Report on the Training on Coral Taxonomy
4 - 8 December 2010
USM, Penang, Malaysia
Background and Rationale
Decision IX/22 during the 9th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP9) to theConvention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted a programme of work withdeliverable outcomes for the Global Taxonomy Initiative (GTI). The decision urged
Parties to the CBD to promote/carry-out the programme of work for the GTI throughcoordination of its implementation with existing national, regional, sub-regional andglobal initiatives, partnerships and institutions; designation of national GTI focal points;
provision of updated information about legal requirements for exchange ofgenetic/biological specimens, current legislation and rules for GTI-related access andbenefit-sharing; and initiatives in setting-up of national and regional networks to aid theParties in their taxonomic needs in implementing the CBD.
To push the GTI programme of work, a series of GTI workshops were conducted invarious venues: Central America and Africa in 2001, Asia in 2002, Asia-Oceania in
2004. The latest in the series of activities was the ASEAN+3 Regional Workshop on
GTI: Needs Assessment and Networking held in the Philippines in May 2009. The
Workshop came up with a GTI Regional Action Plan for Southeast Asia.
The dynamic growth of ASEAN + 3 countries (China, Japan and Korea) in recent
years has increased the pressure on their natural resources. Human activities, thedriving force behind the regional growth, threaten the biological resources. Lack ofscientific information on biodiversity in this region is a crucial issue in the assessment
and prediction of biodiversity changes, caused mainly by the lack of taxonomic
capacity in data collection and analysis. The lack of trained human resources andinadequate capacities on taxonomy is a major the obstacle in the implementation of
CBD commitments, especially in the ASEAN region.
In this context, the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund approved in July 2010 a project
entitled “Taxonomic Capacity Building and Governance for Conservation andSustainable Use of Biodiversity” as proposed by ASEAN Center for Biodiversity(ACB). A similar taxonomic capacity building project was also planned by the
Biodiversity Center of Japan, Ministry of the Environment, Japan. These two projects
were offshoots of the ASEAN+3 Regional Workshop on GTI held in May 2009 andwere adopted as activities in the 2010-2011 Work Plan of the East Asia andSoutheast Asia Biodiversity Information Initiative (ESABII). An Inception Meeting/Workshop was conducted in Manila, Philippines on 31 August – 1 September 2010
to provide direction and work out the details of how to jointly organize these two
projects. The meeting identified three training topics; one of them is the taxonomy ofcorals. Thus, the training was held in December 2010.
Objectives_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
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The training workshop capacitated the participants in the taxonomy of corals.
Specifically, the training workshop:
1. introduced the participants to the reef-building corals, specifically the Phylum
Cnidaria, Class Anthozoa, Order Scleractinia;
2. Familiarized the participants with the general biology of these reef-building
corals;3. Upgraded the taxonomic skills of the participants on methods ofmorphological observation; sample collection, processing and managing; andphotography of corals for taxonomic purposes;
4. Introduced the participants to advanced taxonomic methodologies such as
molecular techniques, photo-identification, and use of internet; and5. Provided hands-on experience on museum collections management,
cataloguing and storage.
Outputs
The training workshop upgraded the skills of the participants in corals taxonomy;
introduced them to advanced taxonomic methodologies introduced; and provided theparticipants with hands-on experience in collections management, cataloguing andstorage.
Organization and Participation
The training course was organized by the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, theMinistry of the Environment of Japan/Japan Wildlife Research Center, and the
Universiti Sains Malaysia, and was held in the Marine Science Laboratory, USM
School of Biological Sciences, Pulau Penang, Malaysia.
There were 30 participants from the ten ASEAN Member States: Brunei Darussalam(3), Cambodia (4), Indonesia (4), Lao PDR (4), Malaysia (3), Philippines (3),Singapore (4), Thailand (4), and Viet Nam (1); 10 observers from Indonesia (1),Japan (2), Malaysia (2), and USM (5); five resource speakers: Japan (2), Thailand(1), and USM (2); three staff from ACB and one from JWRC.
The complete list of participants, resource persons, observers and the logisticalsupport staff are found in Appendix 1.
The Training Course
The training course was subdivided into ten lecture sessions and ten laboratory andhands-on sessions. The topics of the 10 lecture sessions were general taxonomy ofanimals; basic taxonomy of corals; families and genera of corals; problems in coraltaxonomy; sample collections, processing and managing; sample processing foradvanced techniques; general biology of reef building corals; advanced taxonomic
methods (molecular techniques); and museum collection management, cataloguingand storage.
At the end of the course, the participants presented their taxonomy assignments andfeedback on their impressions about the course. Most of the participants identified
their assigned coral species. Some were commented on by the expert panel

