Noosa is Australia's first link to 'Global Partnership for Oceans'
Published on 16 August, 2012
Tourism academics at the Noosa Campus of CQUniversity will be the first Australian research link with a new international initiative for healthy and productive oceans.
The Global Partnership for Oceans is a diverse coalition of public, private, civil society, research and multilateral interests addressing threats to the health, productivity and resilience of the world's oceans.
The partnership was initially announced in February by the President of The World Bank, and boosted after the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) held during June in Rio de Janeiro (‘Rio+20' or ‘Earth Summit 2012').
Noosa-based Senior Lecturer in Tourism Steve Noakes explains that "tourism is a vital economic activity in most Pacific and Asian destinations, especially the small island destinations that are dependent upon ocean resources for their livelihoods".
"Inadequate protection, pollution and other unsustainable use of the oceans can directly harm a critical industry such as tourism."
Through the partnership, CQUniversity joins with universities and research institutions in North America and the South Pacific to provide the knowledge network to address sustainable tourism-related issues for ocean protection and management, and a better understanding of the important ecosystem and economic services that oceans provide.
The Global Partnership for Oceans aims to help achieve healthy oceans and a future for those dependent upon ocean resources for livelihoods and food security. It provides significant international political support and interest and a source of funding for long-term investment in sustainable ocean use. It includes multilateral and regional organisations such as The World Bank, the Global Environment Facility and Pacific Island Forum, national governments including Australia, private sector companies involved in fishing, tourism and support service industries, civil society agencies such as WWF, The Nature Conservancy, Conservation International and the Foundation for the People of the Pacific International, foundations such as the Clinton Climate Initiative, and UN associated bodies such as the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, the United Nations Environment Program and the United Nations Development Program.
"Coastal and ocean habitats and biodiversity are not only critical to healthy and productive marine environments, but also a key attribute for tourism destinations washed by the oceans," Mr Noakes says.
"Apart from land-based coastal tourism infrastructure which relies upon and can impact the oceans, large cruise ship companies such as Royal Caribbean Cruises are involved in the global partnership as they believe they can achieve better results for healthy oceans and their business by engaging with the new international project to improve the health of the world's oceans.
"The engagement of CQUni with this type of international initiative adds value to our industry, civil society and academic networks and provides access to leading-edge information to contribute to our teaching and research activities in sustainable tourism."
LINK to Noosa becoming a hub for Aussie tourism industry's engagement with UN
LINK HERE for details about Tourism at CQUni
LINK HERE for details on the Global Partnership for Oceans
LINK HERE for details on The World Bank (and oceans partnership)