26th ICRI General Meeting

26th ICRI General Meeting

The third General Meeting under the French-Samoan co-secretariat was held from the 12-15 December 2011, in La Réunion. France and the United States of America provided financial support to several countries to enable their participation.

Download the minutes of the 26th General Meeting.

Ad Hoc Committees

New terms of reference for the Ad Hoc committee on the Caribbean Regional Response to Lionfish Invasion were adopted (download amended terms of reference, PDF File).

Participants agreed on extending the work for the Ad Hoc Committee on Coral Reef Associated Fisheries, with the same terms of reference.

New terms of reference will be developed, to be proposed at the next ICRI General Meeting, for the following Ad Hoc committees:

  • Economic Valuation of Coral Reef Ecosystems
  • Enforcement & Investigation

Following Ad Hoc Committees were dissolved:

  • The East Asia Regional Workshop. However, the Initiative will continue to report under 'Regional Initiatives'
  • Ad Hoc Committee on Coral Disease
  • Ad Hoc Committee on the Pacific Day
  • Ad Hoc Committee on ITMEMS 4
  • Ad Hoc Committee on the International Coral Reef Action Network

Motions

Two resolutions were adopted. One on the International Coral Reef Action Network, that suspends the Network, and the other one on the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development that encourages ICRI members to support the inclusion of references to the conservation and sustainable management of all coral reefs, and their importance to sustainable development in the final outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD), as well as any statement of commitments which may also include the blue economy and integrated oceans management.

  • Resolution on the International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN)
    Download Document
  • Resolution on the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD)
    Download Document

Indian Ocean Day

In   an   effort   to   improve   regional   cooperation   and   enhance   the   regional   focus   of   ICRI’s   work,   a   full day of the 26th ICRI General Meeting was devoted to issues in the Indian Ocean Region, focusing on three themes:

  • Regional Coordination
  • Monitoring of Coral Reefs in the region
  • Management and conservation of coral reefs in the Indian Ocean in the light of climate change

The day ended with a special session by UNESCO World Heritage Marine Programme, on a regional comparative assessment of new potential sites in the Indian Ocean. At the end of the day, a draft recommendation was proposed and adopted (PDF File).

Download the report of the Indian Ocean Day (PDF File).

Networks

The International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN) is now suspended.
The participants welcomed the proposed direction for the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN).

Call to Action

The work to 'refresh' ICRI's Call to Action will be continued by the ICRI secretariat under the next hosting period.

Next Secretariat

Australia presented an outline of the work of the upcoming Secretariat (to be co-chaired by Australia and Belize). The dates for the next ICRI General Meeting were announced, it will be held in Cairns, Australia, in July, 2012, just after the International Coral Ref Symposium (ICRS).

All the meeting documents and presentations are available on the this page.

Agenda / Ordre du jour 
Hôtel Mercure Créolia Saint-Denis La Réunion

Monday 12 December

8:00/9:00 - Registration
Inscriptions et remise des dossiers pour les participants

9:00/10:00 - Official opening
Ouverture officielle

10:30/10:40 - Presentation and Adoption of the Agenda
Présentation et Adoption de l’ordre du jour

10:40/11:00 - Presentation of the coral reefs in French overseas territories in the Indian Ocean (presentation / PDF File)
Présentation des récifs coralliens de la France de l'Océan Indien

11:00/11:15 - Presentation of the « Support to local innovations and partnerships contributing to the conservation and sustainable management of the marine environment in the South West Indian Ocean” project
Présentation du projet «Contribution à la gestion durable et à la conservation du milieu marin dans la zone du sud-ouest de l’océan Indien : Appuis aux innovations locales et aux partenariats»

11:15/12:00 - Session on the UN General Assembly
Session sur l'Assemblée Générale des Nations-Unies

13:30/15:00 - Session Rio+20
Session sur Rio+20

15:00/17:00 - Ad Hoc Committees
Comités Ad Hoc

Tuesday 13 December

09:00/18:00 - Indian Ocean Day
Journée Océan Indien

In an effort to improve regional cooperation and enhance the regional focus of ICRI's work, a full day of the ICRI General Meeting will be devoted to issues in the Indian Ocean Region. The agenda and documents are available on here.

