Since our launch as an independent locally-managed organization in December 2010, we are committed to building the capacity of government partners and community organizations to create and manage a network of marine protected areas with clear zoning and sustainable use guidelines. This requires an immediate and sustained effort to bridge the huge gap in aspirations, such as the 20 million marine hectare commitment in Indonesia, with the implementation reality: the paucity of competent and trained professionals, and community partners, needed to manage those sites. However, we were incorporated precisely to form this regional bridge: inspiring leaders and communities to get involved in marine conservation and sustainable resource use activities, and providing practical skills and knowledge they need to effectively care for the coastal ecosystems entrusted to them.
The Coral Triangle Center (CTC) began in 2000 as a program of The Nature Conservancy to deliver field training for local stakeholders around selected marine protected areas. During the decade, CTC conducted over 100 training sessions with partners for over 2,000 regional practitioners, hosted numerous international exchanges, and promoted policy dialogues for decision-makers involved in sustainably managing the region’s marine resources.
Additionally, the Center played a large role in facilitating the delineation of the Coral Triangle by hosting a workshop with global experts in 2003 and helping to facilitate the road map leading up to the Coral Triangle Summit and the Coral Triangle Initiative Regional Plan of Action.
In late 2010, the Coral Triangle Center was established as an independent regional Foundation registered in Indonesia, with a Board of Trustees, an Executive Director and staff. The Board has articulated a vision, mission, and values to enable CTC to partner with leaders and communities interested in more effectively managing the marine and coastal areas entrusted to them.
CTC envisions “to ensure the livelihoods of millions of people, today and in the future, the rich marine resources and coastal ecosystems of the Coral Triangle will be effectively cared for”.
The CTC sees its mission as follows: “To effectively care for our rich marine heritage for the benefit of the people, the Coral Triangle Center will inspire the commitment and share the knowledge and skills needed by leaders and communities.
To advance the mission, the Coral Triangle Center focuses on the following five long-term goals, partnering with communities and organizations throughout the region (CTC Strategic Plan 2011–2014):