The workshop dealt with policy reforms, sustainable financing and investments on pollution reduction in the East Asian Seas. The workshop was attended by 42 representatives from Cambodia, DPR Korea, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, PR China, RO Korea, Vietnam, USA, and PEMSEA, who shared their experiences, and good policies and practices.

Based on the presentations and discussions made, some good policies and practices that can be replicated or adapted were identified. These are:

• Forging alliances (or partnerships) among local governments and stakeholders in coastal areas with their counterparts in the upland areas of associated watersheds;
• A combination of “polluter-pays” and “beneficiary-pays” policies;
• Successful outcomes are more likely to be achieved when projects are initiated at manageable and affordable scales, providing the foundation for larger scale projects and programs;
• Twinning arrangements between nations can expand the use of environmental best management practices; and
• Communications and governance is essential in attracting investments and regulating development.

One of the highlights of the workshop was the program of work for the twinning partners over the next three years. The discussion focused on: (1) building capacities in ecosystem-based management; (2) establishing and operationalizing the Twinning Secretariat to be hosted by RO Korea in 2008; and (3) development and implementation of investment plans for pollution reduction in selected river basins. The first year will focus on identifying priority river basins within three hotspot sites, namely Bohai Sea (China), Manila Bay (Philippines) and Jakarta Bay (Indonesia), as demonstration areas for pollution reduction. The second year will focus on developing and promoting investment plans for pollution reduction in the priority areas. The third year will focus on documenting the development, implementation and results of pollution reduction programs and its replication.

The 4th Twinning Workshop on Ecosystem-based Management of Interrelated River Basins, Estuaries and Coastal Seas to be hosted by Indonesia will be held in October 2008 in Jakarta.