[Coral-List] ICRS 2016 meeting sessions: Marine Managed Area Design in Practice and Scaling up Comanagement Approaches through Learning Networks

[Stacy Jupiter]

Dear coral-listers,

I would like to draw your attention to two sessions on applied aspects 
of coral reef management at the 13th International Coral Reef Symposium, 
which is being held 19-24 June 2016 in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

71 - DESIGNING MARINE MANAGED AREAS FOR FISHERIES MANAGEMENT AND 
BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION: BRIDGING SCIENCE AND POLICY
(https://www.sgmeet.com/icrs2016/sessionschedule.asp?SessionID=71)

Abstract: Overfishing and habitat destruction are undermining the 
long-term sustainability of coral reefs and the ecosystem services they 
provide. Well-designed and effectively managed networks of marine 
managed areas can reduce local threats, and maximise their benefits for 
fisheries management and biodiversity conservation in the face of 
climate change. In recent years, there have been many scientific 
advances regarding the connectivity, vulnerability and recovery rates of 
focal species, which have been used to refine ecological guidelines for 
designing marine managed areas (particularly regarding their size, 
spacing, location and duration) for fisheries management and 
biodiversity conservation. These scientific advances have been 
translated into communication products for local stakeholders and 
decision makers, including guides for field practitioners and community 
based managers as well as policy documents for senior government 
officials. In this session, we will review these advances and provide 
case studies of how this information has been used to improve the design 
of marine managed areas, emphasizing the benefits of scientists and 
practitioners collaborating to interpret and apply this information in 
different coral reef regions and contexts worldwide. Scientists and 
managers will then discuss lessons learned, and priorities for research 
and developing communication and policy documents to improve marine 
managed area design in future.

Co-organizers:
•    Alison Green, The Nature Conservancy (TNC)
•    Stacy Jupiter, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
•    Rebecca Weeks, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (ARC 
CoE), James Cook University

74 - FROM SILOS TO MAINSTREAM: SCALING UP EFFECTIVE CORAL REEF 
CONSERVATION VIA CO-MANAGEMENT AND PARTNERSHIPS USING LEARNING NETWORKS
(https://www.sgmeet.com/icrs2016/sessionschedule.asp?SessionID=74)

Abstract: True collaborative management of coral reefs remains one of 
the elusive holy grails for most coral reef managers. For most areas 
that benefit from co-management, it took a long-time to surmount the 
resistance and challenges to form a functional co-management team. While 
coral reef managers used to work in isolation, there are now several 
examples from across the Asia-Pacific region where co-management with 
the communities, scientists, government agencies and the private sector 
are producing encouraging conservation results. Learning Networks have 
been a powerful force in catalyzing partnerships and sharing scarce 
resources for conservation and empowering stakeholders. Examples from 
across the Asia-Pacific region (Fiji, Philippines, Indonesia, Federated 
States of Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Palau and 
Hawaii) will be shared to highlight key lessons learned and common 
factors of success, despite the vast geographies and diverse cultures 
that these learning networks span. This forum will actively discuss with 
the attendees what the key attributes to conservation success are and 
share common measures of success. This forum will have a mix of oral 
presentations and participatory break-out discussions to foster sharing 
of knowledge, increase leveraging of the ISRS' scientific expertise to 
inform local adaptive management from the local to regional scales.

Co-organizers:
Manuel Mejia, The Nature Conservancy (TNC)
Tamara Ticktin, University of Hawaii (UH)
Stacy Jupiter, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
Eleanor Sterling, American Museum of Natural History (AMNH)

If you know of anyone who might be interested who might not receive this 
notice, please feel free to pass it along.  We are looking for a good 
geographic spread of practitioners and managers in both session.

See you in Honolulu.

Cheers,
Stacy

 ><((((º>
Stacy Jupiter, Ph.D.
Melanesia Director
Wildlife Conservation Society
11 Ma'afu Street
Suva, Fiji Islands

(m) (+679) 994 6272
(w) (+679) 331 5174
www.wcsfiji.org