Posted on December, 28 2011

The Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) Region-wide Early Action Plan for Climate Change Adaptation (REAP-CCA) for Nearshore Marine and Coastal Environment and Small Island Ecosystems was launched recently at the CTI Senior Officials Meeting and Ministerial Meetings held in Jakarta on October 25-28 2011.

The plan addresses existing and imminent threats to the Coral Triangle’s reefs, of which up to 90% in some areas are considered at risk because of unsustainable fisheries and climate change.

The REAP-CCA was developed with support from the US CTI Support Program, with major involvement from WWF, The Nature Conservancy and Conservation International. The REAP-CCA prioritizes immediate actions that governments, NGOs and communities can implement to reduce the impacts of climate change. It also provides guidance to build the resilience of the Coral Triangle’s coastal and marine resources that more than 120 million people depend upon for food security and livelihoods.

Some of the plan’s key actions include studying vulnerabilities, potential impacts, and risks of climate change on coastal zones and small islands; mainstreaming early warning systems for vulnerable coastal settlements as a result of impacts of climate change; and identifying possible financing mechanisms to support implementation of early actions.

The REAP-CCA provides a list of early actions identified by the 6 Coral Triangle countries as their immediate priorities. Climate-smart MPAs, mangrove rehabilitation, climate change policy, building capacity and a focus on awareness raising and communications all feature strong in countries’ priorities.

WWF has an important role in many of these areas and a key role in creating financing opportunities to support implementation of the REAP-CCA – especially through the Coral Triangle Climate Change Adaptation Marketplace currently in development.

To view the REAP-CCA click here.