composed of the trainers/resource persons, pointing out the errors in identifying thecoral specimen.
Most of the feedback centered on the relevance of the course to the participants’work. Many of the participants admitted they attended the course with little
knowledge in coral taxonomy and were grateful for the enhanced skills resulting fromthe workshop.
The workshop was capped with a farewell dinner which further strengthened thebonding among the participants.
Appendix 1. List of Participants

1

Brunei
Darussalam

Sheikh Haji Al-Idrus
Sheikh Haji Nikman

Fisheries Officer, Fisheries
Department, Brunei
Darussalam

2

Brunei
Darussalam

Haji Aji Haji Sapor

Senior Fisheries Assistant

3

Brunei
Darussalam

Haji Ramlee Haji
Ahmad

Junior Fisheries Assistant4

Cambodia

Hun Marady5

Cambodia

Chhouk Borin

Chief, Conservation Section,
Provincial Department ofEnvironment, Koh Kong
Province
Dean, Faculty of Fisheries,
Royal University ofAgriculture, Phnom Penh

6

Cambodia

Eng Kimsan

7

Cambodia

Meas Rithy

8

Indonesia

Febriany Iskandar

9

Indonesia

Tri Aryono Hadi

Associate Dean forInternational Relations andBusiness Development
Director, Executive Educationand Learning Center,
Pannasastra University,
Phnom Penh
Vice Chief, Department of
Asian and International
Cooperation, Ministry ofEnvironment, Phnom Penh

Junior Researcher,
Research Center for
Oceanography, Indonesian
Institute of Sciences

Email:idrus.nikman@gmail.com

Tel. +855 16 954 493
E-mail: rithy@czmcam.org
Tel +855 12 898 095
Fax +855 23 352 133/
219 690E-mail: borin_rua@live.com
E-mail: engkimsan@puc.edu.kh

Fax +855 23 216 510
Mobile +855 1244
4497/ 1557 7779
E-mail: rithy@czmcam.org
Mobile +62 815 8468
3777
E-mail: febry_iskandar@yahoo.com,
febry.iskandar@gmail.com
Tel. +62 21 6471 3850
Fax +62 21 6471 1948
Mobile +62 857 2932
9126
E-mail: ari_080885@yahoo.com

10Indonesia

Fajar Dwi Nur Aji

Forest Controller Ecosystem,
Control of Forest Ecosystem,
Center of the Natural
Resources Conservation of
East Java
11

Indonesia

Irawan Assad

Tel +62 31 8667239
Fax +62 31 8671985
Mobile +62 113 3112
2083
E-mail: fjr_151@yahoo.co.id;
fajardna13@gmail.com;

12

Lao PDR

Khampheng
Homsombath

13

Lao PDR

Oudone Khounsavan

Technical Officer,
Capture Fisheries Unit, Living
Aquatic Resources ResearchCentre, Vientiane

14

Lao PDR

ThavonePhommavong

Living Aquatic Resources
Research Center, Kunta
Village, Sikhotabong District,
Vientiane

Tel +62 21 5720229
Fax Mobile: +62 81
24222247 Email:irawan.asaad@gmail.com
asaad17836@itc.nl
Tel +856 21 263 479
Fax+856 21 214 855
Mobile +856 20 561
8086
E-mail:hsbkhampheng2010@gmail.com,
khampheng@hotmail.com
Tel +856 21 215015
Fax +856 21 214855
Mobile +856 20 9891
1363
E-mail: oudone_kh@yahoo.com
Tel +856 21 215 015
Fax +856 20 761 5894
E-mail: thavone.ph@gmail.com

15

Lao PDR

Vannida Boualaphan

Technical Officer,
Capture Fisheries Unit, Living
Aquatic Resources ResearchCentre, Vientiane

