IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature

Hosted by Natural Resources Defense Council

Speakers:

Jacob Scherr, Director of Global Strategy and Outreach, NRDC

Harlan Cohen, Advisor on Ocean Governance and International Institutions, IUCN

Amy Fraenkel, Regional Director and Representative, UNEP

Imen Meliane, International Marine Policy Director, The Nature Conservancy

Kenli Schaaf, Foreign Affairs Officer, US Department of State

Lisa Speer, Director of the International Oceans Program, NRDC

Hosted at Legacy

Speakers:
Tom Novotny, MD MPH, Founder, Cigarette Butt Pollution Project
Erich Pica, President, Friends of the Earth
Julia Cartwright, Senior Vice President of Communications, Legacy®
Clifton Curtis, Director, The Varda Group

While the environmental impacts of cigarette waste are less well known than their effects on human health, they are substantial – a serious and growing cause for action. Cigarette butts and other tobacco product waste are the most ubiquitous form of litter worldwide, including being the most commonly collected item during beach and urban street cleanups worldwide (approximately 30% of all collected waste items).

Aquatic systems, such as shorelines and waterways, may be the most vulnerable to impacts, as the majority of land-based litter ultimately is deposited into these environments. Cigarette butts leach hazardous, toxic waste, containing heavy metals, carcinogenic chemicals, pesticides and nicotine, yet they are commonly, unconsciously and inexcusably dumped by the trillions (5.6 million and counting) into the global environment each year.

Members of the Cigarette Butt Pollution Project (CBPP) presented their strategies to eliminating toxic cigarette butt waste from the environment using science, awareness raising and policy interventions at local, state and national levels. Going forward, a key focus for the Project is to build alliances with marine and other environmental groups, joining forces in finding solutions for eliminating this especially toxic form of trash. 

For more information, please contact Clif Curtis at clifton@vardagroup.com.

http://www.youtube.com/legacyforhealth
 

Hosted by:

Consortium for Ocean Leadership

Speakers included:

Kristen Yarincik, Senior Program Manager, Consortium for Ocean Leadership

Heather Mannix, Program Specialist, Consortium for Ocean Leadership  

Michael Conathon, Director of Ocean Policy, Center for American Progress 

Hosted by:
Pew Environment Group

Speakers Included:
James Barnes, Executive Director, Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition
The Ross Sea MPA and the Polar Code

Gerry Leape, Senior Officer, International Policy, Pew Environment Group
Protecting the Basis of the Ocean’s Food Web

Evan Bloom, Director, Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs, US Department of State
Environmental Issues and the Antarctic Treaty System
 

Hosted by:

Hosted by:
Ocean Conservancy

Speakers Included:
Anna Zivian, Ocean Conservancy
Jessica Kondel, NOAA
Roger Haifeng Wang, The International Council on Clean Transportation

Hosted by World Wildlife Fund

Speakers included:

·         Carl Gustaf Lundin, Head of IUCN’s Global Marine Program, ‘Seamounts of the Southern Indian Ocean’

·         Romain Troublé, Director of Operations for Tara Oceans Expedition, ‘Using longterm expeditions to better understand marine ecosystems’

·         Phil Kline, Oceans Campaigner for Greenpeace, ‘Groundtruthing campaigns for policy effectiveness’

·         Andy Bruckner, Chief Scientist for Living Oceans Foundation, ‘Habitat Mapping of Coral Reefs to Impact Management and Policy’

Romain spoke about Tara Oceans, a three-year expedition across the world to study oceanic ecosystems, for a better understanding of the threats faced by them and thus enable better protection of the oceans’ ecosystems. It attempts to provide answers to climate issues, and in particular to study all life <2mm and to deepen our knowledge on marine biodiversity. More than 12 fields of research are involved in the project, which brings together an international team of oceanographers, ecologists, biologists, geneticists, and physicists.

http://oceans.taraexpeditions.org

Phil’s talk focused on how Greenpeace’s expeditions build scientific evidence and media attention to support ocean policy. He highlighted their current research cruise in the Gulf of Mexico, which seeks to determine the extent of contamination from the Deepwater Horizon spill and its impact on coastal and marine ecosystems.

