Coral Triangle Local Government Leaders Push for Regional Engagement
On December 6, 2012, local government leaders from Coral Triangle member countries - Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, and Solomon Islands- gathered in Manila, Philippines and signed a declaration advocating for stronger and more direct engagement with the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security (CTI-CFF) and its bodies including the CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat and National Coordinating Committees.
Faced with the growing and common challenges of climate change impacts, destructive fishing practices, and pollution among others, the local leaders expressed urgency and commitment to work with national and regional counterparts and with each other to implement Regional and National Plans of Action of CTI-CFF. The signing which capped a four-day CTI Local Governance Network Forum held from December 3-6m 2012 builds on a series of important regional efforts to strengthen the role of local governments in the governance of marine and coastal management. The Philippines League of Municipalities, who hosted the event in collaboration with Philippine Government and USAID’s US CTI Support Program, has committed to serve as home of the Local Governance Network for a period of two years to ensure its institutionalization and sustainability.
Caption: From L-R: Premier Paul Jackson Kiloe, Premier George Solingi Lilo, Mayor Eutiquio Bernales, Mayor Pedro Trinidad, Mayor Juan Sanchez, Mayor Melchor Nacario, Hon. John Micah, Ms. Ferdinanda Louhenapessy, Bupati Dr. I Nyoman Sutjidra and Bupati Hugua. Credit: USCTI
Follow this link to see more photos from the CTI Local Government Forum at the US CTI Support Program Facebook page.
Download a copy of the CTI LGN Manila Declaration here:
