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R 300948Z OCT 09
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 002777 
 
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SUBJECT: Major Outcomes of the Coral Triangle Initiative Senior 
Officials Meeting in Malaysia 
 
BANGKOK 00002777  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
SUMMARY: Senior officials from the six nations of the Coral Triangle 
Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security 
(CTI-CFF)adopted the CTI regional governance structure at the fourth 
Senior Officials Meeting (SOM4) held October 20-22 in Kota Kinabalu, 
Malaysia. The meeting confirmed how the countries will collectively 
preserve and manage the world's epicenter of marine biodiversity. At 
the meeting of the Coordination Mechanism Working Group, the 
officials determined the process for establishing a permanent 
secretariat. The six countries also agreed to issue a joint CTI 
statement elevating ocean and coastal concerns at the international 
treaty negotiations on climate change this December in Copenhagen. 
These major outcomes, among others, will be presented for 
endorsement at Second Ministerial Meeting in Ghizo, the Solomon 
Islands on November 18-19, 2009 including the location of the 
permanent secretariat. END SUMMARY 
 
The Coral Triangle Initiative 
 
¶1. The "Coral Triangle" includes the Philippines, Malaysia, 
Indonesia, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, and Papua New Guinea. This 
5.7 million square km area of ocean and islands has the highest 
marine biodiversity on earth. It provides livelihood for 120 million 
people and food for many more. The area is threatened by over- and 
destructive fishing, land- and sea-based pollution, and climate 
change. The Leaders from the six Coral Triangle countries launched 
the CTI and endorsed the implementation of the CTI Regional Plan of 
Action (RPOA) at the May 2009 CTI Summit in Manado, Indonesia. The 
CTI has made steady progress in finalizing their respective CTI 
National Plans of Action (NPOA) and in mobilizing the National CTI 
Coordination Committees (NCCs). 
 
¶2. The US CTI Support Program (US CTI) builds on over a decade of 
U.S.-investment in coastal resource management, fisheries and 
marine-protected area work in the region. The US CTI is implemented 
by a consortium of NGOs (World Wildlife Fund, Conservation 
International and The Nature Conservancy), NOAA, and a USAID Program 
Integrator contractor. USAID Regional Development Mission for Asia 
(RDMA) provides overall management of the program, in coordination 
with U.S. Embassies and other USAID missions in the Philippines, 
Indonesia, and Timor Leste, and the U.S. State Department. 
 
Major Outcomes from the Fourth Senior Officials Meeting (SOM4) 
 
¶3. The SOM4 reviewed and noted the progress of the CTI National 
Plans of Actions from the six Coral Triangle countries, and 
congratulated Malaysia on the official launch of their National Plan 
of Action on October 20th. The SOM country delegations were led by 
senior officials from Environment and Fisheries Ministries. RDMA 
Environment Specialist Rene Acosta attended the SOM, along with 
representatives from Asian Development Bank, the Government of 
Australia, and several international nongovernment organizations. 
Other major regional-level outcomes of the meeting are presented 
below: 
 
¶4. CTI Regional Governance Structure Confirmed.  At the October 
18-19 Coordination Mechanism Working Group meeting officials from 
the six Coral Triangle governments and partner representatives 
adopted the proposal for the governance structure of the CTI. The 
Senior Officials will recommend the structure to the Ministers for 
approval in November 2009, thereby confirming how the countries will 
collectively preserve and manage the world's epicenter of marine 
biodiversity. 
 
¶5. Proposals Developed for Location of Permanent Secretariat. The 
Coordination Mechanisms Working Group (chaired by Indonesia) invited 
a specialist supported by Australia to finalize proposals for the 
location and structure of the permanent CTI Regional Secretariat 
(with two countries reaffirming their interest to host -- Indonesia 
and the Philippines). The Working Group will present the proposals 
at the next SOM and for approval at the Ministerial meeting in 
November 2009. 
 
BANGKOK 00002777  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
¶6. Financial Resources Group to Develop Long-Term Financing 
Strategy. The Financial Resources Working Group (chaired by 
Indonesia) will reconvene with invited experts and counterparts from 
ASEAN to develop a mid-term and long-term sustainable financing 
strategy for the CTI. 
 
¶7. Monitoring and Evaluation Working Group Prepare Draft Indicators. 
The Monitoring and Evaluation Working Group (chaired by the 
Philippines) presented a framework to measure CTI success which the 
SOM will review for adoption at the Ministerial Meeting. 
 
¶8. SOM Defines CTI Role in Upcoming UN Climate Change Talks. The SOM 
agreed to issue a joint statement on ocean and coastal concerns for 
the upcoming UNFCCC in Copenhagen in December 2009. They also 
recommended that the Ministers present a joint communiqu at "Ocean 
Day" on December 14 in Copenhagen that defines the CTI Regional Plan 
of Action as their primary instrument for addressing adaptation to 
climate change. The senior officials asked their delegates to work 
with experts and partners to produce a draft of the formal 
communiqu to be distributed for consideration before the 
Ministerial Meeting in November. 
 
¶9. SOM Adopts CTI Partner Regional Work Plans.  The SOM adopted the 
2010 regional work plans presented by the Asian Development Bank, 
Australia, and the US CTI Support Program subject to the approval of 
the respective National Coordination Committees. The SOM requested 
partners to submit concepts with indicative programs and budgets in 
advance for adoption at future SOMs, and to submit periodic status 
reports. The US CTI Support Program held bilateral discussions with 
all six CT country delegations to review its 2010 regional work plan 
and to establish operational and coordination linkages in-country. 
 
Heads Up: Ministerial Meeting in November 
 
¶10. The SOM agreed to meet in Honiara, Solomon Islands on November 
16-17, just prior to the Second CTI Ministerial Meeting on November 
18-19 planned to be held in Ghizo, the Solomon Islands. The next SOM 
will finalize recommendations for the location of the CTI permanent 
Regional Secretariat and its organizational structure, review 
reports from all three working groups (Coordination Mechanisms, 
Financial Resources, and Monitoring and Evaluation), prepare 
recommendations on those issues for the Ministerial Meeting, and 
review the climate change communiqu for Ocean Day. 
 
¶11. The Ministerial Meeting will hear reports and recommendations 
from the SOM on operational issues and on the implementation of the 
Regional and National Plans of Actions. The Ministers will decide on 
the location and structure of the Regional Secretariat, adopt the 
Joint Communiqu on Climate Change, conduct a Partners Dialogue and 
approve the 2010 CTI Implementation Roadmap. In addition to the 
regular meetings of the CTI bodies, the 2010 CTI Regional 
Implementation Roadmap includes a CTI Business Summit in Manila in 
January 2010 (hosted by the Philippines) to kick-off private sector 
engagement in the CTI. 
JOHN