http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/en/

Hosted by Oceana

Speakers included:

• Emily Woglom, Director of Government Relations at Ocean Conservancy: US Policy and the Gulf of MX Oil Spill  
• Margaret Leinen, CEO of the Climate Response Fund: Recent Indications of Major Shifts in the Carbon System in the Ocean 
• Sean O’Neill, President of OREC: Key Messages on Ocean Energy

Hosted by the Embassy of Australia

Presentation:
The Pacific Ocean Synthesis and Scientific Consensus Statement – Setting the stage for a Pacific 2020 Challenge by the Center for Ocean Solutions

Panel and discussion:
Nancy Knowlton, Sant Chair for Marine Science, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Adam Murray, Regional Program Manager for the Pacific, RARE

Christy Loper, Global Socioeconomic Monitoring Coordinator, NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program

Kate Brown, Global Island Partnership (GLISPA) Coordinator, Global Island Partnership

Emily Tibbott, Director, US Relations - Asia Pacific Region, The Nature Conservancy

Held at the Consortium for Ocean Leadership

Speakers included:

• Bob Gagosian, President of Ocean Leadership

• Heather Mannix, Program Associate for the Census of Marine Life (COML): Overview of the Census of Marine Life

• Ron O’Dor, Senior Scientist for the Census of Marine Life (COML) Scientific Basis for Selecting MPAs in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction

• Caitlyn Toropova, MPA Coordination Officer at IUCN: MPA Regional Reviews: How high-level, data-driven MPA reviews can assist countries and regions to celebrate successes and meet protection commitments

• Tundi Agardy, Director Marine Ecosystems at Forest Trends: Role of MPAs and Ocean Zoning in ICM and Ocean Management

The DC Marine Community (DCMC) meeting on Oceans and Climate change focused on drawing together a broad range of policy and action ideas related to oceans and climate change.

A preliminary IUCN working document on ‘Tools and Guidelines for Oceans and Climate Change Actions’ was distributed to the DCMC prior to the meeting. The paper sets the stage for a broader discussion with IUCN members and partner’s on oceans and climate change initiatives: with both the large NGO’s and the wider DCMC Community.

IUCN began the meeting with a general overview on oceans and climate change, followed by a small panel of experts from the NGO community.

An open forum discussion discussed:
a) what the marine community at large is working on in regards to oceans and climate change, and
b) what specific what actions can taken in future.

The goal was to draw together a broad range of community perspectives along with policy and action ideas for the topics and themes included in the paper.

Tools and Guidelines for Oceans and Climate Change Actions:

* The oceans’ role in our climate system
* The effects of climate change on the oceans
* Climate change impacts on marine species and ecosystems
* Human and economic implications – changes in goods and services
* Action recommendations: Mitigation, Adaptation, Social and financial issues

Blue Vision Summit (DC): 7-10 March, 2009
Presented by: David Helvarg, Blue Frontier

World Ocean Conference (Indonesia): 11-15 May, 2009
Presented by: Biliana Cicin-Sain, Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts and Islands

International Marine Conservation Congress (DC): 19-14 May, 2009
Presented by: IMCC planning staff and/or Board of Directors

Capitol Hill Ocean Week (CHOW) (DC): 9-11 June, 2009
Presented by: Joy Williams and/or Letise LaFeir, National Marine Sanctuaries Foundation
 

LOCATION: National Geographic Society (north end of cafeteria)
1145 17th St NW Washington, D.C. 20036

AGENDA:

4:00 General welcome

4:15 Overview of IUCN’s World Conservation Congress: Marine motions and highlights
Carl Gustaf Lundin, Head of IUCN’s Global Marine Programme

4:30 Book launch announcement: Ocean: An Illustrated Atlas
Sylvia Earle, National Geographic Society

4:45 WildCam Belize launch announcement
Kyler Abernathy, National Geographic Society

