene an international meeting in 2004 to undertake a full and comprehensive review of the implementation of the BPOA. Please see the timeline of activities leading up to the international meeting. 
Opening Session Highlights
The meeting opened with the delegates observing a few minutes of silence in memory of the lives lost in the recent tsunami disaster. The IM Secretary-General Anwarul Chowdhury, recalled the death and destruction caused by the tsunami, and recommended focusing attention on SIDS disaster preparedness in view of the upcoming World Conference on Disaster Reduction. He recommended: SIDS to enhance regional economic integration and south-south cooperation; the UN to continue advocacy on SIDS at the highest levels; and intergovernmental regional organizations to monitor and coordinate international resource flows to SIDS. Paul Raymond Berenger, Prime Minister of Mauritius, elected president of the IM by acclamation called for consideration of the establishment of an early warning system as an immediate task for the meeting and said that Mauritius would propose a political declaration reiterating the international community's commitments to SIDS. Statement by MIM Secretary-General Anwarul Chowdhury Statement by MIM President Paul Raymond Berenger
Mauritius Strategy
The major outcome document of the conference is the Mauritius Strategy, which upholds the BPOA as the blueprint for SIDS and the international community to address national and regional sustainable development in SIDS. It states that the internationally agreed development goals including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, provide the overarching framework for global poverty eradication and development support, and that SIDS national development plans should include poverty reduction strategies and measures that address vulnerability and build resilience, in order to contribute to the achievement of these internatinally agreed goals and to serve as a basis for donor and UN system support for SIDS. The Strategy states that SIDS acknowledge that sustainable development is primarily a national responsibility, but that for SIDS to succeed, the Rio Principles, including, inter alia, the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, as set out in Principle 7 of the Rio Declaration, must be given specific expression for SIDS. The Strategy mentions that SIDS have implemented the BPOA mainly by using their own resources, and that efforts have been pursued within limited financial constraints, including an overall decline in ODA to SIDS, as noted in the Secretary-General's report. It also emphasizes the need to, inter alia, mobilize domestic resources, attract international flows, and promote international trade as an engine for development. The Strategy stresses the need to enhance coherence and governance of the international monetary, financial and trading systems in order to complement SIDS' national and regional development initiatives. On good governance, the Strategy repeats JPOI paragraph 4. On security issues, the text enumerates the security challenges to SIDS, acknowledges the increased financial and administrative obligations these issues place on SIDS, and reaffirms the importance of international cooperation and support to SIDS where necessary. The introductory paragraphs also address, inter alia, South-South and SIDS-SIDS cooperation, culture, the role of youth, and gender equality. On coastal and marine resources, the Strategy notes that SIDS continue to be heavily dependent on their marine resources, particularly for the sustainable livelihoods of coastal communities. Recognizing that SIDS' implementation of UNCLOS continues to be impeded by financial constraints and a lack of capacity, the Strategy states that in order to overcome these constraints, it is important to give appropriate priority at all levels, including in national and regional sustainable development agendas, to ocean issues, including fisheries. The Strategy states that further action is required by SIDS, with the necessary support of the international community, to enable SIDS, inter alia, to: complete the delineation of maritime boundaries; submit claims to the Continental Shelf Commission; and further work on the assessment of seabed living and non-living resources within their national jurisdiction. Regarding the building of technical and financial capacities, the Strategy states that further action is required by SIDS, with the necessary support of the international community, to:
The Strategy states that SIDS, in collaboration with other States and making use of regional mechanisms, will work to put in place integrated policies and sound management approaches, such as marine protected areas, consistent with relevant international agreements, and develop national capacity to monitor, conserve and manage coral reefs and associated ecosystems. It also states that SIDS should address, as a matter of priority, the impacts on the future of health of coral reefs, of coastal development, coastal tourism, intensive and destructive fishing practices, pollution as well as the unreported and illegal trade in corals. The Strategy states that, in order to facilitate these initiatives, the international community should provide technical and financial support for: regional monitoring efforts, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission marine science programmes; representative networks of marine protected areas; and activities to address the impact of coral bleaching. The Strategy further states that SIDS should work with international development partners on regional initiatives to promote sustainable conservation, and management of coastal and marine resources, drawing upon best practices from other regions; and should, with international development partners, fully implement the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities. Mauritius Strategy (Full Text)
Mauritius Declaration
Participants of the meeting also adopted a Mauritius Declaration, which comprises 20 paragraphs, stating that the representatives of the "people of the world" participating at the IM, inter alia:
The meeting ended on a high note, with the IM President Bérenger stating that the meeting was a resounding success and with the Secretary-General Chowdhury noting the need for a roadmap for the Mauritius Strategy and identifying intergovernmental opportunities where the Strategy is taken into account. Mauritius Declaration (Full Text) |
| PARALLEL EVENTS AT THE MAURITIUS INTERNATIONAL MEETING | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Reefs, Island Communities and Protected Areas: Committing to the Future
