Executive Summary:

The GEF-5 Project represents a major international collaboration. It is unique in being the first coordinated approach to enhance the effectiveness of conservation of dugongs and their seagrass ecosystems through community-based stewardship, incentive-based conservation, removal of knowledge barriers and national and regional mainstreaming activities. The project covers 38 national projects, managed in collaboration with 26 local partners in Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mozambique, Sri Lanka, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste and Vanuatu. 

Background:

An important component of the Dugong, Seagrass and Coastal Communities Initiative involved the development of the Dugong and Seagrass Conservation Project, which is leveraging funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and co-funding from a number of dugong Range States. The project will enhance the effectiveness of conservation efforts under the Dugong MOU for dugongs and their seagrass ecosystems across the Indian and Pacific Ocean basins through specific actions in eight countries, and wider regional and global activities (funded by GEF and co-financing).

Throughout 2012 and 2013, the Dugong MOU Secretariat developed the project and in the first instance, secured USD 5.88 million from eight countries for the conservation of dugongs and seagrass ecosystems. Held back-to-back with the Second Meeting of Signatories to the Dugong MOU, an International Workshop for the GEF-5 Dugong and Seagrass Conservation Project was held in Manila, Philippines on 21-22 February 2013. The workshop gathered the then seven GEF-5 Project Partners (Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mozambique, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste and Vanuatu) and the four Supporting Partners (Australia, Myanmar, Philippines and United Arab Emirates (UAE)) to review progress on project preparation and development.

In June 2013, following exploration by the Dugong MOU Secretariat of potential additional partners, the Solomon Islands became the eighth GEF-5 Project Partner. Throughout 2013, further supporting partners joined the project. In addition to Australia, Philippines and the UAE, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles and Tanzania provided co-financing and India and Kenya joined Myanmar in providing formal written support. In late 2013, as invited by the Dugong MOU Secretariat, the Mohammed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund assumed the role of Executing Agency of the GEF-5 Project, and the Dugong MOU Secretariat in collaboration with the UN Environment Programme Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific commenced the handover of the project in anticipation of its final approval in early 2014. 

The GEF-5 Project represents a major international collaboration. It is unique in being the first coordinated approach to enhance the effectiveness of conservation of dugongs and their seagrass ecosystems through community-based stewardship, incentive-based conservation, removal of knowledge barriers and national and regional mainstreaming activities. The project covers 38 national projects, managed in collaboration with 26 local partners in Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mozambique, Sri Lanka, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste and Vanuatu.

The project website (www.dugongconservation.org) is an important global resource for dugong and seagrass conservation. More information is available on the project website and in the project fact sheet.