http://www.pemsea.org PEMSEA 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. daily 1 2008-12-01T20:03:25Z http://www.pemsea.org/about-pemsea/pemsea-news/the-2008-pnlg-forum-too-much-water-too-little-water-too-polluted-water The PEMSEA Network of Local Governments for Sustainable Coastal Development (PNLG), which held its seventh annual forum in Sihanoukville, Cambodia on 19-21 November 2008, tackled water resources protection, utilization and management issues and challenges at the local government level. In sum, for local governments across the region, water supply and management are regarded as increasingly critical aspects of sustainable development due to changing weather patterns, migration to coastal areas, pollution and overexploitation of freshwater sources, and changes in consumption and use patterns. No publisher webmaster 2009-01-05T11:43:47Z News Item http://www.pemsea.org/about-pemsea/pemsea-news/guimaras-province-joins-the-pnlg Following the establishment of Guimaras Province (Philippines) as a PEMSEA ICM parallel site showcasing management of an island ecosystem in August 2008, the Province became the newest member of the PEMSEA Network of Local Governments for Sustainable Coastal Development. PNLG member local governments and participants to the 2008 PNLG Forum (see related article) witnessed the formal induction of Guimaras during its General Assembly Meeting in November. Guimaras Province is the 24th member local government of the PNLG. No publisher webmaster 2009-01-05T04:25:26Z News Item http://www.pemsea.org/about-pemsea/pemsea-news/green-and-go-for-river-basin-management-in-xedone Pakse, Lao PDR - It was the day before the annual boat racing festival in Lao and the crowds are ecstatic. People are flocking to the riverbanks - selling food, trinkets and various local goods. At close to midnight, people are still watching a group of dragonboat racers rowing their way along the Mekong. No publisher webmaster 2009-01-05T05:31:17Z News Item http://www.pemsea.org/about-pemsea/pemsea-news/cambodia-gears-up-for-3rd-phase-of-sds-sea-implementation Following almost a year of consultations and discussions, the Royal Government of Cambodia has officially confirmed its commitment to the three-year implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA). The Memorandum of Agreement which identifies the key areas of partnership, was signed by Dr. Mok Mareth, Senior Minister and Minister of Environment, and Prof. Raphael P.M. Lotilla, Executive Director of the PEMSEA Resource Facility on 19 November 2008. No publisher webmaster 2009-01-05T04:35:49Z News Item http://www.pemsea.org/about-pemsea/pemsea-news/world-ocean-week-in-xiamen-hhighlights-marine-ecological-civilization Xiamen, PR China - The Xiamen Municipal Government, in coordination with the State Oceanic Administration, PEMSEA and the United Nations Development Programme (China), has successfully organized and conducted the 2008 World Ocean Week in Xiamen (XWOW). No publisher webmaster 2009-01-05T04:36:31Z News Item http://www.pemsea.org/about-pemsea/pemsea-news/climate-change-adaptation-strategies-for-coasts-and-oceans An Experts' Forum held at the Philippines' Senate brought together the academe, policymakers, government officials, nongovernmental entities and other stakeholders to examine issues, priorities and strategies relating to climate change adaptation. Presided by Senator Pia Cayetano, former Chair of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, the forum objectives were to: (1) identify the consequences of climate change on coasts and oceans and relevant measures for adaptation; (2) facilitate the sharing of information on adaptation strategies addressed by various concerned institutions; and (3) build consensus on the urgent need for adaptation actions among stakeholders including policy and law makers. No publisher webmaster 2009-01-05T04:37:18Z News Item http://www.pemsea.org/about-pemsea/pemsea-news/laem-chabang-port-develops-port-safety-and-management-policy Responding to the challenges facing the port authorities and operators regarding sustainable development, the Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) has embarked on the development of a Port Safety, Health and Environmental Management System (PSHEMS) on its Laem Chabang port. No publisher webmaster 2009-01-05T04:37:49Z News Item http://www.pemsea.org/about-pemsea/pemsea-news/water-to-run-dry-by-2025 Water is an indispensable resource for human existence. It is needed for living, livelihoods, sanitation, agriculture and industry, among others. A resource traditionally viewed to be with an inexhaustible supply, the increasing population, high urban poverty, unabated pollution and other factors, including climate change, are symptoms and causes of a serious water shortage in the next 20 years. No publisher webmaster 2009-01-05T04:38:34Z News Item http://www.pemsea.org/about-pemsea/pemsea-news/registration-now-open-for-the-east-asian-seas-congress-2009 Registration has opened for the East Asian Seas (EAS) Congress 2009, a pioneering region-wide platform for capacity building, strategic action and cooperation for the sustainable development of the seas of East Asia to be held on 23-27 November 2009, in Manila, Philippines. No publisher webmaster 2009-01-05T04:39:07Z News Item http://www.pemsea.org/about-pemsea/pemsea-news/pemsea-icm-level-1-model-course-launched-through-a-regional-icm-tot-course "ICM is about changing the mindset." This was the focus of the presentation by Dr. Luky Adrianto of Bogor Agricultural University, Indonesia, during the ICM Level 1 Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop held in Manila and Batangas, Philippines, last 21-29 October 2008. Dr. Adrianto stressed to his co-participants, coming from different coastal and ocean management-related backgrounds, that one has to have an open mind and the readiness to change the mindset about ICM if the different "brands" of coastal and ocean management are to be harmonized under one management framework. No publisher webmaster 2008-11-24T09:47:38Z News Item