The Government of the Republic of Seychelles and the United Kingdom, on behalf of the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), ICRI partners, the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF), The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN), organised a side event on January 12th, 2005, during the International Meeting in Mauritius for the 10-year Review of the Barbados Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States. This was a high profile event to promote marine conservation, in particular the use of Marine and Coastal Protected Areas (MCPAs), in SIDS and advance a partnership between governments, NGOs and the international community designed to contribute to meeting related global conservation targets and thereby sustaining livelihoods in island communities. The side event provided an important opportunity:
Solid commitments to conserve marine biodiversity, specifically through the use of MPAs and networks of MPAs were announced by Seychelles, Palau, Bahamas, Belize and Fiji. The most notable were those of Fiji and Palau. Fiji's commitment to at least 30% of Fiji's inshore and offshore marine areas being under a "comprehensive, ecologically, representative networks of MPAs, which are effectively managed and financed," by 2020 is particularly significant. The statement by Palau is important for the guidance it provided on next steps. In short, Palau proposed: "to work with the partners here today and ensure we take advantage of a number of strategic opportunities at the international level to advance this Global Island Partnership. We must use these opportunities to:
The Executive Director of UNEP, Klaus Topfer, and Secretary Generals for the Commonwealth Secretariat, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, CARICOM and the Mauritius Conference were also present. Table 1 contains a summary of the financial commitments that were announced during the High Level Event. Table 1 - Financial Commitments announced at High Level Event and linked to support for MPA networks and islands
A full set of transcripts can be found at SIDSNet.org and further information. Prepared by Gerald Miles, The Nature Conservancy ++++++++++++++++ The Secretary-General of the United Nations Remarks at Meeting organized by the Seychelles and the United Kingdom, as Co-Chairs of the International Coral Reef Initiative 'Reefs, Island Communities and Protected Areas - Committing to the Future' Port Louis, 13 January 2005 President Michel Vice-President Chin Mr Rammell Excellencies Ladies and Gentlemen, It gives me great pleasure to join you for this important event. Let me thank the Governments of the Seychelles and the United Kingdom, as well as their many NGO partners, for their initiative in drawing much needed attention to the fate of coral reefs, island communities and the marine environment in general. For too long, the world acted as if the oceans were somehow a realm apart - as areas owned by none, free for all, with little need for care or management. The Law of the Sea Convention and other landmark legal instruments have brought important progress over the past two decades in protecting fisheries and marine ecosystems. But this common heritage of all mankind continues to face profound pressures. About 40 percent of the world's people now live within 60 kilometres of the coast, and coastal mega-cities continue to grow. Reefs in particular are both especially vulnerable and especially important. Roughly a quarter of the world's coral reefs have been badly degraded or destroyed in the last several decades. Though they make up less than half of one percent of the ocean floor, more than 90% of marine species are directly or indirectly dependent on them. Reefs are also essential for nutrition, for livelihoods and for economic growth. Some estimate suggest that the worlds' coral reefs generate nearly $30 billion each year from living resources, fish, souvenir manufacturing, mining, tourism, bioprospecting for new products, and coastal protection from erosion, waves and storm damage. For small islands and low-lying areas, reefs are nature's crucial defences against aggressive and destructive seas. That makes reefs vital life support systems for us all, and therefore essential to protect. We need early warning systems, but reducing vulnerability must begin with conserving coral reefs and mangroves. Yet to date, our attention has been focused primarily on land. The number of protected areas around the world has risen to more than 100,000. But less than one percent of the world oceans are protected, compared to twelve percent of the land area. So there is so much to do. The threats are diverse. We see land-based pollution that has created oxygen-starved "dead zones" in the oceans and seas. We see oil spills, destructive and unsustainable fishing methods, and of course natural disasters such as the tsunami that just struck the Indian Ocean with such force. Climate change threatens further destruction of reefs, and major disruptions of island and coastal economies. There is still inadequate commitment to the precautionary approach to environmental challenges. And there is an urgent need to involve local communities and other stakeholders more actively in decision making processes. The Millennium Development Goals call on us to eradicate hunger, to ensure environmental sustainability, to reverse the loss of environmental resources, and to reduce the proportion of people without access to safe water and sanitation. Efforts to achieve these goals will have a direct bearing on the fate of the seas and marine resources. The Millennium Project will report on Monday on what it will take to achieve these goals. The World Summit on Sustainable Development called for the establishment of a global network of marine protected areas by the year 2012. We must do more to make this happen, and ensure that we do not simply create token havens with no effective enforcement, while exploitation goes on elsewhere. We have a vision. We have agreed goals. We have great knowledge and ever-greener technologies. What we need is high-level political commitment for marine conservation and protection areas. I assure you that the United Nations system shares your strong devotion to this effort. If at one time what happened on and beneath the seas was 'out of sight, out of mind, that can no longer be the case. Let us work together: to protect the oceans and coastal zones; to help small islands survive and prosper; and to ensure that all people enjoy a sustainable future. Thank you very much.
