Priorities for Next Quarter January 1 – March 31, 2009

6. Global Leadership 6.1 Report Period Accomplishments July 1 – December 31, 2008 Adapting to Coastal Climate Change “Adapting to Coastal Climate Change: A Guidebook for Development Planners” was completed after review of three drafts and inputsfeedback from different international venues. These include the 4 th Global Conference on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands convened in Hanoi, Vietnam in April 2008; the EcoCostas Network meeting in Ecuador in May 2008; participants to the Summer Institute 2008 in Advanced Coastal Management at the University of Rhode Island; and the Workshop on Mainstreaming Climate Change Development Strategies, Programs and Projects held in Panama in October 2008. By leveraging US State Department funds together with GTZ 1 German international development agency contributions for field-based activities, the team initiated the planning for a pilot application of the Guidebook. An evaluation of various sites and partners in the Pacific island region lead to the selection of the Republic of the Marshall Islands RMI as the pilot site. Several factors make this an ideal choice. Community-based conservation planning and management is promoted by the Coastal Management Advisory Council CMAC, a cooperative multi-agency group that focuses on sustainable use of coastal resources, fisheries management and biodiversity conservation. Community-based fisheries management and conservation plans are being developed by communities. These holistic plans look at resources, livelihoods, etc., and are developed in a participatory mode, providing an excellent opportunity to incorporate an adaptation component. The College of the Marshall Islands CMI, the implementing partner, has an active presence at both the local and national level. The College, as a member of the CMAC, is one of the facilitators of the community-based process and will be initiating a Marine Conservation Certificate Program to build capacity for local practitioners to implement these plans. Don Hess, the counterpart in this pilot, is a URI Summer Institute alumnus, and has facilitated work with Hawaii Sea Grant for several years on coastal management and aquaculture issues. 1 UNEP was originally to be the agency providing these contributions; deadline delays and other operational issues, however, resulted in the change to GTZ funds 14