Implementing Local Action Strategies and the Puerto Rico Resolution Proposal to the

1. Implementing Local Action Strategies and the Puerto Rico Resolution Proposal to the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force October 3, 2003 Saipan, CNMI

2. Past successes, existing needs… National ActionPlan National ActionStrategy How can the Task Force better support implementationto reach goals and objectives? ?

3. Puerto Rico Resolution (Oct 2002) • Identified 4 Key Needs for Progress: • Prioritize Actions • Improve Coordination • Track Performance • Increase Capacity (e.g. human resources)

4. Puerto Rico ResolutionHow Strengthen Implementation? Needs:Solutions: • Prioritize Actions 1. Focus on 6 key threats. • Increase Coordination 2. 3-year Local Action and Collaboration Strategies on 6 threats. Regional Subcommittees. 3. Track Performance 3. Improve metrics. Build tracking system. • Build Capacity 4. Increase support ($, detailees, joint efforts, tech assistance)

5. Need 1: Prioritize Actions Response: Focus on 6 Key Threats • Land-based Sources of Pollution • Overfishing • Lack of Public Awareness • Recreational Overuse • Climate Change and Coral Bleaching • Disease

6. Need 2: Increase Coordination • Targets: • Local to National levels • Across agencies • Regional levels • Stakeholders, other partners National Regional Local Local Agencies Fed Agencies

7. Need 2: Increase Coordination Responses: • 1. Develop 3-year Local Action Strategies: • Developed by state, territory, commonwealth, • federal partners for priority Focus Areas. • Establish 2 Regional Subcommittees: • - To help coordinate and implement LASs etc (Caribbean and Pacific) • Integrate LAS into regional-national priorities • To increase support for local-level action.

8. Call for Local Action Strategies • 3-year, local level “work plans” outlining goals, objectives, specific projects to address 6 key threats to coral reef ecosystems. • Strategic not comprehensive (implement parts of existing plans e.g., EEMP, non-point source program) • Collaborative road maps developed jointly by state, territory, federal, and nongovt partners. • Tool to increase coordination, collaboration. • Tool to increase support and effectiveness

9. Need 3: Increase Capacity • Findings: • Lack of capacity to support USCRTF • - no staff, resources • - Steering Committee limitations • 2. Lack of capacity to support All Islands Committee • 3. Lack of capacity to implement the new process (and other actions)

10. Need 3: Increase Capacity Responses: 1. Establish Task Force secretariat. • Support All Islands Initiative Secretariat • Strengthen capacity at all levels with emphasis on human capacity at local level • (e.g. $, detailees, assistantships, joint projects, technical support, etc)

11. Current Status

12. Focus Area FL PR USVI HI AS GUAM CNMI Land Based Pollution Fishing Impacts Recreational Overuse Lack of Awareness Climate Disease Progress Report: Local Action Strategies

13. Significant Support for Local Action Strategies • Leadership • Core Teams • Federal Navigators (4 agencies) • Local Navigators • Participants, Stakeholders • Funding • Guidance, template, database • Regional Technical Workshops

14. Significant Support for Local Action Strategies • Regional Technical Workshops: • Climate Change, Bleaching, & Coral Reefs (Hawaii, June 03; EPA, DOI, NOAA) • 2. Land Based Sources of Pollution • (Hawaii, June 03; USDA, EPA) • 3. Managing Recreational Overuse/Misuse (USVI, Aug 03; NOAA, DOI)

15. Results • Significantly increased participation and collaboration among govt partners at local levels. • Engaged hundreds of stakeholders and other partners in key actions to reduce threats to reefs. • Most rigorous effort by USCRTF to identify key requirements for tangible action.

16. Results • Commitment of new resources. • Identified additional grants and other opportunities not previously tapped to support local efforts. • Significant limitations in ability to take advantage of new opportunities (e.g., capacity to manage additional proposals)

17. Results • Continued support and resources required to complete and implement Local Action Strategies. • Important opportunity to build on existing momentum to achieve goals of Puerto Rico Resolution.

18. DOI National Action Plan Local Action Strategies DOC National Strategy DOD FAS USDA CNMI Pacific Subcommittee EPA Guam Coral ReefTaskForce DOS AS Steering Committee & Working Groups Local Coral Teams All Islands Committee NASA HI AID Caribbean Subcommittee PR NSF USVI DOT FL DOJ

19. Recommended Next Steps (proposed resolution) • Recognize significant progress to implement Puerto Rico Resolution. • Affirm need to continue implementation • Affirm that all members will actively participate and support local jurisdictions in implementing Local Action Strategies.

20. Recommended Next Steps (Proposed Resolution) • Members will assist in: • 1. Finalizing Local Action Strategies. • Completing any addition LASs. • Implementing LAS as soon as possible.

21. Implement LAS as soon as possible: • Inventory opportunities • Identify resources • Identify gaps/needs • Identify lead federal agencies • Provide progress reports on implementation at each TF meeting • Implementation dependent on increased funding and capacity support; may take time. • Evaluate role, effectiveness of Regional Subcommittees

22. Recommended Next Steps (Proposed Resolution) • Track implementation of LAS and progress towards goals: • Members assist in developing system. • Members develop proposal to update the U.S. National Action Strategy in 2004 • Incorporate LAS etc for TF report