Mobilizing for Further Implementation of Ocean
and Coastal Management in SIDS January 11, 2004, International Convention Centre (Amphitheatre) The event drew about 70 people from government, nongovernment, and inter-governmental organizations. Dr. Biliana Cicin-Sain, Co-Chair of the Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands, chaired the meeting and gave a brief introduction about the Global Forum, its past and current work on SIDS, and the objectives of the event. The event is the first part of a two-session activity intended to discuss what has been done and what needs to be undertaken to implement the oceans and coasts agenda of SIDS, and to discuss how to achieve synergy among related efforts in SIDS. The second session was held on Friday, January 14 to continue discussions on implementation and synergy among initiatives. The following summarizes the salient points presented by the resource persons, who talked about global and regional initiatives as well as capacity building and emerging issues at the first session on Tuesday, January 11. Introduction Dr. Biliana Cicin-Sain provided the structure of the event, its purposes, what the Global Forum is and its work in support of SIDS and preparation for the Mauritius International Meeting (MIM). She outlined four policy analysis reports that have been written in preparation for the MIM on partnerships, global multilateral agreements, ocean and coastal management, and climate change and energy policy. Dr. Cicin-Sain also discussed future activities of the Global Forum in SIDS, including organization of the 3rd Global Conference on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands with a special focus on Mauritius follow-up and GPA implementation; organization of SIDS task forces in the three SIDS regions; and capacity building in ocean and coastal management in an international conference on national and regional ocean policies and a capacity building workshop on national ocean policies to implement the Pacific Regional Ocean Policy. Global Initiatives Mr. Julian Barbiere, Programme Specialist, ICAM and Regional Programmes, IOC, informed the group that there are 132 members of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of which 23 are SIDS. IOC promotes marine scientific investigations and related ocean services, with a view to learning more about the nature and resources of the oceans. Among four themes, IOC focuses on the provision of international leadership for education and training programmes and technical assistance essential for systematic observations of the global ocean and its coastal zone and related research. IOC has initiated GOOS, a permanent global system for observations, modelling and analysis of marine and ocean variables to support operational ocean services worldwide. IOC has also developed ICAM guidelines and public awareness materials on sustainable development of oceans and coasts. IOC is committed to work with the Global Forum in 1) undertaking three assessments of regional capacity for oceans and coasts governance; 2) establishing a task force for the development of implementation strategies of targets emanating from the Mauritius International Meeting, the BPoA, and the WSSD; 3) a capacity building workshop for the Pacific region; and 4) co-organizing the 3rd Global Conference on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands. It is the intention of IOC to make sure that activities of the Global Forum respond effectively to the needs of SIDS at the national level. Dr. Al Duda, Senior Advisor, International Waters, Global Environment Facility, discussed GEF initiatives for SIDS and its involvement in the Global Forum. GEF has provided a total of US$400 million to SIDS projects, which address the 14 priority areas in the BPoA. Through the UNDP alone, GEF has allocated US$120 million to SIDS special projects within 1997-2004, covering mostly biodiversity, climate change, and international waters. In the International Waters focal area, GEF projects addressed transboundary and marine issues through the Large Marine Ecosystem (LME) approach, which cover 106 countries in 15 LMEs. GEF is working with the Global Forum in the development of a medium-sized project on fostering a global dialogue on oceans, coasts, and SIDS, and on freshwater-coastal-marine interlinkages. It is an initiative, that, among others, focuses on the development of the Global Forum similar to the World Water Forum and fosters the integration of freshwater and marine needs. Mr. Gerald Miles, Senior Advisor, The Nature Conservancy, discussed the engagement of NGOs in addressing the WSSD target of establishing representative network of marine protected areas by 2012 to promote the conservation and management of the oceans. He mentioned a high-profile side event organized by the governments of the Republic of Seychelles and the United Kingdom, the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), RARE, and the International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN) at the MIM, which is intended to highlight the role of marine and coastal protected area networks