17 May 2014: Representatives from 29 countries and 13 international organizations made a commitment to ensure the sustainability of marine resources in the Manado Communiqué, which was agreed upon at the World Coral Reef Conference 2014. The Communiqué, titled ‘The sustainable utilization and conservation of coral reefs, food security, and partnerships and initiatives,’ confirms commitments to achieve the long-term conservation and sustainable management of coral reefs for food security, poverty eradication and climate change adaptation.

The Communiqué: calls for inclusive growth to improve local community livelihoods; reaffirms support for integrated and science-based approaches to coral reef management; encourages global and regional policy analysis to strengthen the policy framework for coral reefs; and recognizes the role of women in the conservation and sustainable use of coral reefs.

The Communiqué also addresses capacity building and local, national and regional cooperation, including partnerships with academia and the private sector. It recommends building community capacity to improve and maintain the resilience of coral reefs and their related ecosystems. It encourages national, regional and international initiatives on coral reef conservation, with the aim of ensuring food security and nutrition.

The conference included sessions on coral reef policy, management and protection, partnerships, and the role of business. Participants also discussed, inter alia: blue carbon; the coral reef fish trade; coastal and marine tourism; and the development of the seaweed industry.

Several Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF) events and meetings took place during the conference, including the: Fifth Meeting of the Council of Ministers of the CTI-CFF (MM5); Coral Triangle Marine Protected Area (CTMPAS) and Flagship MPA Sites Launch Activity; CTI-CFF Women Leaders’ Forum launch; CTI-CFF Sustainable Financing and Stock-take, including a review of the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) CTI-CFF programs and the State of the Coral Triangle Reports launch.

The Government of Indonesia hosted the conference, which took place from 14-17 May in Manado, Indonesia. The conference also inaugurated the CTI Center, which will serve as the CTI-CFF Secretariat headquarters. CTI-CFF is a multilateral partnership between the governments of Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste. [WCRC Press Release] [CTI-CFF Description of Events] [IISD RS Story on CTMPAS]