CTI MPA Working Group Workshop for Coral Triangle Marine Protected Areas System

Local/ Municipality based MPA awards
Ms. Rina Rosales of the Ecofish Project briefly discussed the experience of implementing the PA recognition and awards at the local/municipal level. She mentioned that the process was also based on Para El Mar. These local awards provided a venue for coastal communities to have a healthy competition that gears towards effectively managing their MPAs. She mentioned that the awards have encouraged communities to improve their MPA management, promote transparency, and enhance their sense of ownership of their MPAs. She said that the platform to establish tangible awards has to rely on the private sector for its initial implementation with the hope that the regional and local government offices will later on recognize and eventually adopt the award system for sustainability. Ms. Rosales also shared that there is a tool being developed to determine the socio-economic characteristics of the MPAs, namely the SEAT (Socio-Economic Assessment Tool). The form is much simpler than MEAT and it checks the incomes and employment impacts from the MPA conservation. She added that the winners from these local awards were then submitted as nominees to Para El Mar, as a way of mainstreaming them with a national award system.

Indonesia
Indonesia MPA status (E-KKP3K)
Mr. Suraji showed the five levels of the grading system they have for MPAs that has 17 criteria and 74 questions. These determine whether an MPA is initiated, established (bronze), managed minimum (silver), optimally managed or sustain/self – reliant (gold). He explained that the evaluators are from the government, NGOs and academe. They also give recognition to local partners/ NGOs. He mentioned that they also have minimal financial incentives, however, the winners were given priority access to development funds and become priority areas for management. These MPAs are also provided with mentoring partnerships with NGOs, special programs, and are also the ones that get nominated for the CTMPAS recognition. He also mentioned that the processes involved are in their website and is available in Bahasa and English. The highlight of his presentation was how the creation of a mobile application has made the whole process more accessible and easier to monitor.

Malaysia
Management Effectiveness Assessment Tool (MEAT) Malaysia 2014
Mr. Ab Rahim Gor Yaman also shared Malaysia’s experience in assessing management effectiveness in Malaysia. He mentioned that they also use a management effectiveness assessment tool where they modified the MPA MEATto the needs of their MPAs. He explained that a MPA site is being assessed by three different groups (i.e., managers, external auditor, and clients). During his presentation, he highlighted the comparison of the results of the different groups who assessed the MPAs. He explained how important the perception of the tourists was as it serves as a feedback on how effective their initiatives are in an MPA. Mr. Gor Yaman mentioned that the tool was developed by various agencies and is mostly implemented by the Ministry on Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) for tourism.

Workshop 3: Proposal to conduct the Regional MPA Recognition Awards
Mr. John Erick Avelino presented the draft Regional MPA Recognition System. He mentioned that the objectives of the Recognition system are the following:
1. to encourage the CT6 countries and MPA managers to pursue outstanding MPA management levels;
2. to document and share best practices on MPA management in the coral Triangle; and
3. to recognize and provide incentives to the well-managed MPAs in the CT Region.
Mr. Avelino also discussed the categories and the mechanics of the recognition system (Annex 5). He highlighted in his presentation the need to sustain the efforts of the MPA and the need to include an additional category for a lifetime achievement award. It is also envisioned that sites selected as Categories 3 and 4 shall be re-evaluated every two (2) years to monitor the sustainability of their initiatives. The first recognition system will build on the first two rounds of nominations.
The presentation was followed by discussions from the participants:
 Ms. Luz Baskiñas emphasized the need to encourage partnerships with the private sector, mass media (e.g., Time Magazine) to promote the results of the CTMPAS. She added that for its first year, the Regional MPA Recognition Awards should create a high impact and mileage by publishing the results in an international publication/magazine.
 It was also noted that instead of an Awards System, the CTI may be able to come up with a trademark for recognizing MPAs of regional significance (e.g., ASEAN Heritage Parks, World Heritage Parks).
 Mr. Suraji also highlighted the need to recognize individuals/institutions that were instrumental in promoting the management effectiveness of MPAs.
 Participants also recommended considering the country’s MPA evaluation system in developing the recognition system.
 Ms. Baskiñas also mentioned the importance of highlighting the impact level of the MPAs in the development of the recognition system.
 Ms. Rosales added that the MPA must be able to show its contribution to the national and regional development objectives. She stated that MPAs should be linked with the larger goals of the country for a larger audience to take notice.
 Mr. AJ Lumba also noted that the form is not meant to promote competition among MPAs. He mentioned that one of the options is to equally recognize the MPAs.
 Ms. Evangeline Miclat said that the Working Group should be given time to review the general context and refine the system of recognition so it may dismiss the perception of having the MPAs compete with each other.
Next Steps and Recommendations
Mr. Avelino presented the draft Roadmap for the MPA Working Group. He mentioned the following activities:
2016
 Circulate MPA Workshop Results (April 2016)
 MPA REX and WG Meeting (July 2016)
o Regional MPA Awards
o In-country MEA of MPAs
o Adoption of Workshop and REX Results
 Regional MPA Awards Launching (September 2016)
o Will build on the results of the 1st and 2nd rounds of nomination
2017
 Start of 3rd Round of nominations
 MPA Regional Exchange (July 2017)
o Workshop to finalize CTMPAS Nominations
 Levelling-Off of Evaluators (3rd Qtr. 2017)
 Evaluation Period (3rd Qtr. 2017)
2018
 Re-evaluation of 2016 awardees (1st Qtr)
 Regional MPA Awards (3rd Qtr)
Ms. Astrid Lim stated that an exchange of e-mails to request the comments from the Pacific countries on the outcome of the writeshop may be ineffective, therefore, recommending to conduct a mini-workshop in the Pacific presenting the same agenda. Mr. Avelino responded that the Chair of the Working Group is to be consulted on this recommendation but also noted of the earlier recommendation to engage partners who are working within the Pacific to convey the results of the writeshop.
Ms. Baskiñas also reminded the Philippines that in the next MPA Working Group Meeting, the countries should revisit the Terms of Reference of the Working Group particularly on the rotation of Chairmanship. She also added that the Philippines has been the MPA TWG Chair since 2011.

Closing
The closing ceremony was led by the Host Country giving away tokens and certificate of appreciation to Indonesia, and Malaysia for participating in the Writeshop. Ms. Baling, representing the Chair of
the Working Group, thanked the countries, resource speakers, development partners and the organizers for the successful and productive conduct of the Writeshop.
Likewise, Mr. Suraji of Indonesia, and Mr. Gor Yaman of Malaysia, extended their appreciation for the hospitality of the host country and the unwavering efforts of the Chair to push through with the activities of the Working Group.