in preserving human well-being and the alleviation of poverty. The side event is expected to elicit significant commitments from governments, donors and civil society as partners in meeting global conservation targets and securing the livelihoods of island communities. Mr. Miles also stressed that successful partnerships among governments and civil society can improve the chances for effective implementation of conservation strategies. Mr. Chris Tompkins, ICRI/United Kingdom, briefly described ICRI as a partnership among governments, international organizations, and non-government organizations that strive to preserve coral reefs and related ecosystems by implementing Chapter 17 of Agenda 21 and other relevant international conventions and agreements. ICRI has proven itself to be effective in leading the coral reef conservation process. ICRI has provided policy coherence and facilitated the implementation of these policies. It has lined up projects for funding and identified resources for the implementation of these projects. SIDS stand to gain through these initiatives in terms of development of implementation tools. First announced at the First Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity in December 1994, an international workshop in the Philippines in 1995 yielded a "Call to Action," which advocates international recognition that coral reefs are in serious decline globally due primarily to human activities, and a "Framework for Action". The Call to Action and the Framework for Action have provided the basis for the conduct of regional workshops to define regional needs and priorities and to catalyze the development of national coral reef initiatives; promote the ICRI's goal of ecosystem and community-based management and encourage UN agencies and convention bodies, as well as multilateral and bilateral donors, to incorporate ICRI into their programs in order to better focus and leverage existing resources; and identify important roles for the United Nations Environment Programme, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and the scientific community in monitoring and addressing the serious global decline of coral reefs. Ambassador John Turner, Assistant Secretary, U.S. Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, described a regional approach to sustainable environmental management in the Caribbean called the White Water to Blue Water (WW2BW). This initiative is intended to support dynamic partnerships in the region. It is considered unique in that it involves ministers of other sectors that need to be integrated into the ocean and coastal management process. To date, around 100 partnerships in over 30 countries have been formed under this initiative. A WW2BW website has been developed to support the needs of partnerships for sharing of information and experience, networking, and capacity building. A Steering Committee regularly meets to provide direction in addressing priority areas of concern in the region including watershed management, LME-based management, sustainable tourism, and pollution related to marine transportation. It is envisioned that WW2BW will become a model in regional partnership initiatives that can be replicated in other parts of the world. Ambassador Turner also highlighted the need to mobilize multiple sources of funding for partnerships to be sustainable. Mr. Nirmal Jivan Shah, Chief Executive, Nature Seychelles, described the national, regional, and international activities being undertaken by Nature Seychelles in support of SIDS. National activities include support to national NGO delegation to the MIM; implementation of a GEF-assisted project on private and NGO-owned high biodiversity islands; construction of education and conservation centres; and preparation of educational materials. Regional and international initiatives include working with IUCN, WIOMSA and CEDREFI and other regional and international entities in various island capacity building, education and conservation initiatives. Regional Initiatives Ms. Mary Power, Coordinator, Reef Fisheries Observatory, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, described the development of the Pacific Islands Regional Ocean Policy, which was approved by Pacific Ocean leaders in 2002. The regional ocean policy emphasizes the importance of the ocean to Pacific island nations and communities and joins together existing regional initiatives that address ocean and coastal issues. The Pacific Islands Regional Ocean Framework for Integrated Strategic Action lays down broad initiatives and specific actions that are needed to implement the regional ocean policy. The regional ocean policy represents a document that can be used as a basis for project development and presentations to donors. The document provides an indication of the degree of collaboration and collective thinking among Pacific nations and signifies commitment to the way forward. Mr. Nelson Andrade, Coordinator, UNEP Caribbean Environment Programme discussed the cross-sectoral approach that the UNEP Caribbean Environment Programme is promoting through integrated coastal area