Restricted Distribution IOC/SC-WESTPAC-XI/11.8 Bangkok, 16 March 2017 English only

INTERGOVERNMENTAL OCEANOGRAPHIC COMMISSION (of UNESCO) Eleventh Intergovernmental Session of the IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC-XI) Qingdao, China, 21-23 April 2017

Item 5.2.1 of the Provisional Agenda

PROGRESS REPORT ON CORAL REEF CONSERVATION (FORMERLY REFERRED TO AS

“MARINE & COASTAL BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION”) (May 2015–April 2017)

In accordance with Terms of Reference of IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific, the report is provided to facilitate the consideration by the Sub-Commission on the progress made on the WESTPAC project on Coral Reef Conservation (Formerly referred to as “Marine & Coastal Biodiversity and Conservation in the Western Pacific”).

The Sub-Commission is invited to discuss about the progress made over the past intersessional period, provide directives and advice on its future development, and further identify resources and national commitments to its implementation in the region.

IOC/SC-WESTPAC-XI/11.8 page 1

I. Project

1. Coral Reef Conservation (Formerly referred to as "Marine & Coastal Biodiversity and Conservation")

II. Project objectives and expected outputs/outcomes

1. To understand and provide the scientific basis for biodiversity management by articulating the state of the science with respect to current and emerging stressors.

2. To establish the effective management plan and monitoring programs for marine biodiversity among WESTPAC country members.

3. To encourage research collaboration and to exchange knowledge among WESTPAC countries

III. Principal Investigator (Chairperson) and Project Steering Group

Chairperson: Dr. Suchana Chavanich Coordinator: Dr. Charoen Nitithamyong China: Dr. Put O Ang, Jr, Dr. Xuelei Zhang Indonesia: Dr. Mujizat Kawaroe Japan: Dr. Toshio Furota, Dr. Makoto Omori, Dr. Shuhei Nishida, Dr. Toshihiko Fujita Korea: Dr. Yoon Lee, Dr. Heung-Sik Park, Dr. Youn-Ho Lee Malaysia: Dr. Zulfigar Yasin, Dr. Aileen Tan Shau Hwai Philippines: Dr. Edgardo D. Gomez, Dr. Benjamin Vellajo, Jr. Singapore: Dr. Chou Loke Ming, Dr. Beverly Goh, Dr. Lik Tong Tan Thailand: Mr. Niphon Phonsuwan, Dr. Anchana Prathep, Dr. Somchai Bussarawit, Dr. Nalinee Thongtham Vietnam: Dr. Vo Si Tuan

IV. Terms of Reference of the Program Steering Group

2. The project has terms of references as following:

1. Composition

3. The Project Steering Committee shall consist of all member states of WESTPAC who are interested in participating. Once the Project Leader of each program is selected by IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific, he/she shall serve as the Chairperson of this Steering Group. Each country, through its IOC National Focal Point shall designate one or two members with a marine ecology expertise in one of the three programs. The Group is encouraged to conduct the work through correspondence, and they shall meet once a year through a WESTPAC conference/meeting. The current Project Steering Committee is listed below.

Chairperson: Dr. Suchana Chavanich Coordinator: Dr. Charoen Nitithamyong China: Dr. Put O Ang, Jr, Dr. Xuelei Zhang Indonesia: Dr. Mujizat Kawaroe Japan: Dr. Toshio Furota, Dr. Makoto Omori, Dr. Shuhei Nishida Dr. Toshihiko Fujita Korea: Dr. Yoon Lee, Dr. Heung-Sik Park, Dr. Youn-Ho Lee Malaysia: Dr. Zulfigar Yasin, Dr. Aileen Tan Shau Hwai Philippines: Dr. Edgardo D. Gomez, Dr. Benjamin Vellajo, Jr. Singapore: Dr. Chou Loke Ming, Dr. Beverly Goh, Dr. Lik Tong Tan Thailand: Mr. Niphon Phonsuwan, Dr. Anchana Prathep, Dr. Somchai Bussarawit Dr. Nalinee Thongtham

IOC/SC-WESTPAC-XI/11.8 page 2

Vietnam: Dr. Vo Si Tuan

4. In addition, other member countries of WESTPAC will be contacted to have a complete representative list from each WESTPAC country.

2. Functions

5. Project on coastal marine biodiversity and conservation in the Western Pacific will work on 3 areas:

1. Biodiversity and taxonomy of marine organisms

6. The project will emphasize on reviewing and identifying taxonomical groups, which need to have more studies. At present, taxonomy is becoming more important as scientists struggle to identify species in order to understand the subtle relationships and complex reactions of ecosystems threatened by human pursuits. The study of taxonomy provides a solid foundation for the research needed for the conservation of marine life.

2. Effect of disturbance and current stressors on biodiversity

7. The project will review and determine regional concerns on disturbance and current stressor on marine biodiversity as disturbance is a major factor contributing to the declining of biodiversity in marine ecosystems that can lead to the species extinction. The examples of disturbance and current stressors concerned among WESTPAC region include introduction of non-native organisms, climate change, rising of temperature, and anthropogenic factors.

3. Restoration and rehabilitation of ecosystems

8. Due to rapid declining of biodiversity in marine ecosystems, restoration and rehabilitation are needed. In this subproject, several techniques of restoration and rehabilitation of marine ecosystems will be identified and evaluated to promote efficient and cost effective implementation on restoration.

