GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP OF UNEP AND THE REGIONAL SEAS CONVENTIONS AND ACTION PLANS

THE PARTNERSHIP

Global change as well as local are driving declining health around the world, and accelerated loss of services will increasingly affect people dependent on coral reefs in over 100 countries. In 2014 UNEP and Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans (‘Regional Seas’) initiated a Global Coral Reef Partnership to support countries deliver internationally agreed coral reef commitments through ecosystem-based management of coral reefs, as called for in the Global Strategic Directions for the Regional Seas 2013-2016.

The overall goal of the partnership is to promote and demonstrate ecosystem-based marine management in coral reef areas, in line with UNEP Governing Council and UNEA decisions, and as a contribution towards international targets such as Sustainable Development Goal 14 and Aichi Target 10. It is the government organizations and the Global Coral Reef primary vehicle for strengthening implementation Monitoring Network (GCRMN); NOAA Coral Reef of the ICRI Continuing Call to Action through the Conservation Program; The Reef-World Foundation, Regional Seas. international coordinators of the initiative; Blue Finance, an organization focusing on The Regional Seas provide the the world’s only legal development of economic instruments and natural framework for protecting the oceans and seas at the capital-based approaches for management of marine regional level, using a «shared seas» approach to resources; as well as UNEP-World Conservation help restore the health, productivity and resilience of Monitoring Centre and GRID-Arendal. oceans and marine , and to maintain their biodiversity.

Participating organizations include the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), a partnership among governments, international organizations and non- RESULT AREAS sȩ "5),$).'ȩ#/2!,ȩ2%%&ȩ2%3),)%.#%ȩ).ȩ4(%ȩ&!#%ȩ/&ȩ ȩ#,)-!4%ȩ#(!.'%ȩ!.$ȩ/#%!.ȩ!#)$)&)#!4)/. At the global level, the partnership supports sȩ 342%.'4(%.).'ȩ53%ȩ/&ȩ#/2!,ȩ2%%&ȩ%#/3934%-ȩ development and exchange of methods, tools and ȩ3%26)#%ȩ6!,5%3ȩ).ȩ05",)#ȩ!.$ȩ02)6!4%ȩ$%#)3)/. ȩ policy frameworks. Adoption and use of these outputs ȩ-!+).' is facilitated at the regional level through the Regional sȩ %.(!.#).'ȩ $!4!ȩ !.$ȩ ).&/2-!4)/.ȩ &/2ȩ Seas, as well as nationally through demonstration and ȩ %#/3934%- "!3%$ȩ #/2!,ȩ 2%%&ȩ 0,!..).'ȩ !.$ȩ pilot projects. ȩ-!.!'%-%.4 The partnership delivers results under four work sȩȩ3%#52).'ȩ )-0!#4ȩ 4(2/5'(ȩ ).34)454)/.!,ȩ areas, three substantive and one institutional Each ȩ3500/24ȩ!.$ȩ/542%!#( result area is described further on separate sheets: CONTRIBUTION TO INTERNATIONALLY ESTABLISHED GOALS AND TARGETS The urgency of addressing the crisis facing coral • catalyzing coral reef stewardship in the private reefs is reflected in several global commitments. The sector and collaboration across sectors on coral partnership directly contributes to implementation reef management and reduction, for of these, including Sustainable Development Goal common benefits; 14; Aichi Biodiversity Target 10, 11 and 15; SAMOA • strengthening monitoring and reporting to provide pathway paragraph 44(b) and 58(e); and the quantitative data on pressure reduction as well as International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) Continuing coral reef status and trends, in support of policy Call to Action and Framework for Action, by: and management decisions and tracking progress • enabling identification and strategic prioritization towards national, regional and global targets; of stress reduction measures we