Tel +856 21 215015
Fax +856 21 214855
E-mail: thavone.ph@gmail.com

16

Malaysia

Md Nizam bin Ismail

Research Officer, Departmentof Marine Parks Malaysia,

Tel 03 886 1425
Mobile 019 494 2509
E-mail: nism_74@yahoo.co.uk

17

Malaysia

Mahadi bin
MohammadScience Officer, C41, Center
for Marine and Coastal
Studies, University Sains
Malaysia Penang

Tel 012 472 2912
E-mail: mahadi.mohd@gmail.com

18

Malaysia

Irwan Isnain

Assistant Marine Research
Officer, Marine Research
Unit, Sabah Parks

Tel 6 088 229572
Fax 6 088 301169
E-mail: irwan.isanin@sabah.gov.my

19

Philippines

Ariel R. Pliego

Forest Ranger, Department ofEnvironment and Natural
Resources, Region XI,
Coastal and Marine
Management Division

Mobile +63
9068761603
E-mail: arp0924@live.com

Data and Information Section,
Sub Directorate of Wetlands,
Marine Conservation andEssential Ecosystem, Ministryof Forestry
Head of Data and Information
Unit, Living Aquatic
Resources Research Centre,
National Agriculture andForestry Research Institute (20Philippines

Jameliita T. Flores

21

Philippines

Dexter dela Cruz

22

SingaporeNg Chin Soon Lionel

23

SingaporeOw Yan Xiang

24

Singapore

Sherilyn Tan Siao Lin

25

Singapore

26

Administrative Aide IV,
Coastal and Marine
Management Division,
Department of Environment
and Natural Resource,
Region 2
Research Assistant
The Marine Science Institute
University of the Philippines,
Diliman

Mobile +639159730155
E-mail:cheomis_clarkll@yahoo.com

Research Assistant,Tropical Marine Science
Institute,
National University ofSingapore
Research Assistant,Tropical Marine Science
Institute,
National University ofSingapore
Assistant Researcher, AgriFood and Veterinary Authorityof Singapore

Tel +65 166 867
Mobile +65 9651 6140
E-mail: lionelng@nus.edu.sg

Collin Tong Hor Yee

Senior Biodiversity Officer,
National Biodiversity Centre,
National Parks Board

E-mail: tong_hor_yee@nparks.gov.sg

Thailand

Chaipichit
Saenghaisuk

E-mail: posedo@hotmail.com

27

Thailand

Sahabhop Dokkaew

28

Thailand

Wiracha Charoendee

Researcher,
Marine Biodiversity ResearchGroup, Faculty of Science,
Department of Biology,
Ramkhamhaeng University,
BangkokFisheries Biologist,
Ornamental Fish and Aquatic
Plants Research andTechnology Transfer Center,
Faculty of Fisheries,
Kasetsart University,
BangkokResearch Scientist,
Marine Aquaculture Research
Unit, Institute of Marine
Science

29

ThailandRak Ritrudi

Fisheries Biologist,
Prachuap Khirikhan Coastal
Fisheries Research andDevelopment Center

30

Viet Nam

Dau Van Thao

Department of Marine
Biological Resources andEcology, Institute of Marine
Environment and Resources,
Hai Phong City

Mobile +63 9
E-mail: dexterwdc@yahoo.com.phMobile +65 9663 5282
E-mail: tmsoyx@nus.edu.sg

Mobile +65 9741 1103
E-mail: sherilyntan@hotmail.com

Tel +66 2 9428365
Fax +66 2 9428365
Mobile +66 81
8018212E-mail: oui_4756@hotmail.com
Tel +66 38 3916713
Fax +66 39 391674
Mobile +66 86
5052955
E-mail: charoendee@hotmail.com
Tel +66 2 2661133
Fax +66 3 2661398
Mobile +66 89
6618308
E-mail: r_ritrudi@yahoo.ac.th
Tel +84 031 376 0603
Fax +84 031 376 1521
Mobile +84 919 951
708
E-mail: thaodv@imer.ac.vn;
dauthao82@yahoo.com

OBSERVERS
31

Japan

Yuko

Kitano32

Japan

Hyakubun Harada

33

Malaysia

Moi Khim Tan

34

Malaysia

35

36

2nd year doctoral student
Dept. of Marine Biology andEnvironmental Science,
Faculty of Agriculture,
University of Miyazaki
NaGISA Western Pacific
Seto Marine Biological
Laboratory
Field Science Education andResearch Center, Kyoto
University
Database Manager,(ReefBase Project)
The WorldFish Center