Wednesday 14 December

09:00/10:00 - ICRI Networks
Réseaux ICRI

10:50/11:50 - Member reports
Rapports des membres

11:50/12:30 - Regional Initiatives
Initatives régionales

Thursday 15 December

09:00 / 10:00 - Welcome to representatives of incoming ICRI Secretariat
Annonce du prochain secretariat

  • Brief presentation of the Plan of action of the next ICRI Secretariat
 (Présentation du programme provisoire du prochain secretariat) - Presentation (PDF File)
  • Handover ceremony (Passage de témoin)

10:30/12:30 - Report on ICRI Secretariat recent and on-going activities and actions arising from the last General Meeting
Points sur les activités – récentes et en cours – du secrétariat de l’ICRI

13:30/14:30 - Discussion on upcoming ICRI activities, including upcoming relevant international meetings
Propositions des actions à mener par les membres de l’ICRI et événements internationaux

14:30/15:15 - Consideration of motions
Examen des motions

15:35 / 16:35 - ICRI Secretariat Report
Rapport du Secrétariat

16:35 / 17:00 - Wrap up of the Meeting and Closing
Conclusions et clôture de la réunion

Location: 
Réunion
Contact Name: 
Francis Staub
Contact E-mail: 
fstaub@icriforum.org
Organized Under: 
France - Samoa secretariat
Dates: 
Mon, 2011-12-12 - Thu, 2011-12-15

The Governments of France and Samoa, as co-hosts of the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) Secretariat, in relation with the Principality of Monaco, are pleased to announce that the third and last General Meeting of the current secretariat, will be held in Réunion Island (in the Indian Ocean) on the 12th – 15th December 2011.

Map Reunion

Latest news:

  • 12/01: GCRMN discussion paper is now available
  • 11/29: Draft motion on ICRAN posted
  • 11/29: Deadline for the submission of member report extended to December 2nd, 2011
  • 11/29: an updated version of the agenda is now available
  • 10/25: Online registration available
  • 10/25: Outline of the Agenda available
  • 10/25: The meeting will be held at the hôtel Mercure Créolia, Saint-Denis, La Réunion
  • 10/25: Member report template (word doc.) is available
  • 10/28: Motion template (word doc.) is available

Key dates:

  • 11/18: Deadline for registration
  • 11/18: Deadline for comments on the agenda
  • 11/18: Deadline for submission of member report
  • 11/25: Deadline for posting the draft motion on the ICRI website

Airport

The airport for the meeting is Saint Denis, Roland Garros (RUN) - Réunion.

Accommodation

4 hotels have been selected by the ICRI Secretariat. December is a period of high tourist season, thus participants are advised to book their rooms as soon as possible. Shuttle bus service will be provided to and from the meeting location in the morning and in the evening.

Hotel MERCURE CRÉOLIA (3 stars) - Meeting location

Price:

  • Standard Room: 160 € + 15 € (breakfast)
  • Superior Room: 205 € + 15 € (breakfast)

Hotel "Le Saint-Denis" Best Western (3 étoiles)

Price:

  • Standard Room: 95 € + 12, 5 € (breakfast)
  • Superior Room: 125 € + 12, 5 € (breakfast)

Hotel AUSTRAL

Price:

  • Standard Room, single (clim A/C, TV, mini bar, WIFI): 77 € + 11 € (breakfast)
  • Standard Room, double (clim A/C, TV, mini bar, WIFI): 89 € + 11 € (breakfast)
  • Superior Room, single (clim A/C, TV, mini bar, WIFI): 83 € + 11 € (breakfast)
  • Superior Room, double (clim A/C, TV, mini bar, WIFI): 95 € + 11 € (breakfast)

Please note that the price is valid until October 31, 2011.

Central Hotel

Price:

  • Standard Room, single (shower, WC): 59, 40 € (including breakfast)
  • Standard Room, double (shower, WC): 67, 80 € (including breakfast)
  • Classique Room, single (bath, WC): 74, 70 € (including breakfast)
  • Classique Room, double (bath, WC): 86, 40 € (including breakfast)

Please note that the price is a negotiated price and you need to mention it during the reservation (please mention DEAL price)

Travel visa requirements

Reunion Island is not part of the EU Schengen Agreement and thus has travel visa requirements different from those for mainland France. Invitees from several countries need to have travel visa prior to boarding their flights. Those who will require a visa are advised to make preparations in good time. Do not hesitate to contact the ICRI secretariat for assistance.

About la Réunion

900 km east of Madagascar, Reunion Island is situated at the heart of the Indian Ocean. Reunion is one of France’s overseas departments, and thus part of the European Union. In fact, the island is the only European region in the southern hemisphere. Reunion consists of volcanic mountains rising from the depth of the ocean to 3070 m above sea level. The volcano Piton de la Fournaise in the island’s south is one of the most active in the world. The island’s slopes, peaks and canyons provide for breathtaking landscapes. Different microclimates have given rise to an extraordinary variety of natural habitats: 193 different types in total. Primary rainforests cover about 40% of the island’s surface. A coral reef extends along the coast.

  • Official language: French
  • Currency: Euro
  • Timezone: GMT/UTC +4
  • Electricity: 230V/50Hz (French plug)
  • Climate: Tropical
  • Official Reunion Tourism Website: http://www.reunion.fr/en/home.html