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PEMSEA News
Up one levelPEMSEA News chronicles on-the-ground experiences and activities in PEMSEA sites and hotspots. Community-based initiatives, such as mangrove planting, coastal cleanups and waste management, are highlighted in the articles, as well as other workshops, conferences and programs organized or participated in by the Regional Programme.
PEMSEA Staff Pay Tribute to Dr. Chua Thia-Eng
After more than 13 years of service as Regional Programme Director of PEMSEA, Dr. Chua Thia-Eng officially retires on 31 December 2007.
Workshop for the Sustainable Development of East Asian Seas Concludes with Work Programs
Manila, Philippines – In preparation for the next phase of PEMSEA, 56 participants composed of Project Management Office (PMO) Directors and National Focal Points (NFPs) from 11 countries across the region were brought together in a workshop held in Manila from 12-15 December 2007. Representatives from proposed ICM sites, such as Guimaras Province, Philippines, and Thua-Thien Hue, Vietnam, also participated in the workshop.
Quest for a Better Life: No Mean Feat for Communities
It has been a busy year for the Stung Hav fishery community as the people seek to find the balance between sustainable livelihood and fishery resource management and protection. For an offsite fishing community which has limited access to basic services, infrastructures and opportunities, searching for the balance is not easy, especially if the “challenges” side appears heavier.
ANAK-Balayan’s Collaborative Approach in Promoting Environmental Education
For almost three years now, a group of dedicated members and leaders of ANAK-Balayan has been visiting schools and communities in Batangas Province, Philippines, in an effort to impart environmental information. Currently, environmental education in public schools is subsumed under science and technology classes but discussions are sometimes limited. This may perhaps explain the limited appreciation of students when it comes to applying practical environmental management skills in their daily lives.
XWOW: Demonstrating Continued Commitment to Sustainable Coastal Development
Xiamen, PR China --- Xiamen continues to play a significant role in promoting sustainable coastal development not only in the East Asian region but also globally. The Municipal Government of Xiamen, United Nations Development Programme China, State Oceanic Administration, China Communications and Transportation Association and PEMSEA jointly organized the 2007 Xiamen World Ocean Week (XWOW), 2 to 6 November 2007. The successful conclusion of the XWOW marked another milestone in Xiamen’s string of achievements, particularly highlighting its role in catalyzing discussions on issues related to sustainable coastal development.
Charting the Future Course of the PNLG
XIAMEN, PR CHINA --- The PEMSEA Network of Local Governments for Sustainable Coastal Development (PNLG) is consistently gaining recognition as an advocacy group for local governments particularly for its critical role in promoting ICM as an effective management framework to achieve sustainable coastal development. In view of the anticipated expansion of the network in parallel with scaling up of ICM programs in the East Asian region, charting its future course was the main focus of the First Executive Committee meeting held on 4 November 2007 in Xiamen, PR China.
Exercising Partnerships in the YSLME
Guangzhou, PR China -- The 4th Project Steering Committee (PSC) meeting of the Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem (YSLME) Project was held on 29-30 November 2007 at Dong Fang Hotel in Guangzhou, to review the achievements and endorse the work programme and budget for 2008.
Forging Partnerships to Save Coral Reefs
Quezon City, Philippines – The Marine Science Institute (MSI) of the University of the Philippines organized a Synthesis Panel Meeting on 30 October 2007 to present an overview of the Coral Reef Targeted Research and Capacity Building for Management (CRTR) Program, its history, progress and plans. The CRTR is a leading coral reef research initiative that provides a coordinated approach to credible, factual and scientifically-proven knowledge for improved coral reef management. It is a research and capacity-building partnership between the Global Environment Facility, The World Bank, the University of Queensland (Australia), the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and approximately 40 research institutes and other partners around the globe.
Cross-sectoral Collaboration in the South China Sea Project
Bangkok, Thailand – The Third Regional Scientific Conference of the UNEP/GEF South China Sea Project was successfully convened in Bangkok, Thailand, from 28-30th November 2007.
PEMSEA on air: "Manila Bay: Challenges and Opportunities"
Manila, Philippines - The challenges and opportunities in the restoration and management of Manila Bay was the focus of the Kalikasan, Kaunlaran! (KK!) radio program on DZRH-AM last 28 November 2007.
PRF Secretariat Services Set to Work
Quezon City, Philippines - After several months of rigorous recruitment, the PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF) Secretariat Services is now fully operational. The PRF Secretariat Services is set to work to provide secretariat support to the PEMSEA regional mechanism, which includes the EAS Partnership Council, the Ministerial Forum, the Regional Partnership Fund, the EAS Congress and the PEMSEA Resource Facility. Moreover, the PRF Secretariat will also facilitate knowledge transfer and capacity building as well as monitor, evaluate and report on adopted work programs and time-bound targets related to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA).
