Webinar on Conservation Finance in the Coral Triangle held

2 – 4 June 2020 - RS is gearing towards implementing steps in adopting various methods in achieving the aim of not to depend too much on the country contributions as a source of fund for supporting the activities of RS for the CT6 countries. This include adopting the practice of Sustainable Financing which include the development of Conservation Trust Fund.

 

Most members of the CT6 countries NCC are not well verse or fully understand on what is meant by trust fund - its set-up, its administration as well as its management aspects. In view of these facts, RS through several meetings held with Dr David Meyer and Dr Martin Callow had successfully, with the support of Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and Conservation Finance Alliance (CFA), organized and led a three-day webinar on Conservation Financing in Coral Triangle to representatives of the CT6 Member Countries.

 

Dr. David Meyers, the Executive Director of Conservation Finance Alliance served as the lead presenter who discussed about conservation financing - providing its elements, with examples and challenges. Mr. Yabanex Batista, CEO of Caribbean Biodiversity Fund and Mr. Willy Kotska, Director of Micronesia Conservation Trust had also been invited to convey and share their expertise and insights on the trust funds they are leading now as well as the projects and initiatives involved.

 

Dr. Martin Callow, WCS Regional Director for Southeast Asian Archipelago said that the webinar is also intended to help identify the challenges and to show the support needed in the design of finance mechanism to bring people and organizations together to deliver on the ground conservation that RS intends to provide in the coming years.

 

“It is hoped that this webinar would be an opportunity of CTI-CFF Member Countries to dive deeper into the understandings on financing mechanisms available and thus will further see the steps that RS is taking in developing sustainable financing and inspire the progress of CTI-CFF in developing together the trust fund and achieving  other related objectives within the current Regional Plan of Action (RPOA) and RPOA 2.0,” Dr. Mohd Kushairi Mohd Rajuddin, Executive Director of CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat said.

 

The webinar had also become a part of WCS projects on Marine Biodiversity and Support of Coastal Fisheries in the Coral Triangle which are being supported by KFW and the European Union.

 

It is unfortunate however, that not many CTI-CFF members attended this Webinars, probably of the present conditions of some countries are facing. RS is hereby urged that those representatives of the NCCs who had attended the webinar will be able to elaborate and explain to members that were unable to attend the webinars on the presentations and documents from the webinars in which RS is providing. The understandings of Sustainable Financing mechanisms and Trust Fund implementation steps are important. RS will be discussing further with WCS, AFC as well as with the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund and Micronesia Conservation Trust to help develop Conservation Trust Fund for CTI-CFF organization for the benefit of CT6 countries in achieving Sustainable Financing.

 

Participants

 

Indonesia

Dr. Hendra Yusran Siry

 

Malaysia

Ms. Malisa Mat Noor

Mr. Husni Alhan Bin Md Salimun (June 2 only)

 

Papua New Guinea

Mr. Timothy Mais

Mr Vagi Rei

Mr James Sabi

Mr Benside Thomas

Ms Yvonne Tio

Mr David Kau

Mr Bernard Suruman

Ms Lisa Bun

Ms. Phelameya Haiveta

Mr. Elliot Tovaboda (June 2 and 3 )

 

Philippines

Ms. Izel Ibardaloza (June 3 and 4 only)

 

Solomon Islands

Ms. Agnetha Vave-Karamui

Ms. Tsatsa Seimarlie

Ms. Gladys Luahiti (June 3 only)

Ms. Duta Kauhiona (June 2 only)

 

Regional Secretariat

Dr. Mohd Kushairi Mohd Rajuddin

Dr. Sharifah Nora Ibrahim

Mr. Gustaaf Lumiu (June 4 only)

Dr. Gregory Bennett

Ms. Janet Rosalie Anne Polita

Mr. Ayodya Satryo Anngorojato

Ms. Inri Tamarindang