Background

At the International Coral Reef Marine Protected Area Network Meeting / 4th ICRI East Asia Regional Workshop, November 2008, Tokyo, Japan, a total of 65 participants from East Asian governments, international and regional organizations, academia and NGOs convened to discuss how to enhance and achieve WSSD/CBD MPA 2012 target goals in East Asia region and on coral reefs and related ecosystems [Learn more]

The workshop participants have identified priority gaps in achieving the MPA global target and agreed on several actions to take until 2010 to fill these gaps, which were subsequently compiled and agreed by the workshop participants as the "Provisional Plan 2009-2010". This workshop in 2009 will concentrate on addressing and resolving those action items.

As part of the commitment made in the Provisional Plan 2009-2010, the Governments of Japan in collaboration with the government of Vietnam and the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) Secretariat are co-hosting the 5th ICRI East Asia Regional Workshop in Hoi An, Vietnam.

Objectives

• Follow-up the implementation of the Provisional Plan 2009-2010;
• Review and discuss on the draft ICRI East Asia Regional Strategy on MPA Networks; and
• Provide opportunities to share latest achievements and experiences to enhance collaboration and networking.

Expected outputs

• Draft contents of the ICRI East Asia Regional Strategy on MPA Networks;
• Updated work plan to further implement the Provisional Plan 2009-2010;
• Provisional plan for the 6th ICRI East Asia Regional Workshop in 2010; and
• Schedule until the next workshop in 2010.

Date and Location

Date: Tuesday 8th - Friday 11th December 2009 [more information]
Location and Venue: The Hoi An Hotel, Hoi An City [more information]

Participation & registration

This ICRI Regional Workshop is open for interested parties, especially relevant agencies, organizations and experts that are involved in MPA/MPA network development and management and/or coral reef conservation in East Asia and neighboring regions.

For better meeting arrangement and security reasons, those who wish to attend are asked to submit their completed application form through the online registration before November 20th, 2009.

Note: The registration fee is not required, and lunch and refreshments are provided by the organizer. All participants are invited to the welcome reception at the evening of 8th October.

Organizers

Organized by:

• Ministry of the Environment, Japan
• Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam
• Secretariat of the International Coral Reef Initiative

Co-chairs

• Mr. Yoshihiro Natori, Institute of Advanced Studies, United Nations University, Co-chair of ICRI GMs in 2005-2007
• Dr. Vo Si Tuan, Institute of Oceanography, Viet Nam, former Senior Expert, UNEP/GEF South China Sea Project

Contact

For any inquiries about the workshop, please contact the workshop's secretariat Kohei Hibino, Japan Wildlife Research Center.