Launching of the Manila Bay Area Environmental Atlas
The Manila Bay Area Environmental Atlas was formally launched on the 9th of November, during the inauguration of the PEMSEA Office Building at the DENR Compound. The launching was led by the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Jose L. Atienza Jr. and PEMSEA Regional Programme Director and Interim Executive Director, Dr. Chua Thia-Eng.
Batangas Gears for Improved Approaches to Addressing Environmental Concerns
A joint meeting of the Batangas Bay Region Environmental Protection Council (BBREPC) and the Provincial Solid Waste Management Board (PSWMB) was held on 14 November in Batangas City, Philippines. The joint meeting was aimed to orient the new executive officials of the province, and the cities and municipalities on existing environmental programs and projects, including the Provincial Strategic Environmental Management Plan (SEMP) which provides a common platform for the coastal and watershed management of the province. The meeting was attended by over 100 participants consisting of members of the BBREPC and PSWMB and representatives of partner institutions and municipalities and cities in Batangas.
Twinning Partners Chart Direction for the Next Three Years
The Third Twinning Workshop on Ecosystem-based Management of Interrelated River Basins, Estuaries and Coastal Seas was successfully held on 17-19 October in Tianjin, PR China.
How to Manage a ‘Natural Grocery’: SDS-SEA Implementation in Lao PDR
“You can see the richness of the biodiversity by just looking at the menu. It’s okay if people gather from the wildlife for their consumption, but when they start doing it for commercial and business purposes, that’s when we start having problems,” Mr. Bouttavong Somvang of the Water Resources Coordination Committee Secretariat (WRCCS) explains while holding out a menu one dinner during field visit in Saravane Province, Lao PDR.
Successful PEMSEA Office Building Inauguration Held
On 9 November, the GEF/UNDP/IMO Regional Programme on Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) inaugurated and officially opened its new office building, located at DENR Compound, Quezon City, Philippines. The inauguration was led by the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Jose L. Atienza Jr.; United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Deputy Representative Kyo Naka; and PEMSEA Regional Programme Director and Interim Executive Director, Dr. Chua Thia-Eng. The occasion was attended by key DENR officials, members of the diplomatic corps, local government officials, partners from national government agencies, private sector and international and nongovernmental organizations, and members of the media.
NOWPAP Officially Joins the EAS Partnership Council
XIAMEN, PR CHINA -- The 12th Intergovernmental Meeting of the Northwest Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP) was held on 23-25 October at Hotel Ramada in Xiamen, PR China to review and endorse NOWPAP’s work plan and budget for 2008 and 2009. PEMSEA participated in the meeting as an observer and prospective partner.
SOC far… SOC good
“So far…so good,” so goes the initial testing of the State of the Coasts (SOC) reporting in Batangas province in the Philippines. Stakeholders regard the SOC as a tool for documenting their progress in meeting their socioeconomic and environmental targets as well as a means to consolidate the various efforts in environmental management in the province.
MDG Midterm Review: Environmental Sustainability Trails Behind
The launching of the Global Millennium Development Goals Report 2007 and the Philippines Midterm Progress Report on the MDGs was held on 10 October at the Manila Hotel in the City of Manila. UNDP Resident Representative Nileema Noble presented the 2007 Global Report while National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Acting Director Augusto B. Santos presented the Philippines Midterm Progress Report. The launch was graced by Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
PEMSEA Welcomes Intern from Vietnam
PEMSEA welcomes Mr. Do Manh Thang, who is from the Danang Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) Project Management Office (PMO) in Vietnam. Mr. Thang joins PEMSEA as part of its Professional Upgrading Program.
22nd International Coastal Cleanup: Volunteerism at Work
On 15 September, volunteers in Batangas province and Manila Bay gathered in selected coastal areas to participate in the 22nd Annual International Coastal Cleanup.
Philippines Implements IIMS Nationwide
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has adopted the Integrated Information Management System for Coastal and Marine Environment (IIMS) as its database platform for the Philippines.
Strengthening Networking among Local Governments: A Way forward for ICM Scaling up
DANANG CITY, VIETNAM --- The 2007 Forum of the PEMSEA Network of Local Governments for Sustainable Coastal Development (PNLG) was successfully organized and conducted as a result of the joint efforts of the People’s Committee of Danang, the PNLG Secretariat, and the PEMSEA Resource Facility, with financial support from the Swedish Environmental Secretariat for Asia. The forum was held in Danang City on 5-7 September, under the theme, “Addressing Coastal Security by Investing in Natural and Man-made Hazards Prevention and Management.”
