In October 2013, three WCS Malagasy staffs were invited by the International Union for Con- servation of Nature, the French Marine Protected Area Agency, and the Western Indian Ocean Ma- rine Science Association (WIOMSA) to share their hands-on experience in implementing communi- ty-driven field marine conservation at the third International Marine Protected Area Congress (IMPAC3) in Marseille and at the eighth WIOMSA Scientific Symposium in Maputo.
WCS is grateful to the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and WIOMSA for providing travel grants. In addition, two WCS field staffs have been certified WIO- COMPAS MPA PRO Level 1. The WIO-COMPAS Program assesses and certifies Marine Protected Area Professionals in the WIO Region based on recognized standards of excellence. Finally, two WCS national staffs have been trained in Marine Protected Area and reef resilience management during three international workshops sponsored by European Union (ISLANDS project), USAID and The Nature Conservancy.