Collaboration for Coral Reef Conservation in a Changing Climate
20-24 June 2010: Phuket, Thailand
This important forum was organised in cooperation with numerous other organisations and supporters, and hosted by the Marine Biodiversity Research Group at the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ramkhamhaeng University in Phuket, Thailand. The symposium theme 'Collaboration for Coral Reef Conservation in a Changing Climate' reflected major topics of global significance and challenges that are increasingly confronting us. A comprehensive programme was designed to explore a variety of results from researchers in the Asia-Pacific, a region significant for its unique natural resources and socio-economic diversity. It houses over 50% of the world's marine species. Coral reefs are also among the most important marine ecosystems in this region, supporting the high human populations here. Most people depend on the reefs as a source of their livelihood, mainly from fisheries and tourism. Nevertheless, this has associated problems and threats causing the destruction of reefs. These threats need to be addressed quickly, besides also taking into consideration the possible impacts of climate change to the ecosystems in this region. Through this forum, coral reef scientists and managers in the region as well as from other countries came together to share their experiences and discuss on the way forward to address these concerns.
Overall, participants from around 30 countries attended the symposium. There were 12 prominent keynote speeches, 23 mini-symposia, four workshops, six student competition sessions, a poster session, and special meetings during the symposium.
Participants listening to the speeches delivered at the Symposium
Participants had the opportunity to assimilate the most recent scientific information available about all aspects of coral reef biology, ecology, conservation and management, especially in the Asia-Pacific region. Current scientific knowledge about coral reefs in the region with future research themes needed for coral reefs conservation and management were summarised at the symposium.
Exhibition booths at the Symposium
Miss Cheryl Rita Kaur from MIMA presented a paper at the symposium on 'Management of Marine Parks in Malaysia: An Assessment of the Effectiveness, Challenges Faced and Future Outlook'. She highlighted the current management strategies applied in East Malaysia in comparison to West Malaysia, the threats faced, as well as the way forward for more effective MPA management in the country. Among the suggestions were for sound policies to be developed based on collaborative researches. This is as information needed has to come from many disciplines and not just marine biology or ecology. She elaborated that it would not only serve as an important tool in convincing policy-makers as to the need for more judicious development of marine park islands, but also support the day-to-day running of marine parks and contribute towards the development of management plans, zoning systems or the application of various tools for MPA management. She further stressed on the importance of undertaking actions identified in the National Plan of Action (NPOA) for MPAs under the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) in the country to safeguard the marine ecosystems.