Successful First Meeting of Executive Committee Chairs
The First Executive Committee (EC) Meeting of the PEMSEA regional mechanism was held at the new PEMSEA Office in Quezon City, Philippines, on 14-15 September..Mr. Hiroshi Terashima, Technical Session Chair for the EAS Partnership Council served as the Acting Chair of the Meeting. Among the priority issues discussed during the gathering were: a) The Global Environment Facility’s approval of the new project on Implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA); b) recruitment of the Executive Director, and c) PEMSEA’s legal personality.
2007 Twinning Workshop to Focus on Policy Reform, Sustainable Financing and Investment for Pollution Reduction
The Seminar on Policy Reform, Sustainable Financing and Investment for Pollution Reduction in the East Asian Seas, to be held 17-19 October in Tianjin, PR China, aims to enable participants to consider and incorporate in project formulation and implementation adequate strategies and approaches to policy reform in managing impacts from river basins and coastal seas, as well as addressing bottlenecks in financing and making investments for pollution reduction.
PEMSEA Welcomes New PRF Secretariat Services Staff
PEMSEA welcomes Dr. Won-Tae Shin, Ms. Kazumi Wakita, Ms. Magnolia Uy and Ms. Jesusa Defensor of the PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF) Secretariat Services and Ms. Vanessa Bautista as library assistant.
PEMSEA Library Expands Collection and Facilities
PEMSEA announces the opening of the new PEMSEA Library. Located in the new PEMSEA building, the PEMSEA Library has a bigger space, and is complete with a reading area and computers to accommodate researchers.
Getting Down to Business – The First Partnership Council Meeting
MANADO CITY, INDONESIA -- The East Asian Seas (EAS) Partnership Council has successfully conducted its first operational meeting in Manado City, Indonesia, last 17-20 July. The Meeting, which was participated in by 11 State Partners and 11 non-State Partners, reached important decisions related to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA).
Newly-elected Executive Committee Chairs to Convene First Meeting
MANILA, PHILIPPINES -- Following the First EAS Partnership Council Meeting in Manado City, Indonesia, the newly-elected Chairs of the Executive Committee are ready to face the challenge and immediately scheduled their first meeting on 14–15 September at the PEMSEA Office, in Manila, to discuss the decisions and actions required by the EAS Partnership Council.
New PEMSEA Partners On Board
MANADO CITY, INDONESIA -- The PEMSEA Partnership has grown bigger with the inclusion of two new non-State Partners. During the First East Asian Seas (EAS) Partnership Council Meeting in Manado City, the International Ocean Institute (IOI) and the Swedish Environmental Secretariat for Asia (SENSA) were officially introduced and welcomed as members of PEMSEA.
State of the Coasts Reporting
QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES -- The development of the State of the Coasts (SOC) reporting system, which is designed to monitor the progress and outcomes of the integrated coastal management (ICM) sites in terms of achieving their sustainable coastal development goals and targets, is one of the key initiatives of PEMSEA under the bridging phase. PEMSEA has undertaken a series of activities in relation to SOC reporting, including the conduct of a Meeting of Experts to discuss the framework for the SOC reporting and a Seminar on the Common Framework for the SOC Reporting during the East Asian Seas Congress 2006 in Haikou City, PR China. Building on the outputs and recommendations from these gatherings and taking into consideration PEMSEA’s 14-year experience on ICM implementation in the region, a template for SOC reporting was developed, based on the framework for sustainable development of coastal areas through ICM implementation.
Stakeholder Consultation and Formulation of SDS-SEA Work Program for Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste is the world’s youngest nation with approximately 750 km of coastline and rich coastal and ocean resources. The country is in the process of rehabilitating and reconstructing its infrastructure, economic structures, and legislative, administrative and governmental institutions, with the primary goals of poverty reduction and equitable and sustainable economic growth.
Danang Gears up for the 2007 PNLG Forum
DANANG, VIETNAM -- Danang City is all set to welcome the participants of the 2007 Forum of the PEMSEA Network of Local Governments for Sustainable Coastal Development (PNLG) scheduled for 5-7 September. The theme of the Forum is “Addressing Coastal Security by Investing in Natural and Man-made Hazards Prevention and Management.” The forum is expected to serve as an effective venue for sharing experiences, lessons learned and knowledge, particularly in integrating “hazard thinking” into the various aspects of local governance.
GEF/World Bank/UNDP/PEMSEA Strategic Partnership Recognized at IW Conference
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) and its Implementing Agencies (United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Environment Programme, and the World Bank) hosted the Fourth Biennial International Waters Conference in Cape Town, South Africa from 31 July-3 August. The purpose of the conference was to share experiences and innovative practices among GEF's global International Waters portfolio (nearly $4 billion), promote learning and capacity building, develop strategies to enhance stakeholder collaboration, and encourage GEF International Waters (IW) projects to apply evolving GEF policies and procedures during implementation.
