Delivering Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network Monitoring (GCRMN) training to the UK OTs

Description

The aim of this project is to build capacity in the UK Overseas Territories (OTs) to carry out coral reef monitoring activities that align with Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN) standards to better understand the health of coral reefs in Caribbean and Western Atlantic UK OT waters. The project will deliver in-person training in Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Montserrat and the Turks and Caicos Islands and online training in the 4 aforementioned OTs, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands. UK OT Coral Reef Initiative The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in collaboration with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) are developing a collaborative initiative with Overseas Territories (OTs) to improve understanding of the status of coral reefs, the pressures affecting them, the current national and regional policies in place and the actions necessary to ensure their long-term protection. Through this initiative, Caribbean and Western Atlantic UK OTs have developed coral reef Action Plans that outline tailored priority areas for coral reef conservation within the OTs and at a regional level that help to underpin conservation efforts. Implementing the Action Plans JNCC is working with the UK OTs to implement the coral reef action plans in individual OTs and, where it makes sense to do so, work collaboratively to share skills and knowledge. Current high priority activities include: • sharing knowledge and experience responding to stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD), in particular in-water management interventions; • proactive education and outreach to raise awareness of SCTLD and the risks it poses to reefs and the many benefits reefs provide to local communities and economies; • data collection on the status and health of coral reefs through monitoring; • Identifying management options available to individual OTs that will assist with improving the resilience of coral reefs through reducing pressures from human activities on land and in the sea; Funding has been secured through the UK Government's Conflict, Stability and Security Fund to support implementation of the Action Plans in 2021/22. Additional information: You are invited by JNCC Support Co (JNCC) to submit a tender for the supply of works or services required under the above project. If interested, you should download and carefully read the documents contained within the zip file.

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