management projects. UNEP plays a catalytic role by developing projects for GEF financing that cover prevention of marine pollution, integrated water resources management, and establishment of sustainable development mechanisms in the wider Caribbean region. The latter includes integration of management and planning processes, combining approaches and demonstration of tried solutions, and participation of upstream and downstream stakeholders in the planning and management processes. Mr. Andrade mentioned the need for greater adoption of coordinating mechanisms and the tsunami warning system as immediate emerging issues that need to be addressed. Mr. Charles "Bud" Ehler clarified that NOAA is a scientific and technical government agency and not a donor agency. He outlined the initiatives of NOAA that may be of relevance to SIDS, including the UNEP-GPA technical assistance project in the Caribbean, and the NOAA International Coral Conservation Grants. The UNEP-GPA technical assistance project has provided assistance to 10 countries focusing on development of national plans of action, land-use planning, and watershed management, in close coordination with national economic and development plans. The coral conservation grants cover promotion of watershed management, enhancing management effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas, encouraging regional approaches to further no-take marine reserves, and promoting socio-economic monitoring in coral reef management. Mr. Ehler identified the integration of coastal and ocean management initiatives through marine protected areas as they relate to island management as missing in most of the discussions on emerging issues in SIDS. Capacity Building Dr. Werner Ekau outlined the three main areas in which the International Ocean Institute may be of help to SIDS: 1) training and education; 2) providing expertise and advice in ocean governance and ocean policy; and 3) organization of workshops and conferences. Dr. Joeli Veitayaki, University of the South Pacific Marine Studies Programme, emphasized the importance of partnerships and the need for developing linkages with communities, without which implementation of initiatives will be constrained. He stressed that partnerships can help solve the problem of limited resources for island development, and that sharing of experiences and resources among partners should be encouraged. Dr. Veitayaki suggested that since people are not really that aware yet of the significance and importance of oceans, it is important to establish the importance of oceans and coasts among people and the problems related to the use of ocean and coastal resources. There is a need to search for new approaches that work better and that sustainable development needs to be articulated at the community level. He pointed out that conventions do not work if the communities are not actively engaged in the process. He recommended that performance evaluation be conducted in order to learn lessons from things that were not done very well. Other Initiatives There are other initiatives that were not presented at this event, including the cross-regional ocean governance initiative of the Canadian International Development Agency; the Nippon Foundation international ocean governance network; and the SIDS university consortium initiative. Emerging Issues Tom Goreau, President of the Global Coral Reef Alliance, reiterated the difficulty of being heard in various international fora because major NGOs dominate the process. He outlined a number of pressing issues:
Ocean Caucus
At the Mauritius International Meeting January 14, 2005 International Convention Centre, Major Groups Room The meeting was held as a follow-up to Tuesday's partnership activity, "Mobilizing for Further Implementation of Ocean and Coastal Management in SIDS," devoted to a discussion on follow-up to the Mauritius International Meeting to implement the ocean and coastal agenda of SIDS. Dr. Biliana Cicin-Sain, Dr. Veerle Vandeweerd, Co-Chairs of the Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands, Nirmal Jivan Shah, Chief Executive of Nature Seychelles, and Santaram Mooloo, Deputy Director of the Department of Environment, Mauritius, presided over the meeting, which was attended by about 40 delegates from governmental, intergovernmental, and civil society. The meeting began with an introduction about the Global Forum and a brief report on the parallel event held on Tuesday, followed by a lively discussion on implementation and synergy among SIDS initiatives. Representatives of various initiatives shared what they are doing in the three SIDS regions and identified some urgent needs. The meeting came up with the following concrete proposals put forward during the discussion:
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| VIEWPOINT |
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Editors' Note: Opinions and other advocacy materials for the promotion of oceans, coasts and islands issues included in the Global Forum Newsletter are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Global Forum and its organizers.
