The International Conference will gather various stakeholders -
policymakers, resource and economic managers, business professionals,
scientists, members of the academe, local and international NGOs, youth
and community representatives and other members of civil society from
within and outside the East Asian Seas region - to engage in knowledge
sharing and partnership building.
The International Conference will feature six major Conference
Themes that cover essential aspects of sustainable coastal and ocean
development. A series of workshops, seminars and interactive sessions
will be organized under each theme, providing the more than 1000
participants from the region and other parts of the world with access
to a wealth of experience and expertise in improved governance and
management of the regional ocean and its resources.
The six major themes include: a) Coastal and Ocean Governance; b)
Natural and Man-made Hazard Prevention and Management; c) Habitat
Protection, Restoration and Management; d) Water Use and Supply
Management; e) Food Security and Livelihood Management; and f)
Pollution Reduction and Waste Management.
Goals and Objectives
- Serve as venue for sharing of experiences, developments and lessons
learned in the application of integrated and ecosystem-based approaches
to the management of coastal and ocean-related ecosystems and natural
resources;
- Assess the progress made since the EAS Congress 2006, including the
implementation in the region of international environmental
instruments, and identify remaining challenges and new approaches/best
practices that would help address concerns at the local, national and
regional levels;
- Highlight both the achievements and best practices at the local
level related to coastal and ocean management, as well as some of the
failures at the local level and lessons learned from such
experiences;
- Promote collaboration and partnerships at the local, national,
subregional and regional level to help overcome governance, finance,
scientific, communication and capacity barriers in effective coastal
and oceans management;
- Based on the consensus or key points identified in various
workshops/ seminars, provide recommendations to the Ministers and
PEMSEA Partners to contribute in the advancement and further
strengthening of the implementation of the SDS-SEA.
Themes and Topics At-a-Glance*
The detailed Congress Programme may be downloaded in the Downloads
Section. Themes and/or topics are subject to change.
* As of 17 November 2008
National Coastal and Ocean
Policies Development: Towards Improving Ocean Security
The session aims to: confirm major coastal and
policy issues, existing and emerging, across countries of the EAS
region; review policy approaches to coastal and ocean management and
their level of application; and outline various good practices and
policies in coastal and ocean management/governance.
Contributions of Marine
Economic Sectors to National/subnational GDP
The session aims to: discuss difficulties,
processes and initiatives undertaken in various countries in relation
to assessing the contributions of marine economic sectors to
national/subnational GDP; assess possible areas of standardization or
common methodologies for determining the contributions of marine areas
and sectors to GDPs; and explore interest and opportunities for
collaboration and networking on such initiatives.
The Continental Shelf:
Post-May 2009 Perspectives
The session aims to: serve as a venue for
academic discussion and sharing of information/perspectives on country
submissions/continental shelf claims and present cooperative
arrangements and opportunities in shared marine areas.
Addressing Transboundary
Issues through Regional/subregional Seas Cooperation: Initiatives in
East Asia
The session aims to: share information on new
initiatives or programs of various regional and subregional seas
initiatives in the seas of East Asia; outline key transboundary issues,
strategies adopted and actions taken at the regional and subregional
levels and their implications; delineate good practices in managing
transboundary issues; and determine areas of collaboration between and
among the regional and subregional initiatives.
The Science in Coastal and
Ocean Management
The session aims to: identify means of
packaging and translating scientific information into policy; examine
options for monitoring and assessing changes and trends in the marine
and coastal environment and adapting management programs to those
changes; review the progress and outcomes of PEMSEA’s State of the
Coasts (SOC) reporting system for local governments.
Land- and Sea- use Zoning,
Foreshore Management and Coastal Reclamation
The session aims to: discuss status and trends
and impacts of land- and sea-use zoning, foreshore management and
coastal reclamation in coastal and ocean management in the EAS region;
highlight lessons learned and good practices, as well as policy and
legislative support provided or should be developed in line with the
issues. A separate interactive session will focus on the ICM Code and
its value in systematizing integrated coastal management within local
government planning, management, operational and support processes for
sustainable institutional, economic, social and environmental
development.
Good Practices in Addressing
Oil and Chemical Spills/shipping Hazards
The session aims to: outline lessons learned
and good practices in addressing oil and chemical spills /shipping
hazards at the local, national and regional levels; review
implementation of national instruments related to oil/chemical spills
and other shipping hazards; and share information and experience on
settlement of claims for compensation.
Meeting Challenges of
Climate Change at the Local Government Level through ICM
The session aims to: outline key challenges of
climate change at the local government level and management responses
or programs developed; demonstrate the use of ICM as a management
framework/strategy in developing/implementing plans /programs to
address climate change; and showcase lessons learned and good practices
of local management measures related to climate change.
