The State of the Coral Triangle Report (SCTR)

The SCTR is a living document that covers the status of critical ecosystems, species, resources, threats, and progress towards the CTI goals and targets. It is intended to be an evolving report that will support monitoring and evaluation instead of a one-time initiative.

Purpose

The State of the Coral Triangle  Report is intended to serve as:

  • valuable documentation of existing scientific and economic knowledge in thematic areas;
  • an informative tool for knowledge-based management; and
  • a reference document for ‘hands-on’ training and capacity building at the national and local level.

The SCTR can also provide the basis for identification of targeted pilot projects for possible implementation by CTI NCCs and other stakeholders. By serving multiple purposes, the report will become a key tool for building continued regional cooperation within the CTI.

Content

The content  will cover the following areas:

  • biophysical characteristics
  • governance
  • socio economic characteristics
  • threats and vulnerabilities
  • plan of action initiatives and future plans

Country Updates on the Preparation of National SCTRs

Country and Lead Writer
Updates

Indonesia

Dr. Dirhamsyah, LIPI

  • week 2 or 3 February 2012 - tentative date for Indonesia's SCTR second writeshop. The goal is to consolidate and finalize the first draft of Indonesia SCTR for circulation and peer review. (by Lydia Napitupulu)
  • 15 January 2012 - About half of the materials assigned to writers were collected. Some of the materials were in Bahasa Indonesia. Additional submissions were submitted a few weeks after. The main writer, Dr. Dirhamsyah, of the Indonesia Institute of Sciences, is currently compiling the submissions for a first draft of the document. (by Lydia Napitupulu)
  • 1-2 November 2011 - Indonesia conducted a writeshop for the SCTR, which was attended by the main writers of the document. The writers reached agreement on the agenda of the meeting, the allocation of sub-chapters amongst the writers, a detailed workplan for the completion of the document, as well as a list of resources which will be needed to steer through the document until its completion as a final product (e.g. editors, printing etc). It was agreed that writers will share documents, data and other information through a special folder which would be created under the Indonesia NCC website. The date of 15 January 2012 was set a the date for the submission of draft sections to Dr. Dirhamsyah, the lead writer of the publication. (by Lydia Napitupulu)
  • October 2011 - Dr. Suharsono, Director of the Research Center for Oceanography of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia [LIPI]), and Dr. Dirhamsyah, LIPI Researcher,  met with Ms. Abbie Trinidad, RETA Team Leader, and Dr. Porfirio Aliño, DSS Specialist, in a series of meetings in Jakarta from 3-5 October 2011. Dr. Dirhamsyah was designated as the writer of Indonesia’s SCTR.

    During a formal meeting with other SCTR contributors, Dr. Aliño discussed decision support systems and tools as a complement to the SCTR writing process. LIPI and the Coral Triangle Support Partnership (CTSP) sponsored the gathering.  Indonesian officials also held an internal consultation to draft a matrix of agency assignments and a work plan to guide the writing of the report. A writeshop is planned in November 2011 to complete their report. (by Lourdes Caballero)

Malaysia

Jasmin Saad, OceanResearch

  • December 2011 - Progress is under way for Chapters II, III (done) and IV. A workshop is being planned sometime in January 2012 to develop Chapters V and VI.  Information from the other chapters will be compiled from various references.
  • October 2011 - Resources and materials for the Malaysian Chapter of the SCTR were compiled.

Papua New Guinea

Augustine Mungkaje, University of Papua New Guinea

  • November 2011 - The SCTR working group started their meeting in July 2011. TNC funded a writer’s workshop in August 2011, which was attended by the chapter and section writers. The writers have been invited to spend some time at the Motupore Marine Station so that they can write their respective sections which will be integrated subsequently. The NCC reported that a first version of the SCTR will be ready by early December. This version can be uploaded on the project portal to invite comments.

Philippines

Samuel Mamauag, University of the Philippines-MSI

  • January 2012 - The second writeshop is scheduled on 5-6 January at ADB.
  • November 2011 - The first writeshop was held from 16-18 November 2011 at the International Rice Research Institute in Los Banos, Laguna, which resulted in a first draft of the document.
  • October 2011 - The SCTR working group had a planning meeting on 26 August, which was attended by representatives of the various agencies.  A technical assistant has been identified to help the SCTR writers, and the agencies involved have started gathering data for the planned writeshop in November. Also, Mr. Jake Meimban, Director of the Coastal and Marine Management Office, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, has been designated as the new focal person for the Philippine SCTR. He replaced Ms. Norma M. Molinyawe, OIC-Chief, Biodiversity Management Division, Protected Area and Wildlife Bureau.

Solomon Islands

Dr. Reuben Sulu, University of South Pacific

  • December 2011 - The team aims to have a final draft by mid-December 2011 and a final draft by January 2011.
  • November 2011 - Since July 2011, the writing team for the SCTR country section has met thrice. These meetings in July, August, and October were held for the purpose of sharing status reports, research data, and other results and to set small targets in writing. Lead author, Dr. Reuben Sulu, provided updates at the monthly meetings of the NCC. Although progress has been slow, mostly due to other work commitments, the team continues to write their respective sections.
    One reason for the slow progress of the team is the unavailability of recent data, although NGO partners will make these available at a later date. Some partners have requested for a memorandum of understanding before they can make the data available.

Timor-Leste

Rui Pinto, CTSP/UniQuest

  • November 2011 - Knowledge Integrator Rui Pinto has committed to writing the report. Government will assess whether further assistance is required in completing the report.

 

Events Related to the SCTR

  • International Coral Reef Symposium - To highlight the SCTR of the countries, a Pre-Conference Symposium to the International Coral Reef Symposium, is being organized by the Project in coordination with the Australian Government. The Symposium is tentatively titled “Harnessing Knowledge in the Coral Triangle: Learning from the Past, Looking to the Future”.  It is scheduled for 7 July 2012, starting at 1:30 pm to about 5:30 pm, prior to the scientific sessions which are organized from 9 -13 July 2012.

    The Pre-Conference Symposium shall feature seven presentations and one commentary from a member of the Science Advisory Committee. Each of the six CT countries will have a member of the National CTI Coordinating Committee present highlights of the SCTR. If ready, there will be a presentation of the Regional SCTR. The last presentation shall be on the results of the Study on the Fisheries and Aquaculture Economics of the Coral Triangle (E-FACT) which shall be presented by one of the Senior Officials of the CT countries.

Related Links

Contact Person

For questions regarding the preparation of the SCTR, email Dr. Edgardo D. Gomez, Marine Science Specialist. Do email us news of your progress so that we can post the updates on this site.