Protecting the Deep Seas
Duncan E. J. Currie Adviser to Greenpeace International Having over-exploited coastal marine resources, new technologies have enabled humankind to begin to exploit the marine resources of the deep sea. So today, those resources now face profound pressures. The deep sea is one of the last frontiers on the planet and until a short time ago, it was assumed that there was little life in its cold, dark waters, which cover more than half the world's surface. Scientists are only now beginning to understand the diversity, significance and vulnerability of deep-sea biodiversity and ecosystems, and recognise it as a major global reservoir of the earth's biodiversity, comparable to that of tropical rainforests and shallow water coral reefs. Estimates of the numbers of species inhabiting the deep ocean range between 500,000 and 10 million, and there are an estimated 100,000 or more seamounts - underwater islands that rise 1,000 meters or higher from the seabed. FULL STORY
Reflections
The Mauritius International Meeting evoked different responses among delegations. To a privileged few who participated in both the Barbados and Mauritius meetings, it evoked reflective reactions such as those of Nirmal Jivan Shah, who gave a statement as a representative of the NGOs at the meeting's first session (link to full text below). The Road from Barbados to Mauritius and Beyond Nirmal Jivan Shah, Nature Seychelles I am here on an island in the Seychelles where the rubber hits the road and as I look in my rear view mirror at the bright and hopeful images of the SIDS meeting in Barbados, I am tempted to see the larger image in front of me solely in Black & White. It has taken only ten years to move from hope to gloom. In ten years, many of the issues raised in Barbados are, annoyingly and surprisingly, still with us whilst threats like coral bleaching and HIV/AIDS have rear-ended us with full force. Billions of Dollars have been spent, supposedly to resolve these, and we have not even heard the splash when they hit the bottom. But the human potential is vast and magnificent. In Mauritius we heard renewed optimism. The voices were different. From the deep concern of the Secretary General of the United Nations himself to the strident calls from a wide range of civil society, these new and powerful voices lend themselves to a new compact. This compact between governments, civil society and international bodies is the ONLY way in which we can ensure a brighter future. The road lies ahead. Let us seize the moment and move down it together, in partnership. Statement of Nirmal Jivan Shah, Nature Seychelles, at the MIM |
| TSUNAMI INTERVENTIONS AT THE MIM |
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Tsunami Interventions
At the International Meeting, every major speech given at each session was prefaced by an expression of sympathy and concern for the loss of lives and destruction due to the recent tsunami in Asia and elsewhere, indicative of the overall major global response to the disaster and the havoc it has wrought. The Mauritius Strategy highlights SIDS vulnerability with regard to disasters, citing the impacts of the December 26, 2004 earthquake and tsunami and the 2004 hurricane/cyclone/typhoon seasons, and notes that SIDS face disproportionately high economic, social and environmental consequences from such disasters. The Strategy states that SIDS have undertaken to strengthen their national frameworks for more effective disaster management, and are committed, with the necessary support of the international community, to:
The United Nations World Conference on Disaster Reduction (WCDR) convened at the Portopia Hotel, in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. The WCDR was supported by the Inter-Agency Secretariat of the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR), which was designated as the Conference Secretariat. A large number of participants attended the WCDR, including representatives of governments, UN specialized agencies, other intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The WCDR aimed to increase the international profile of disaster risk reduction, promote its integration into development planning and practice, and strengthen local and national capacities to address the causes of disasters that hamper development in many countries. WCDR participants discussed three outcome documents: a review of the 1994 Yokohama Strategy for a Safer World and its Plan of Action; a programme of action for 2005-2015; and a political declaration (ENB 26(04) 2005). For the IISD summary of the conference, please go to http://www.iisd.ca/download/pdf/enb2609e.pdf UNESCO Strategy for the development of Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System for the Indian Ocean within a Global Framework Together with the unprecedented and generous response from Member States and civil society, the international community has urged at various fora, the prompt establishment of a tsunami early warning system in the Indian Ocean, with the intention of extending it to be a multi-hazard system having global coverage. The coordinated response of the UN to this request has given UNESCO and its IOC the leadership in the establishment of a basin-wide Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System designed to benefit and protect all the countries concerned. Several of the affected countries have shown strong leadership in responding to the need to establish national and regional tsunami warning and mitigation systems. In addition, many Member States and Organizations from outside the region have offered their expertise and assistance for the development of these systems. The Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System will be implemented through international cooperation, making use of the existing coordination mechanisms and giving special consideration to its regional and national components in order to assure the effective participation and ownership of all countries surrounding the