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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.
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.
EO 533: A Big Step Forward for ICM Implementation in the Philippines
