At a time when the world's coral reefs are experiencing the fourth global coral bleaching event, the 38th General Meeting of the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) took place between 9 - 13 September 2024, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, hosted by the General Organization for Conservation of Coral Reefs and Turtles in the Red Sea (SHAMS) and co-chaired by the United States of America, Department of State and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Ms. Susana Perera Valderrama, the Marine Biodiversity Programme Officer overseeing the implementation of the Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife Protocol (SPAW Protocol), represented the UNEP Cartagena Convention Secretariat as an ICRI member. Representatives from Caribbean member countries of ICRI, including Barbados, Belize, and Jamaica, were also present at the meeting.
ICRI and the UNEP Regional Seas have a long-standing partnership, noting 10 out of the 18 regional seas have coral reefs whilst six of those are members of ICRI:
- Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA)
- Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (PERSGA)
- Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
- South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP)
- The Nairobi Convention
- UNEP Caribbean Environment Programme
Key topics discussed included global efforts to protect coral reefs, strategies to combat coral bleaching, enhancing regional cooperation, and the need to engage, empower, and support youth in coral reef conservation. A Red Sea Forum preceded the 38th ICRI General Meeting, emphasizing the significance of the coral reefs in the Red Sea Region for global conservation efforts.
In addition to the ICRI General Meeting, Ms. Perera Valderrama participated in the steering committee of the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN), where she provided an update on activities conducted by the Caribbean node of the GCRMN coordinated by the SPAW Regional Activity Center (SPAW-RAC). This included a focus on preparing the Caribbean Coral Reef Status Report and its contribution to the global report. During the General Meeting, Susana joined a panel on coral bleaching moderated by Ms Jennifer Koss from NOAA, featuring representatives from various countries and organizations worldwide, including Australia, Maldives, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, and CORDIO (Coastal Ocean Research and Development in the Indian Ocean). Critical discussions at the panel revolved around the impacts of climate change on coral reefs, regional monitoring efforts, and the development of strategies to address coral bleaching events, particularly in light of the Fourth Global Bleaching Event, in which 75.0% of coral reefs worldwide have been impacted by bleaching-level heat stress (as of August 2024).
The meeting also highlighted the transition of ICRI chairmanship, with Saudi Arabia, through SHAMS taking on the role of ICRI Chair for the next three year's (2025 – 2027), focusing on strengthening global collaboration in coral reef conservation. Several documents were adopted, including a Resolution for the Red Sea Region, the Terms of Reference for the ICRI Youth Ad Hoc Committee, and the Ad Hoc Committee to Support the Development of a Motion to the IUCN World Conservation Congress. These documents highlight ICRI's commitment to cooperation and the development of effective strategies for coral reef conservation.
