The administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Dr. Jane Lubchenco called the Coral Triangle Initiative a “beacon of hope” in sustaining marine resources and “the broadest and deepest engagement in regional ocean governance to date.” Speaking at the opening of the 12th International Coral Reef Symposium in Cairns, Australia on July 9, 2012, Dr. Lubchenco lauded the CTI  as an example of leadership, multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary partnership, peer learning, and cutting edge scientific innovation.

The CTI’s unique regional approach to ocean governance is being keenly watched as a model for  multi-national partnership to develop and implement solutions that address food security in the face of climate change and ocean acidification.

Dr. Lubchenco said that CTI-CFF’s leadership, with its peer-to-peer learning and cooperation, has catalyzed innovation in the fields of resilience, EAFM, and management of ecosystem services. She further noted that the significance of CTI-CFF’s progress is three-fold:

•  This is perhaps the broadest and deepest engagement in regional ocean governance to date.
•   It is significant to the field of practice: EAFM has largely been theoretical until very recently.   To achieve significant advancements at the six-country regional level, national levels, and local levels in the span of one month is astounding.
•   This is one of the few examples of integrating adaptation to climate change and ocean acidification with fisheries’ food security.

Dr. Lubchenco met with Coral Triangle Initiative leadership and other representatives  at the symposium where she reaffirmed NOAA’s commitment to and support of the CTI as part of USAID’s five-year US CTI Support Program. NOAA has directed substantial technical assistance and resources to supporting CTI because of the significance of the region to biodiversity, food security, and its contribution to the field of practice.

Check out the full transcript of the plenary talk from NOAA's website.
Download the CTI-CFF and NOAA press release here.

Photo Captions
Upper Right (L-R): CTI-CFF Executive Chair Dr. Suseno Sukoyono, Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Dr. Sharifa Zarah Syed Ahmad, Prof. Nor Aieni Haji Mokhtar
Lower Right (L-R Standing): Dr. Darmawan, Dr. Johannes Subijanto, Nives Mattich, Peter Collier, Dr. Perry Alino, Iswari Budiastuti, Rusty Brainard, Rene Acosta, Agnetha Vave Karamui, Maurice Knight, Lynette Larroya, Payton Deeks, Dr.  Mundita Lim and Dr. Reuben Sulu (L-R Seated): Janna Shackeroff, Dr, Suseno Sukoyono, Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Dr. Sharifa Zarah Syed Ahmad, Prof. Nor Aieni Haji Mokhtar