Coastal Provinces in Vietnam Gear up for Development of Environmental Facilities and Services
The Training Workshop on Financing Sustainable Environmental Projects through Public–Private Partnership was held at Fortuna Hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam, on 27-29 June. Sixty participants from 17 coastal provinces, concerned ministries, state-owned waste management companies and financing institutions attended the workshop. The workshop was co-organized by PEMSEA, the United Nations Environment Programme/Global Programme of Action (UNEP/GPA) and the Vietnam Environment Protection Agency (VEPA), specifically the Integrated River Basin, Coastal and Marine Management Division.
Mass Bleaching and Climate Change Imperiling Coral Reefs Worldwide
LADY ELLIOT ISLAND, AUSTRALIA -- The global extent of the 1997-1998 mass bleaching event, destroying 16 percent of the world’s coral reefs, have fuelled scientific curiosity about the causes of mass bleaching and the implications of these events for future coral reef condition. It has been established that mass bleaching events are caused primarily by increased sea temperatures. Bleached corals can survive if stressful conditions subside soon enough. However, if stresses are severe or persistent, these may cause as much as 90 percent mortality in corals.
PEMSEA Shares Experiences on SDS-SEA Development and Implementation in the Seminar on Maritime Policies and Globalization in Azores, Portugal
PEMSEA participated in the Seminar on Maritime Policies and Globalization in Azores, Portugal from 9 to 10 July. The seminar was one of the series of three seminars organized by the Government of Portugal in preparation for its accession to the Chairmanship of the European Commission.
PEMSEA Website Survey
The PEMSEA website (www.pemsea.org) has been online for a decade, providing partners and stakeholders with a wealth of information, including methodologies and best practices for the effective management of the coasts and seas in the East Asian region, regional news and updates, training opportunities, environmental investments as well as information sheets and interactive activities for young people.
Filling the Drinking Glass: The Quest for Improved Freshwater in Stung Hav Community
In 2006, the Stung Hav Fishery Community implemented the Sustainable Community-based Coastal Resource Management project which focuses mainly on promoting sustainable fishery management, including the implementation of livelihood projects.
Philippines Conducts Seminar/Workshop for the Implementation of ICM as National Strategy
Quezon City, Philippines — The Government of the Philippines, in cooperation with the PEMSEA Resource Facility, conducted a Seminar/Workshop for the Implementation of Executive Order No. 533. The Executive Order was issued by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on 7 June 2006, adopting integrated coastal management (ICM) as the national strategy to ensure the sustainable development of the Philippines’ coastal and marine environment and resources.
PEMSEA shares ICM experiences in Tokyo Bay Conference
Tokyo, Japan – The Nihon University held its 2nd International Conference of the Support Program for Contemporary Educational Needs with the theme “Coastal Zone Management and Projects of Asian Countries — Toward Restoration of Tokyo Bay” on 12 January in Tokyo, Japan. Ms. Kazumi Wakita, PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF) Programme Officer for Partnership Programmes, participated in the conference as a keynote lecturer.
Getting Ready for the East Asian Seas (EAS) Congress 2009
Manila, Philippines — Following the success of the East Asian Seas (EAS) Congress 2006, PEMSEA together with its Partners are again getting ready for the next EAS Congress in 2009. This time, the spotlight is set on the doers on the ground.
Community Engagement Focused in Tropical Coasts Issue
During the East Asian Seas Congress 2006, the role of each stakeholder was highlighted as a crucial element in ocean protection, development and governance. As a way to impart the key lessons learned and actions being undertaken in various parts of the region and even in other areas, the second of two special issues of the Tropical Coasts magazine on the East Asian Seas Congress 2006 has been prepared and is now available.
Chonburi ICM Program Scaled up to Cover Entire Provincial Coastline
CHONBURI, THAILAND -- An ICM scaling up declaration ceremony was held in Pattaya City, Banglamung District, Chonburi Province on 23 January to welcome the participation of the municipalities of Nong Mai Daeng and Na Jom Tien into the Chonburi Integrated Coastal Management Program.
Towards Stronger Fishery Management in Batangas Province
Fisheries is one of the major sources of livelihood in Batangas Province, Philippines. The province, at the same time, is faced with varying issues including declining fish catch, use of destructive fishing methods and conflict arising from overlapping jurisdictions among municipalities.
The 2nd Executive Committee (EC) meeting and Partnership Night held in Manila
Manila, Philippines -- The 2nd meeting of the Executive Committee (EC) of the East Asian Seas Partnership Council was convened on 14–15 March at PEMSEA Office Building in Manila, Philippines. The meeting was in preparation for the 2nd Partnership Council meeting in July 2008.
Bataan Coastal Land and Sea-use Zoning Plan Published
Bataan, Philippines - The Bataan Coastal Care Foundation has published the Coastal Land- and Sea-use Zoning Plan (CLSUZP). The publication, released last 12 February, will help in resolving resource-use conflicts in the province.