Tel +81-(0)-739-423515
Fax +81-(0)-739-424518
E-mail: boon_harada@hotmail.com
Tel +604-6261606
Fax +604 626 5530
E-mail: m.tan@CGIAR.ORG

Nurulhuda Ahmad
Fatan

Research Assistant(ReefBase Project)
The WorldFish Center

Tel +604-6261606
Fax +604 626 5530
E-mail: n.afatan@cgiar.org

Indonesia

RudionoTel +62215720229
E-mail: call_tiecks@yahoo.co.id

USM

Zulfikar

Wetlands Conservation,
Aquatic and Ecosystem
Essential Data Analysis,
Directorate of Areas
Conservation, DG Forest
Protection and Nature
Conservation, Ministry ofForestry
Ph.D Candidate(Coral Reef Ecology)
Marine Science Laboratory
University Sains Malaysia
Aquaculture Department
Malikussaleh University

37

USM

Cherrie Teh Chiew
Peng

38

USM

Norhanis Mohammad
Razalli

39

USM

Juliana Mohamed

40

USM

Mohamad Fikri bin
SamsudinResource Persons

Research Scientist
Marine Science Laboratory
Universiti Sains Malaysia

M.Sc candidate
Marine Science andManagement
Marine Sciences Lab
School of Biological Sciences
Universiti Sains Malaysia

Mobile +60
149461473 (Malaysia)+60 81269557173 (Indonesia)
E-mail:zulsaidy@gmail.com
zulsaidy@live.com
Tel +6010-2315262
Fax +604-6533500
Email: cherrie_tcp@yahoo.com

Tel +60 123972474
Fax +60 46533500
julianamohamed17@g
mail.com41

USM

Aileen Shau-Hwai Tan

Associate Professor
School of Biological
Sciences, USM, Miden,
Penang, Malaysia 11800

42

USM

Zulfigar Yassin

Professor, USM Marine
Biologist

43

Japan

Yoshihisa Shirayama

44

Japan

Fukami Hironobu

45

ThailandNiphon Phongsuwan

Director and Professor,
Seto Marine Biological
Laboratory,
Field Science Education andResearch Center, Kyoto
University
Associate Professor
Dept. of Marine Biology andEnvironmental Science,
Faculty of Agriculture,
University of Miyazaki
Coral Reef Specialist, andChief of Marine and Coastal
Biology and Ecology Unit,
Phuket Marine BiologicalCenterTel +604 6533508
Fax+604 6533500
Mobile+ 6012
4319900
Email: aileen@usm.myEmail:
zulfigar@usm.my
Zulfigarusm@yahoo.com
Tel +81 739 423 515
Fax +81 739 424 518
E-mail: yshira@seto.kyoto-u.ac.jp,
meiobenthos2007@yahoo.co.jp
Tel +81-985-58-7221
Fax +81-985-58-7221
E-mail: hirofukami@cc.miyazaki-u.ac.jp
Tel +66 76 391128
Fax +66 76 391127
E-mail: nph1959@gmail.com

46

ASEAN
Centre for
Biodiversity

Filiberto A. Pollisco,
Jr.

Programme Development
Specialist,
Programme Development
and Implementation Unit

Tel +63 49 536 2865
Fax +63 49 536 2865
E-mail: fapollisco@aseanbiodiversity.org

47

ASEAN
Centre for
Biodiversity

Norman Emmanuel C.
Ramirez

Programme Management
Officer,
Programme Development
and Implementation Unit

Tel +63 49 536 2865
Fax +63 49 536 2865
E-mail: necramirez@aseanbiodiversity.org

48

ASEAN
Centre for
Biodiversity

Ana Maria E.
Tolentino

Programme Development
Officer,
Programme Development
and Implementation Unit

Tel +63 49 536 2865
Fax +63 49 536 2865
E-mail: ametolentino@aseanbiodiversity.org

49

Japan Wildlife
ResearchCenterKohei Hibino

Research Scientist

Tel +81-3-5824-0967
Fax +81-3-5824-0968
E-mail: khibino@jwrc.or.jp