In the resolution, adopted by the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) at its 26th General Meeting, the General Meeting expresses concern at the rapidly deteriorating health of coral reefs, recognizes the need to maintain healthy coral reefs and related ecosystems, and encourages ICRI members to support the inclusion of references to the conservation and sustainable management of all coral reefs in the UNCSD outcome document.
December 2011: The International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) has adopted a resolution on the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20) that encourages ICRI members to support the inclusion of references to the conservation and sustainable management of all coral reefs, and their importance for sustainable development, in the outcome document of the Conference, as well as in any statement of commitment that includes the blue economy and integrated oceans management.
In the resolution, which was adopted by ICRI members at their 26th General Meeting, held in Réunion, from 12-15 December 2011, the General Meeting also: underlines that millions of the world’s inhabitants depend on coral reefs and related ecosystems for sustainable livelihoods and development; expresses concern at the rapidly deteriorating health of the coral reefs; and recognizes the need to maintain healthy coral reefs and related ecosystems.
This was the third General Meeting under the French-Samoan Co-Secretariat. During the meeting, Australia presented an outline of the work of the upcoming Secretariat, which will be co-chaired by Australia and Belize. The next ICRI General Meeting will convene in Cairns, Australia, in July 2012, just after the International Coral Reef Symposium (ICRS). [ICRI Resolution] [ICRI Forum website]