5:00 High Seas Gems: Hidden Treasures of Our Blue Earth
Sylvie Chantecaille, Carl Gustaf Lundin and Jeff Ardron (MCBI)

5:15 Protect Planet Ocean: Global Plan of Action, a global MPA layer for Google Earth, and a global MPA web portal
Dan Laffoley and Louisa Wood 

5:30 Q&A and DCMC announcements, followed by light reception

Location: WWF, 1250 24th Street, NW, Washington DC 20037-1132

Location: National Audubon Society, 1150 Connecticut Ave NW #600, Washington DC 20036

Location: National Audubon Society 1150 Connecticut Ave., NW #600, Washington DC 20036

Guest presenters: Carl Gustaf Lundin (IUCN Head of Global Marine Programs), Dan Lafolley (WCPA-Marine), Mike Gill (Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program)
 

Bycatch in Pelagic Marine Fisheries: Eric Gilman, Marine Science Advisor for the IUCN (The World Conservation Union) Global Marine Programme, based in Honolulu, Hawaii, presented the state of international and regional initiatives and technological solutions to bycatch of some sensitive species groups in pelagic marine capture fisheries. His primary programme areas involve improved sustainability of marine capture fisheries and coastal ecosystem responses to climate change. He has been working in the coastal and marine science fields for over 15 years.

For more information, please contact Eric Gilman: egilman@utas.edu.au

Topics included in DCMC Meeting:
• Results of a recently completed review prepared for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on intergovernmental organizations’ initiatives to address seabird and sea turtle bycatch in marine capture fisheries
• State of knowledge for turtle avoidance in marine capture fisheries, from FAO’s in progress sea turtle technical guidelines;
• Results of research conducted in the Hawaii pelagic longline fisheries to reduce sea turtle, seabird and shark interactions
• Results of studies on cetacean and shark interaction in global pelagic longline fisheries

Additional updates:
IUCN’s Harlan Cohen on the Iron Fertilization Workshop hosted at Woods Hole and the High Seas Ocean Governance Workshop in NY.

Jennifer Palmer, Marine Program Officer, provided reminder updates for Barcelona Congress 2008 along with upcoming improvements to the DCMC listserv including a yahoo group account with online calendar, image, link and membership profile capabilities.

Next proposed DCMC meeting to be the 7 December 2007, with Carl Gustaf Lundin (IUCN), Dan Lafolley (WCPA-Marine), and Mike Gill (Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program).

introduced the new IUCN Marine Program Coordinator for the DC office, Jennifer Palmer and gave an overview of the World Conservation Congress to be held in Barcelona, Spain (5-14 October 2008). Andrew also reviewed the draft IUCN marine program for 2009-2012 and the recent UNISPOLOS meeting on marine genetic resources.

For more information: http://www.iucn.org/congress/2008/congress.htm

Topics included in DCMC Meeting:

The World Conservation Congress will provide an opportunity for the world’s conservation community to discuss sustainable development challenges through a variety of side events from workshops and training courses to movies and exhibitions. Issues such as exhibit topics, cross cutting themes, and proposals for side events were among the many topics discussed.

The 2009-2012 IUCN global marine plan identifies 10 marine results IUCN will further refine in the next upcoming years:

• protecting marine areas
• conserving threatened species
• securing coastal livelihoods
• rationalizing sea uses
• improving industry practices
• improving marine ecosystem resilience
• ocean carbon sequestration
• testing new approaches to high seas conservation and management
• strengthening and harmonizing ocean related agreements

For more information on the 2009-2012 IUCN marine plan, please contact Jennifer Palmer: jpalmer@iucnus.org

Harlan Cohen, advisor on ocean governance issues gave a brief overview of the UNICPOLOS 8 informal consultative process on marine genetic resources. The focus of the meeting was on marine genetic resources from micro-organisms and some macro organisms (ex: Sponges) but not on those found in fish or marine mammals. No agreed consensual elements were formed for the outcome of the meeting largely due to the fact that some states were of the opinion that marine genetic resources were common heritage to mankind or subject to the regime established by the International Seabed Authority in areas beyond National jurisdiction, while other states believed the such resources in areas beyond National jurisdiction were subject to High Seas Freedoms.

