IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC)
Advancing knowledge and cooperation for a healthy ocean and prosperous society
UN 23:
Accelerating Capacity Development Transformation in the Western Pacific
Regional Network of Training and Research Centers (RTRCs) on Marine Science
RTRC on Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health
RTRC-MarBEST
With the strong commitment of the Government of Indonesia and building on rich experience in monitoring the health of the coral reefs and associated ecosystems, the IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) established a Regional Training and Research Centre on Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health (RTRC-MarBEST) at the Research Center for Oceanography, Indonesian Institute of Sciences (RCO-LIPI) in October 2016.
The RTRC on Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health was officially approved by the UNESCO/IOC WESTPAC at its 11th Intergovernmental Session (WESTPAC-XI, 21-23 April 2017, Qingdao, China), and hosted by the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Jakarta, Indonesia.
Aims to
- Developing and strengthening the capacity and capabilities of human resources, particularly young researchers and lecturers from member countries in the Western Indo-Pacific region, through training and research related to marine biodiversity and ecosystems;
- Researching and developing common methodologies for marine ecosystem health monitoring and assessment, especially coastal ecosystems such as coral reefs, seagrass, and mangroves;
- Promoting scientific collaborations among experts, institutions and countries in this region and beyond, on marine ecosystem health monitoring and assessment.
Achievements: Activities conducted during 2016-2020
Crustacean taxonomy training. Bali and RCO LIPI, October 2016.
- Molecular taxonomy training (Based on single DNA Barcoding and metabarcoding). Jakarta, Indonesia, October 2017.
- Coral health index training. Bali and Menjangan Island October 2018.
- Carbon sequestration training. Bintan, November 2019.
- Mangrove health index training. Online, November 2020.
(Summary of participants and their nationalities joined the RTRC-MarBEST international trainings. Source: RTRC-MarBEST evaluation report 2016-2020)
- ASEAN workshop on carbon sink and sequestration in a coastal ecosystem: from science to policy. (October 2018 and September 2019)
473 participants in total, covered following topics:
- Basic diving
- Technology use on MonMang
- Training on the management of the marine life collection
- Training on Shark’s enumerator
- Training on drone and GIS
- Training on marine debris
- Training on sea cucumber data stock
- Integrated coastal management training
- Marine spatial training
- GIS training
- Website and database for beginner
- Reef fishes training
- Coral monitoring
- Megabenthos monitoring
- Mangrove monitoring
- Seagrass monitoring
Regional Network of Training and Research Centers (RTRCs)
RTRC on Ocean Dynamics and Climate
Host Institute:
First Institute of Oceanography (FIO), Qingdao, China
Establishment:
RTRC on Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health
Host Institute:
National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Jakarta, Indonesia
Establishment:
RTRC on Marine Plastic Debris and Microplastics
Host Institute:
East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
Establishment:
RTRC on Marine Toxins and Seafood Safety
Host Institute:
Institute of Oceanography, Khánh Hòa, Vietnam
Establishment:
RTRC on Reef Management and Restoration
Host Institute:
University of the Philippines, Philippines
Establishment:
RTRC on Coastal Contaminant Monitoring and Marine Innovation Technology
Host Institute:
City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Establishment: