MFF- A New Climate for Change
Tuesday 7 October 2008 (Climate Change Pavilion)

WCC participants gathered over some drinks and snacks at the futures pavilion for the launch of the MFF short film, Investing in Coastal Ecosystems. Participants exchanged experiences and challenges in coastal management from across the globe. Click here and watch the MFF short film!

MFF workshop: A Unique Partnership for Healthy Coasts, Ecosystems and Communities in the Indian Ocean
Thursday 9 October 2008

One hundred marine and coastal professionals joined the MFF team for a 1.5 hrs workshop at the IUCN World Conservation Forum, MFF, A Unique Partnership for Healthy Coasts, Ecosystems and Communities in the Indian Ocean. The workshopwas opened by screening the newly launched MFF short film. A comprehensive overview of the MFF initiative was presented before conducting an interactive exercise with stakeholder groups representing governments, UN agencies, University/ Research Institutions, civil society and the private sector, discussing future opportunities for MFF.  These opportunities include the need tohighlight the interlinkages between coastal ecosystems (wetlands, seagrasses, corals and mangroves).  The opportunity to use the MFF platform for both ICZM and climate change investments was also discussed. The World Bank saw an opportunity for partnering with MFF using mangroves as a “sub-forest group” in their larger forest programme.

Based on a survey questionnaire at the workshop, suggestions for MFF future direction and priorities included:

• Replicating MFF in other regions
• More Civil Society Participation
• More focus on improving livelihoods
• Include Myanmar
• Carbon reduction
• Fundraising
• Regional partnership for strengthening awareness
• More focus on mitigation and adaptation to climate change
• Focus on sustainable capacity building by incorporating interactive teaching methods
• Repeat training to secure training of trainers
• Academic partnership and research dialogues