International
Tropical
Marine
Ecosystems
Management
Symposium

ITMEMS 3
Global Problems, Local Solutions
Cozumel, Mexico
16-20 October 2006

Background

Local government can have a decisive leadership role in sustainable management of tropical marine ecosystems but is often the missing partner in discussion of management needs and possibilities. Now there are a growing number of examples where local governments have taken up the challenges.

A new ITMEMS event, the Local Government Leaders Forum, will seek to enable local government leaders to share their experiences and to identify priorities for closer and more effective involvement of local government in management of coral reef and tropical marine ecosystems.

The LGLF provides an opportunity for managers and scientists to learn of the issues, priorities, problems faced and successes achieved by local government in tropical marine environment management. Conversely, it provides an opportunity for local government leaders to learn of projects, management approaches and research that may be relevant to their work.

The hope is that the local government leaders will work as a group to inform and inspire other delegates on the work being done and the opportunities and needs for future programs. Importantly it provides the opportunity to identify future programs of collaboration and technical support so that good management practice is recognized and supported and is taken up more generally by local government in tropical coastal and island areas.

The LGLF is timely as the crucial roles of local government are being recognized in a growing number of international programs. Valuable support for the representation of local government leaders has been provided by World Bank GEF Coral Reef Targeted Research Program, which is presently investigating and analyzing global good practice in local government management of tropical marine environments.

The outcomes of the LGLF will be part of the report and recommendations to the International Coral Reef Initiative on priorities for the next 5 years. They will thus reach broader international policy discussions.

Participation

Ten Local Government leaders are expected to join the forum, representing all tropical marine regions. Short biographies of each leader will be distributed on-site at ITMEMS3 in addition to a sheet outlining relevant experiences and background.

The major event of the forum will be the three-hour plenary workshop on Wednesday 18 October where local government leaders will interact directly with ITMEMS participants. In the first part of the session, local government leaders will be briefly introduced to ITMEMS participants and asked to make a ten-minute presentation describing their local government and coral reef issues. The second part will allow ITMEMS participants to ask questions of the LGLF.

Outcomes

The Local Government Leaders Statement will form a key part of the Proceedings of the Symposium. It will be presented in the final session of ITMEMS3 and in the meeting of the International Coral Reef Initiative on October 22 and 23. Through these means, it will reach a broader audience of international organisations and global program managers. It therefore provides an opportunity for local government leaders to highlight the key steps that they would like to see taken to support and enhance their work in managing tropical marine environments and natural resources.

Schedule

Sunday 15 October

1830 - Reception and cultural event to welcome participants - hosted by the Municipality of Cozumel

Monday 16 October

0830 -1230: Official opening and initial plenary session of ITMEMS3
1430 - 1700: Opportunity for local government leaders to participate in regional caucuses

Tuesday 17 October

0900- 1200: Closed workshop for local government leaders and advisors to discuss arrangements for plenary session and priority issues for local government
1300-1700: Lunch and tour of Cozumel local government leaders led by host Mayor Ortega

Wednesday 18 October

0730 -0920: High-level breakfast for local government leaders
0930 - 1300: Local Government Plenary session
1430 - 1600: Local government leaders and advisors to develop recommendations and action priorities for inclusion in the ITMEMS3 statement
1600 - 1730: Opportunity for local government leaders to take part in open networking session in plenary poster area

Thursday 19 October

0900 - 1100: Local government leaders finalize LGLF Action Statement
1100 - 1300: Press conference for local government leaders

List of participating Local Government Leaders

Name and Title	Country
Mayor Edward S. Hagendorn, City Mayor, Puerto Principesa City AND Vice Mayor Lucilo de Bayron Note: Mayor Hagendorn will be accompanied by Technical Director Michael Pido	Philippines
Hon. Hernani A. Braganza, Mayor of the City of Alaminos , Pangasinan	Philippines
Mr. Mahboub Juma Issa Mayor, Zanzibar Municipal Council	Tanzania
Mayor Tariki Matenga Jnr Mayor of Takitumea, Rarotonga	Cook Islands
Mr. Ratu Aisea Katonivere Paramount Chief and Chairman of the Provincial Council of Ma cuata. Since June 2006, he has also represented his province in the Senate as one of fourteen nominees of the Great Council of Chiefs. Full title: Caumatalevu na Turaga na Tui Macuata , which is usually abbreviated to Tui Macuata. For more information about Chief Ratu, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aisea_Katonivere	Fiji Islands
Mr. Joseph Jerome Harris Former Mayor of Honolulu, Hawaii, USA	Hawaii , USA
Mr. Galen Kazaz Deputy Administrator of Madang Province , Papua New Guinea	Papua New Guinea
Ann Bunnell Deputy Mayor of Townsville , Queensland	Australia