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Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research

Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research

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Project • CBA2010-11NSY-DeGuzman

Capacity Building for Research and Monitoring of Marine Protected Areas: An Adaptive Mechanism for Climate Change in the Asia-Pacific Region

Marine protected areas are considered potential measures for climate change adaptation, particularly in increasing the resilience of coral reefs to bleaching and loss of biodiversity due to changing environmental conditions. Effective MPA management, however, is constrained by weak monitoring programs due to inadequately trained manpower. The project “Capacity Building for Research and Monitoring of Marine Protected Areas: An Adaptive Mechanism for Climate Change in the Asia-Pacific Region” under the APN CaPaBle Programme contributes to building local and regional capacity for MPA monitoring. Developing a pool of capable MPA monitors in selected coral reef-rich countries in the Asia-Pacific region is a means of improving MPA governance and increase their ability to adapt to climate change, human-induced stresses and other environmental effects. The project was implemented by the Mindanao State University at Naawan Foundation for Science and Technology Development, Inc (MSUNFSTDI) in collaboration with the Center for Coastal and Marine Resource Studies of the Bogor Agricultural University in Bogor, Indonesia. The project implemented two training courses: a Local Training course attended by 20 participants from the Philippines, and a Regional Training course that benefitted 20 participants from Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Timor Leste, and the Philippines.