Impacts of Climate Change at
the Coastal and Ocean Areas of the East Asian Seas Region
The session aims to: identify the types, level
and severity of the adverse social and economic impacts of climate
change; recognize climate change concerns and impacts in East Asia as
they pertain to various sectors of the economy and society: 1. tourism;
2. fisheries; 3. shipping and maritime industries; 4. insurance
companies; and 5. marginalized sectors of society, including the poor;
and outline strategies, initiatives, and response measures within and
outside the EAS region related to climate change adaptation.
Safety, Security and
Environmental Management in the Maritime Sector
The session aims to: review the status of
implementation of the International Maritime Organization's safety,
security and environmental protection instruments; examine biosafety
issues in the region (i.e., ballast water, antifouling systems;
biofouling, etc.); and showcase lessons learned and good practices in
safety, security and environmental management in the maritime
sector.
Networking of Marine
Protected Areas: Good Practices and Lessons Learned
The session aims to: outline current efforts in
establishing networks of MPAs, their value and major initiatives
undertaken; showcase good practices and lessons learned in networking
of MPAs from within and outside EAS region; and highlight the
partnership/collaborative efforts between international and regional
organizations and local government/communities in managing MPAs.
Habitat Restoration:
Application of Innovative and Low-cost Technology
The session aims to: feature innovative
technologies and approaches in restoring habitats (e.g. mangrove
replanting, coral and seagrass beds restoration, etc.); highlight good
practices in applying technologies and approaches in habitat
restoration; present management measures and or case presentations on
payments for ecosystem services; highlight the roles of the private
sector, local governments and coastal communities in effective
implementation of ecosystem services/funding schemes.
Alternative Energy from
Coasts, Rivers and Oceans
The session aims to: 1) highlight innovative
technologies for alternative energy from coasts, rivers and oceans and
their benefits and impacts; 2) present examples of existing policies
related to the promotion and use of alternative energy from coasts,
rivers and oceans, and their impacts; 3) provide information on costs
and funding availability for alternative energy from oceans. Through a
separate interactive session, the participants will explore
opportunities for local government participation in alternative energy
initiatives.
Good Policies and Practices
in Water Resources Protection, Restoration, Utilization, Conservation
and Management
The session aims to: evaluate the social,
economic and environmental changes occurring in the region and their
impact on water use and management; outline good policies and practices
on the protection, conservation and management of freshwater resources;
showcase innovative technologies, practices and approaches to water
reuse and desalination; and outline financial considerations and
challenges in water resources protection, restoration, utilization and
conservation.
Ensuring Food Security
through Small-scale Sustainable Aquaculture Practices
The session aims to: explore good practices in
aquaculture production; showcase small-scale aquaculture applications
and practices; delve into low cost aquaculture technologies; assess the
potential contribution of aquaculture to food security, alleviation of
poverty, etc.; delineate strategies and actions for sustainable
aquaculture development practices at the local government level.
The Future Role of Fisheries
in an Urbanized World
The session aims to: 1. present the progress of
implementation of international/regional fisheries instruments in East
Asia; 2. present recent efforts to address fisheries issues in the
South China Sea, Gulf of Thailand, Sulu-Sulawesi Seas, Arafura-Timor
Seas and Yellow Sea; 3. examine the challenges and tradeoffs in
providing fisheries livelihoods at the local level; and 4. present case
studies on the role of ICM and co-management in implementing the
ecosystem approach to fisheries management.
Livelihood Management
through Sustainable Coastal Tourism
The session aims to: present international and
national initiatives to promote sustainable coastal tourism and their
applicability at the local level; assess the environmental,
socio-cultural and economic costs and benefits of coastal tourism
activities; and discuss some of the major challenges affecting local
livelihoods on coastal tourism; present case studies on livelihood
management among various communities that have implemented coastal
tourism projects.
Transboundary Pollution
Reduction in River Basins and Coastal Areas
This workshop aims to: present and take lessons
from case studies in the NOWPAP, EAS and other regions on transboundary
pollution reduction in rivers and coastal areas through integrated
management approaches; share good practices and experiences on
integrating pollution reduction measures and tools in river basin
management among established river basin management programs and areas
that are starting the process; and convene an interactive session to
discuss potential investment opportunities for pollution reduction and
promote appropriate financing arrangements among project proponents,
financial institutions and private sector groups.
Scaling up Good Practices in
Pollution Reduction through Strategic Partnerships
The session aims to: showcase innovations and
good practices in policy, technology, economic instruments, and
management arrangements for pollution reduction in watershed and marine
and coastal areas; identify priority locations and approaches to
replicating and scaling up good practices in pollution reduction (e.g.,
ICM sites; priority watershed areas; and national and subregional
pollution hotspots); delineate financing and investment mechanisms in
support of pollution reduction; and explore opportunities for
replication and scaling up of good practices among interested national
and local governments, financial institutions, donors, and the private
sector.
