Sihanoukville, Cambodia — Sihanoukville is one of the favorite tourist spots in Cambodia, next to Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. It has been identified by the Royal Government of Cambodia as one of the strategic development areas in the country in order to improve the national economy.

 

The increasing number of tourists in recent years, however, is creating several socioeconomic and environmental problems. Poorly planned built-up areas are degrading environmental quality, particularly beach areas, leading to complaints among tourists.

 

Manila, Philippines — In line with the recognition of PEMSEA as an International Legal Personality, PEMSEA has embarked on a transformation process towards building PEMSEA into a full-fledged international organization.

 

Chonburi, Thailand — Participants from Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam were enlightened with the new techniques that they have learned during the recently conducted training workshop on Shoreline Assessment and Clean up. The training was aimed to enhance awareness and understanding of relevant personnel on the principles and process of assessing oiled shorelines, environmental effects of various clean up techniques, and principal shoreline methods and guidelines in planning and developing a shoreline clean up plan. Dr. Ruth Yender and Mr.

Manila, Philippines — Representatives from East Asian countries and regional programmes and organizations convened for two days to assess the status and challenges to sustainable management of the East Asian Seas region, and to identify the future role of and support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

 

Chonburi, Thailand — The Fourth National Contact Points Meeting on the Implementation of the Framework Programme on Partnerships in Oil Spill Preparedness and Response in the Gulf of Thailand was held on 22 November 2010 in Chonburi, Thailand. The meeting was attended by national contact points from Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam, relevant government agencies in Thailand, industry partners, namely, the Industry Environmental Safety Group of Thailand (IESG) and Oil Spill Response Limited, and PEMSEA.

 

Kobe, Japan — On Thursday, July 1, 2010, the International EMECS Center held an EMECS International Seminar at Lasse Hall in Kobe, Japan. The theme of the seminar was "Challenges and approaches toward the implementation of The World Coastal Integrated Management (ICM)." The seminar featured presenta­tions on issues and efforts relating to integrated coastal management in Chesapeake Bay and the Mediterranean, as well as a discussion on how to achieve sustainable developm­ent from an economic standpoint.

Toyama, Japan — As requested by the member states at the recently convened 15th NOWPAP Intergovernmental Meeting (IGM) in Moscow, the Regional Coordinating Unit (RCU) of NOWPAP has started consultations with the Regional Activity Centres on the development of the NOWPAP Medium-term Strategy in order to enhance NOWPAP implementation.

 

Toyama, Japan — The UNEP Year Book 2011 - Emerging Issues in Our Changing Global Environment - was launched recently. It is the 8th edition of the UNEP flagship report which examines global emerging issues and provides the latest environmental science.

 

Nairobi, Kenya — NOWPAP officers attended the 7th Meeting of the Regional Scientific and Technical Panel and Project Steering Committee for the UNDP/GEF Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem (YSLME) Project in PR China and the meeting of the Coordinators of UNEP-administered Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans in Nairobi, Kenya.

 

NOWPAP at the YSLME Meeting

 

Koh Rong Samloem, Preah Sihanouk Province, Cambodia — A hands-on training course organized by the Regional Fisheries Livelihoods Programme for South and Southeast Asia (RFLP) has helped raise awareness and understanding amongst Cambodian government, marine police and navy personnel of the importance of fisheries resource management.