(Davao City, March 12-13, 2008)
DAVAO CITY, March 13 -- Environment and fisheries officials have formulated during a two-day workshop here part of the Philippine strategy to sustainably manage and protect the marine resources and biodiversity of Coral Triangle, site of the richest and most abundant marine life on our planet.
The output of the Mindanao consultation here will form part of the Philippine draft plan of action for the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI). The CTI will be approved by senior environment officials from six countries who will meet in Manila in May this year.
One of the measures to be presented to senior officials of the six countries during the Manila conference is the activation of a mechanism to gather and implement best practices in caring for the environment, notably marine and coastal resources.
“The Philippine approach in protecting Coral Triangle will definitely be an important component of international efforts that will enable succeeding generations to enjoy the benefits and beauty of a marine area that nourishes and provides livelihood to some 120 million people,” Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza said in a message to workshop participants.
The DENR chief has been pushing for a collective international action to protect the Coral Triangle. “It is our sacred duty and we owe it to succeeding generations of humankind in protecting Coral Triangle,” he said.
Atienza met with Indonesian President Susibo Bambang Yudhoyono during the Bali Conference on climate change in December last year to discuss initiatives to ensure the sustainable management and conservation of the Coral Triangle.
The Coral Triangle is located deep in the heart of the Asia-Pacific region and encompasses the coastal and marine areas of six countries: Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste and Solomon Islands.
Among the threats facing the Coral Triangle are overfishing and destructive fishing practices, global warming, clearing of mangroves, lack of effective enforcement and conflict of interest among resource users.
Some of the measures proposed to meet these threats are:
• Adoption of an ecosystems approach in the management of Coral Triangle;
• Establishment of an effective management of priority marine and coastal areas in the region;
• Strengthening of transboundary monitoring and enforcement of regional marine resources policies;
• Effective information management and creation of database for resources within CTI;
• Implementation of a rapid alert system.
An earlier consultation was held in the Visayas. A national consultation is expected to be held in Manila next month.
[ Source : denr.gov.ph ]