For more information on the meeting on marine genetic resources please contact: Harlan Cohen: hcohen@iucnus.org

IUCN Washington, D.C. Office participated in Capital Hill Oceans Week 2007, the first week of June, in an effort to raise awareness of its Global Marine Program. Sponsored by National Marine Sanctuaries Foundation, stakeholders and speakers from Members of Congress, representatives of federal and state governments, industry, academia and nonprofit organizations gathered to discuss current ocean and coastal issues for the three days leading up to World Oceans Day. The IUCN Washington, D.C. Office was able to raise awareness and increase participation for the DC Marine Community - an initiative to increase collaboration among people working on marine issues in Washington. Over thirty new people joined the DC Marine Community listserv at CHOW in order to become more connected with other members of industry, government, academia, and NGO’s working on marine issues in the DC area.

For CHOW website information: http://nmsfocean.org/chow2007/index.html

CHOW Summary:

On the upcoming legislative agenda for the 110th Congress are several important ocean issues. The re-authorized Magnuson Stevenson Act which promises to end overfishing and implement ecosystem based management will need to be fully implemented this session. The Coastal Zone Management Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Coral Reef Conservation Act all need to be re-authorized. These acts include such controversial issues as offshore energy, acoustics and marine mammals, and user conflicts. The Coral Reef Conservation Act’s potential re-authorization would also include a portion on marine debris, vessel groundings, and reducing threat and injury to coral reefs. Climate change will play a large role in legislation involving the ocean with such issues as ocean acidification, global warming, coral bleaching and disease. Ratifying the Law of the Sea Convention will be another contentious issue for this Congress. Amy Carroll from the House Committee on Science and Technology, Jean Flemma from the House Committee on Natural Resources, and Amy Frankel from the Senate Commerce Committee were in attendance for this session.

The Ecosystem-based Management session was well attended by all stakeholders, as well as Representative Wayne Gilchrest from Maryland. Congressman Gilchrest, senior member on the House Natural Resources Committee, serves on the subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans. NOAA is aiming to put into practice an ecosystem-based approach to management of the ocean’s resources. Zoning was a controversial issue, as several industry stakeholders voiced concerns over how it was going to be accomplished. An important issue for NOAA, as voiced through several stakeholders, involved the definition of an ecosystem and of the ecosystem baseline, that would be used to make management decisions. IUCN’s publication, The Ecosystem Approach: Five Steps to Implementation, could serve as a rough outline for how NOAA could implement ecosystem based management as the publication provides a strategy for the integrated management of land, water, and living resources, that promotes conservation and sustainable use in an equitable way. Through various case studies, IUCN addresses determining stakeholders and defining the ecosystem area as one of its five steps. Two other steps- ecosystem structure, function and management and economic issues- are also addressed through case studies and are important not only to conservation of terrestrial resources but also marine. The final two steps- adaptive management over space and adaptive management over time-coincide with NOAA’s future management efforts. Based on the comments made at this session of Capital Hill Oceans Week, IUCN has a unique opportunity to assist NOAA with its ecosystem based approach to marine resource management.
 

This meeting focussed on a range of tools and approaches for ocean outreach and improving marine literacy.

The panel of speakers:
• Mike Sutton – Director, Center for the Future of the Oceans, Monterey Bay Aquarium
• Nancy Hotchkiss and Glenn Page - Director of Education and Director of Conservation (respectively), National Aquarium in Baltimore
• Melanie Janin - Senior Communications Advisor, SeaWeb
• Barbara Chow - VP for Education and Children's Programs, National Geographic
• Amie Brautigam – IUCN Species Survival Commission/marine and Perry Institute for Marine Science
 

Informal brownbag presentation by Dr. Terry Donaldson (Senior Scientist at the University of Guam Marine Laboratory and chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission Coral Reef Fish Specialist Group) on progress with the Global Assessment of Reef Fishes (GARF), a project aiming to evaluate all coral reef fishes for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.