Objectives and Activities

As described in the project LogFrame the objectives of GCRMN South Asia are to:

Enhance the capacity among national & regional counterparts to develop & implement coral reef monitoring programmes:

We have undertaken biophysical and socio economic training programmes across the region. Biophysical monitoring is now undertaken on a regular basis in each country. The capacity to collect and analyse the socio economic status of reef stakeholders is at a level where it is increasingly being accepted as an intrinsic part of the information networks in each country.

We have developed an information storage system for the region and have provided training for its use. This has provided a medium for the movement of information both within countries, across the region and to the international stage.

Develop monitoring systems for the biophysical & socio-economic aspects of coral reefs designed & adapted for national, regional & global use:

We have developed a network of over 150 partners representing user groups, NGOs, Universities, Government Agencies, Government Ministries and International Donors, who are regularly updated with coral reef news and information from across the region.

Our work with donor funded initiatives within the region (ADB, DFID, AUSAID, UNDP GEF, SAREC) has helped to coordinate international efforts at the local level.

We have created coral reef forums in Sri Lanka and the Maldives which bring together a wide variety of coral reef stakeholders to share information and ideas about issues relevant to them.

Enable processes for more effective use of coral reef monitoring to contribute to coral reef management planning:

We have undertaken research to better understand the formal institutional information requirements within the three countries to support more effective production dissemination of information and to enhance the capacity of managers and policy makers to make decisions that adequately reflect the benefits of coral reefs.

We have provided training and guidance in techniques for using information to inform and influencing all stakeholders who affect and are affected by the benefits provided by coral
reefs.

Generate awareness & understanding of issues related to sustainable use & management of coral reefs:

We produce and distribute regular newsletters to all partners within the network which provides information on recent activities from both within the region and from the international arena. News and information is also displayed on our website which is continuously up-dated.

Working through the Sri Lanka Coral Reef Forum and with small research initiatives we have facilitated the production of materials to advise donors and managers on ways to increase the effectiveness of funding initiatives at the local level.

GCRMN socio economic studies have been translated into the local language of the Lakshadweep and are being used to educate the local community in traditional methods of reef conservation and use.

The MOEF in India is now funding NGOs and Universities to research coral reefs and mangroves within India which demonstrates: 1. Coral reefs are now on the agenda of the MOEF 2: A healthy relationship between the MOEF and the non governmental sector which is being fostered by the Indian Coral Reef Monitoring Network.

Working alongside the three national networks the GCRMN can only be effective if we in South Asia can build strong networks within the three countries. The work of the national coordinators is therefore essential to this process. The onus is not just on the national GCRMN national coordinators to assist this process but also on the institutions and organisations within each of the country to take ownership. The foundations of this structure are the primary resource users and unless we generate and present appropriate information our work to ensure the sustainable flow of benefits from corals reefs cannot be effective at the local level.