9. Overall, the Group will carry out the following functions:

1. Review the regional concerns on ocean ecosystems in the areas of 1) biodiversity and taxonomy, 2) disturbance and current stressors, and 3) restoration and rehabilitation, and identify projects needed for each program.

2. Promote efficient and cost effective implementation of the WESTPAC project and prepare recommendations on this implementation to the IOC Sub-Commission.

3. Ensure effective interaction and communication among WESTPAC country members and with WESTPAC and IOC Intergovernmental Panel.

V. Activities carried out and/or to be carried out during the last intersessional period (May 2015 – April 2017)

1. Organizing NRCT-IOC/WESTPAC international meeting on management and rehabilitation of corals after bleaching events

10. During September 15-17, 2016, the NRCT-IOC/WESTPAC international meeting on management and rehabilitation of corals after bleaching events was organized in the collaboration and co-sponsorship with National Research Council of Thailand, Japan Fund in Trust, Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (Thailand), and Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University. The event was held at S31 Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand. A total of 60 participants from 8 countries: China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand attended the workshop. Participants were from university, governmental, and non-governmental sectors.

IOC/SC-WESTPAC-XI/11.8 page 3

Figure 1. Group photo of participants.

11. The international meeting aimed to

1. Bring together scientists, government officers, students, and public to discuss and advance our understanding of the issues related to coral bleaching and the management in the Western Pacific and adjacent regions.

2. Maximize interactions between scientists, government officers, and publics to present and disseminate their work at an international level.

3. Strengthen the regional network on coral reef management and rehabilitation among countries in the region.

4. Share and synthesize coral restoration techniques and management response after the bleaching events

12. In addition, a regional network on coral reef restoration was established to identify the best practice and promote those techniques among WESTPAC member countries towards the sustainability of marine and coastal ecosystem. Various presentations on the current status of coral bleaching and coral rehabilitation techniques were presented and discussed during the 3-day meeting. In addition, a field trip to an aquarium at the Institute of Marine Science Burapha University in Chonburi Province was organized.

13. The workshop time schedule is below.

First day: Presentations from each country on the current status of coral reef bleaching and coral rehabilitation in the Western Pacific region

Second day: Discussion on the data sharing and management of coral bleaching in the region, Preparing the book on coral rehabilitation in the Western Pacific region

Third day: Field trip to the aquarium to learn about cultivation and restoration of reef organism populations

IOC/SC-WESTPAC-XI/11.8 page 4

Figure 2. During an opening ceremony.

Figure 3. Visiting the aquarium at the Institute of Marine Science,

Burapha University, Chonburi Province

14. With the collaboration among experts who attended this international meeting, a summary report of current status on coral bleaching and coral rehabilitation in each country is planned.

2. Organizing editing team meeting for a book on coral rehabilitation in the Western Pacific region

IOC/SC-WESTPAC-XI/11.8 page 5

15. The editing team meeting was organized after the international meeting on management and rehabilitation of corals after bleaching events to outline the chapters for a book on coral rehabilitation in the Western Pacific region. In addition, the book publisher was contacted to discuss on the possible schedule of book published. The book is planned to be finished and published by June 2017. This book is aimed to serve as a guideline and protocol of coral rehabilitation in the Western Pacific region. The examples of the contents in the book are

1. Current status of coral rehabilitation in each country in the Western Pacific region 2. Cost effective of coral rehabilitation 3. Research needed in coral rehabilitation area 4. Future of coral rehabilitation in the changing environment

3. Dissemination results and activities

16. In the past 2 years, results and activities from the project had been disseminated to different ways including through conferences, publishing book and papers in journals. A chapter on conservation and restoration of coral reefs under climate change was contributed in a book titled the Cnidaria, past, present and future. In addition, at least 6 scientific papers were published with contribution from Malaysia, Thailand, and other countries.

VI. Problems encountered and actions to be considered by the 11th Intergovernmental Session, tentatively scheduled for April 21-23, 2017, Qingdao, China

17. None

IOC/SC-WESTPAC-XI/11.8 page 6 VII. Workplan and Budget for May 2017 – May 2019

Program

Funding Required

Remark Activities Objectives Expected outputs/outcomes Date and place IOC

Other sources (i.e. from national

or international)

Coral Reef Conservation

1. Workshop: updating activities of project coastal marine biodiversity and conservation and techniques for coral restoration in the WESTPAC region

1. To update and plan activities related to project coastal marine biodiversity

2. To summarize all coral restoration techniques available within the Western Pacific region and outside the regions

3. To promote those techniques among WESTPAC member countries

Report/scientific paper

April 2017 (IOC/WESTPAC

International Scientific

Conference)

18K USD from Japan

Fund in Trust

2. Workshop: updating a list of marine non-indigenous species in the WESTPAC region

1. To summarize a list of marine non-indigenous species in the WESTPAC region

2. To increase public awareness on the impact of marine NIS

Report/scientific paper Poster/guideline for management

August 2017 (Bangkok, Thailand)

15K USD from

National Research Council of Thailand

and 5K USD from Japan

Fund in Trust

3. Preparing 1 book related to coral restoration techniques

1. To disseminate the synthesis data on coral restoration techniques through scientific communities

2. To have a guideline on reef rehabilitation for reef managers in Southeast Asia region

Book June 2017 From a book publisher