Indian Ocean basin. In working towards these goals, UNESCO is convening an international meeting to be held in Paris from 3-8 March 2005 to produce a draft work plan and timetable for the establishment of the Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System for the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia region. The participants will examine the various requirements for a warning and mitigation system, from the technology needed to organizational aspects such as procedures for information exchange and the setting up of national tsunami warning centres. They will also prepare plans for sensitizing local populations about the risk of tsunamis. The scope of the system will also be design to be able to provide early warnings for other type of ocean-related disasters such as storm surges or cyclones. The meeting will also work on a draft design plan for a global tsunami warning system, of which the Indian Ocean system would be one component. To this end, preliminary proposals will be presented for the Caribbean and Mediterranean regions along with the Atlantic and South West Pacific. It is the first of two meetings scheduled in the coming weeks to finalize the plans the tsunami alert system. The second, which is due to be held in early April (date to be set), will seek to reach agreement with the Indian Ocean countries on policy issues related to the establishment of a tsunami alert system for the region. The work plan, based on the results of both meetings will be presented to the IOC General Assembly in June this year for discussion and eventual adoption. The aim is to have the global system in place by June 2007. In its endeavour, UNESCO is working within an UN-wide process of collaboration, in particular with such key partners as the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the UN Environment program (UNEP). More information on the UNESCO Strategy can be found at: http://ioc.unesco.org/indotsunami/index.htm Report of Tsunami Response from the Fisheries Sector by the Institute of Fisheries Resources The newsletter Sublegals, in its December 2004 issue (available: http://www.sublegals.net), reported on the scope of the tsunami impact from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Maldives, India, Sri Lanka, and Somalia mainly from the Samudra News Alerts, a newsletter of the International Collective in Support of Fishers. This Sublegals issue also described early efforts of emergency and relief response from various fisher groups. International Ocean Institute (IOI) Open Letter: Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System On behalf of the IOI, Dr. Iouri Oliounine, IOI Executive Director, issued an open letter expressing a viewpoint on past early warning system initiatives and words of caution and encouragement on the development of a global early warning system. The open letter may be viewed from the IOI website at http://ioc.unesco.org/ioi/contents.php?id=128. |
| TOWARD MAURITIUS PAPER SERIES |
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Toward Mauritius 2005 Paper Series
The Global Forum has prepared a series of policy analyses on ocean and coastal management issues in SIDS presented at the International Meeting (http://www.globaloceans.org/mauritius.html#paper). This work was sponsored by the UNEP/GPA. 1. Voluntary Partnership Initiatives from the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development and Small Island Developing States (Paper Series No. 2003-1: November 2003) This paper examines the potential contributions of the voluntary partnerships initiatives emanating from the WSSD to the sustainable development of SIDS, and specifically examines the extent to which and how the Partnership initiatives support the targets and timetables agreed upon in the WSSD Plan of Implementation. 2. Iniciativas de Asociación Voluntarias Derivadas de la Cumbre Mundial 2002 sobre el Desarrollo Sostenible y los Pequeños Estados Insulares en Desarrollo (Paper Series No. 2004-1: December 2004) This is the Partnership Initiatives report in Spanish. 3. Multilateral Environmental Agreements and Small Island Developing States (December 2004) This paper investigates SIDS participation in multilateral environmental agreements, including ratification status and constraints to implementation. (Paper Series No. 2004-2: December 2004) 4. Small Islands, Large Ocean States: A Review of Ocean and Coastal Management in Small Island Developing States since the 1994 Barbados Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) (Paper Series No. 2005-1) (Forthcoming) This paper assesses implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action related to ocean and coastal management, focusing on integrated coastal and ocean management, global climate change, development of sustainable tourism, and management of waste. 5. Island Bellwether: Climate Change and Energy Policy Strategy for Small Island Developing States (Paper Series No. 2005-2) (Forthcoming) Looking at islands as "bellwethers" of the adverse impacts of climate change, this paper evaluates implementation of BPoA on climate change and on energy resources, presenting a number of ideas on more rapid development of renewable energy options. |
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The Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands Newsletter (http://www.globaloceans.org) covers:
Potential contributors are kindly requested to follow the schedule noted below. Submissions will be evaluated by an editorial committee. Please note that some submissions may not be accepted due to appropriateness, timeliness, and space considerations. Contributions to the Newsletter should be sent to Dr. Miriam Balgos, Center for Marine Policy, mbalgos@udel.edu, two weeks before the following 2005 publication dates:
Issue 8: June 20, 2005 Issue 9: September 30, 2005 Issue 10: December 15, 2005 We kindly request your involvement in making this newsletter a useful contribution in the global dialogue on oceans, coasts, and islands. |