IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature

Atoll workshops at resorts for resort staff/managers, marine biologists and dive operators focus on understanding coral reefs and climate change, preparing for bleaching events, safe-guarding the house reef from operational/recreational activities from resorts, monitoring impacts of climate change on coral reefs, and providing an initiation into establishing Marine Managed Areas etc.

This component is about educating reef users about the risks associated with climate change and thereby empowering them to be proactive and consider management strategies which reduce these risks and propose adaptation options.

The resort house reefs are protected by law from all extractive and damaging activities. As such, house reefs can potentially be managed by resort managers and staff and act as a network of Marine Managed Areas (MMAs).

This project component encompasses the development of customized MMA management plans for resorts.  These plans are based on remotely-sensed satellite imagery of house reef zones, which are merged with habitat surveys to identify areas of high ecological importance. These form the blueprints for designing management zones with accompanying regulations and policies. In order to ensure proper governance, consultations will be held with local stakeholders, communities, resorts, and government. This will involve exploring the institutional arrangements between government and resorts and identifying challenges and opportunities for successful implementation of privately managed marine areas.