Six regional seas with extensive coral reefs incorporate tools for assessing drivers of coral reef resilience and for identifying and prioritizing actions that reduce the major anthropogenic pressures on coral reefs, in order to maintain their integrity and functioning.

A global partnership initiative among regional seas will promote policy coherence through common tools and approaches as well as strengthened implementation at the regional level, supporting resilient reefs and dependent communities.

In 2012 UNEP and Regional Seas programmes initiated development of a global partnership for ecosystem-based management of coral reefs. By leveraging the policy mandates, technical strengths and networks of participating institutions, the partnership will work towards coral reef management that is ecosystem-based, founded in sound science and assessment, and directly supports implementation of the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) Call to Action and Framework for Action.

Innovative and practical assessment and planning tools that enable ecosystem-based approaches to coral reef management will be developed at the global level and tested and refined through regional-level pilot interventions. Key themes include reef resilience, water quality, protected areas and fisheries. Adoption and broad scale application of tools and approaches at the regional and national level will be facilitated through Regional Seas programmes and associated networks. A community of practice for ecosystem-based management of coral reefs will enable key constituencies to take a greater role in addressing key challenges, providing a means for inter-regional learning, exchange of best practice, and fostering coherent and coordinated action.

UNEP, Regional Seas programs and associated networks