32
July 2008
As of October 2008, immediate actions have
been implemented as follows:
Priority action 1:
Seek high government support from
Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines
for the adoption of the Conservation
Plan for SSME
High-level adoption of the conservation
plan for SSME was achieved through
a ministerial signing of a Tri-national
Memorandum of Understanding between
the governments of Indonesia, Malaysia,
and the Philippines.
The Sulu-Sulawesi ecoregion-level action
plan provides for the use of the framework
for NMPA “…as guide in designing MPA
networks in the SSME and establishing and
managing functional integrated network
of priority conservation areas to ensure
ecological integrity…” (Stakeholders of the
SSME, et al., 2004). The adoption of the ECP,
in eff ect, adopted the framework.
Priority action 2:
Communicate the framework in various
forums to seek support and resources
for the use of NMPA in conservation and
sustainable development
The framework was presented, discussed,
communicated, or distributed at the
following international events, among
others:
• World Parks Congress, Durban,
South Africa, September 2003 – oral
presentation (Romero, et al., 2003)
• 1st East Asian Seas Congress, Putrajaya,
Malaysia, December 2003 – oral
presentation and journal publication
(Miclat, et al., 2006)
• 7th Conference of Parties for the
Convention on Biological Diversity,
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, February
2004 – published copies exhibited and
distributed at the WWF Exhibit Booth
• 10th International Coral Reef
Symposium, Okinawa, Japan, July
2004 – oral presentation (Llewellyn, et
al., 2004)
• International MPA Congress, Geelong,
Australia, November 2005 – abstract
submitted; copies shared (Miclat, et al.,
2005)
• Workshop on Learning Partnership for
MPA Networks, Tagaytay, Philippines,
May 2008 – presented by CI-Philippines
(Miclat, 2008)
Priority action 3:
Publish the framework, disseminate,
solicit feedback from MPA experts, and
pilot-test to provide basis for refi nement
The framework was published in 2004
and disseminated for the fi rst time at the
Convention on Biological Diversity - 7th
Conference of Parties in February 2004.
In 2008, Conservation International (CI)
pioneered the use of the Framework
through the Sulu-Sulawesi Seascape
Project.
Pilot-testing the Framework
The Walton-funded SSS Project is being
implemented in Indonesia, Malaysia and
Philippines through 32 partners engaged
during the project’s fi rst phase (2005-2008).
The partnership with the Marine Research
Foundation (MRF), based in Sabah, made
possible the review of existing information
about sea turtles in Sulu-Sulawesi, the
compilation of known critical areas for sea
turtles, and the drafting of a design for a
transboundary MPA network for sea turtles.
The reviews provided the fi rst opportunity
to use the SSME Framework for NMPA. As
a result, the draft design for NMPA for sea
turtles in the framework was refi ned (Table
1) through the incorporation of relevant
current management practices, research
and monitoring needs (Pilcher, 2008).
A Useful Resource
The SSME Framework for NMPAs is a
product of a tedious technical process
participated in by 32 MPA experts and
practitioners, with experiences in networks
of MPAs (e.g., Red Sea, Great Barrier Reef,
Northwestern Australia). However, the
framework – a highly valuable material, is
underutilized. Currently, its application is
limited to CI’s SSS Project.
While implementation of the framework’s
action plans is limited, it is worth
highlighting the following:
1. From 2004-2005, the WWF was mostly
responsible for implementing the
immediate action priorities which the
MPA experts set for the framework
during its formulation in 2003.
2. The review and refi nement of the
Jüergen Freund
33
Tropical Coasts
framework has been incorporated
in the workplan of the Tri-national
subcommittee for MPAs and Networks
and approved at the 2nd Meeting of
the Tri-National Committee for SSME in
April 2007.
3. The pilot-testing of the framework
under the CI-SSS Project contributes
to the implementation of the
immediate action priorities for the
framework. The experience of the MRF
in designing a network of MPAs for
sea turtles, highlights the usefulness
of the framework as evidenced by
the remarkable overlap between the
framework and the actual conservation
needs and actions on the ground.
There is an increasing recognition of
the added value of networks of MPAs to
conservation and sustainable development
over a single MPA and a growing interest
to pursue network establishment. The
Coral Triangle Initiative which includes
NMPAs, spurs enthusiasm among MPA
scientists and practitioners to pick up the
SSME Framework for NMPAs. CI, for its part,
will continue to promote the framework,
contribute to the review and refi nement
through its membership in the Tri-National
Committee for SSME, and communicate
the encouraging results on the use of the
framework to provide the impetus for
others to try it. It will contribute to planning
and establishment of MPA networks
through partnerships, not only in Sulu-
Sulawesi but in other seascapes.
References
Llewellyn, G., E. Miclat, L. Wilson, K. Kassem,
M. McField, and I. Kamau. 2004. “Building
Networks of Marine Protected Areas: Lessons
from Five Large-scale Marine Conservation
Eff orts in Tropical Coral Reef Systems.”
Presented at the 10th International Coral
Reef Symposium held in Okinawa, Japan.
Available at: wwwsoc.nii.ac.jp/jcrs/icrs2004/
img/05oral_149-208.pdf.
Llewellyn, G., R. Kenchington, E. Miclat, R. Trono
and A. Cabanban (eds). 2004. Framework for
a Network of Marine Protected Areas in the
Sulu-Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion. World Wide
Fund for Nature (WWF) Sulu-Sulawesi Marine
Ecoregion Conservation Program, Quezon City,
Philippines. 48 p.
Miclat, E.F.B. 2008. CI-Philippines: Introducing
the “Framework for Network of MPAs for
Sulu-Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion” to the
MPA Learning Partnership. Presented at the
Workshop on Learning Partnership for MPA
Networks, Tagaytay, Philippines, May 2008.
Under the auspices of USAID-supported project
entitled “Eff ective Design and Management
of Tropical Marine Protected Area Networks
through Cross-Institutional Learning.”
Miclat, E.F.B. and R.B. Trono. 2008. “One Vision,
One Plan, Common Resources, Joint
Management.” Tropical Coasts 15(1).
“Conserving the Sulu and Sulawesi Seas.”
(This issue.)
Miclat, E.F.B. and R.B. Trono (eds). 2002. A Vision
for Life: Biodiversity conservation planning for
the Sulu-Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion. WWF-
Philippines, Quezon City, Philippines. 289 p.
(In CD).
Miclat, E.F.B., J.A. Ingles, and J.N.B. Dumaup.
2006. “Planning across Boundaries for the
Conservation of the Sulu-Sulawesi Marine
Ecoregion.” Oceans and Coastal Management
49:597-609.
Miclat, E.F.B., G. Llewellyn, R. Kenchington and A.
Cabanban. 2005. “Developing a Framework
for a Network of Marine Protected Areas in
the Sulu-Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion.” IMPAC
(International MPA Congress), Geelong,
Australia, November 2005. Abstract.
Noss, .R.F. 1992. “The Wildlands Project: Land
Conservation Strategy.” Wild Earth Special Issue
– The Wildlands Project 10-25.
Pilcher, N.J., 2008. A Network of Protected Areas to
Safeguard Marine Turtles in the Sulu-Sulawesi
Seascape. Conservation International -
Philippines. Quezon City, Philippines. 35 pp.
Roberts, C.M., S. Andelman, G. Branch, R.H.
Bustamante, J.C. Castilla, J. Dugan, B.S. Halpern,
K.D. Laff erty, H. Leslie, J. Lubchenco, D. McArdie,
J.P. Possingham, M. Ruckelshaus, and R.R.
Warner. 2003. “Ecological Criteria for Evaluating
Candidate Sites for Marine Reserves.” Ecol Applic
13(1):199-214.
Romero, F.G., J. Ingles, R.B. Trono, J.N. Dumaup, J.A.
Palma, E. Miclat, P. Basintal and R. Cruz. “Turtle
Islands Heritage Protected Area: Challenges
and Opportunities for Transboundary
Protection of Marine Turtles in the Sulu-
Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion.” Presented at
the 5th World Parks Congress, Durban, South
Africa, 7-18 September 2003. 6 p.
Stakeholders of the SSME, Technical Working
Groups of Indonesia, Malaysia and the
Philippines, WWF-SSME Conservation
Program. 2004. Conservation Plan for the Sulu-
Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion. Dumaup, J.N.B.,
R.M. Cola, R.B. Trono, J.A. Ingles, E.F.B. Miclat and
N.P. Ibuna (eds.). World Wide Fund for Nature-
Sulu-Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion Program
(WWF-SSME), Quezon City, Philippines. 168 pp.
Jüer
gen F
reund