News

[NOWPAP] International Coastal Cleanup and training workshop

2008-10-15T09:24:47Z

The NOWPAP Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter (RAP MALI) is being implemented since March 2008, after its approval by the four NOWPAP member states. The 2008 NOWPAP International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) and Training Workshop were held in Vladivostok, Russian Federation on 26-28 September, as one of RAP MALI activities. Representatives of the member states and the Regional Activity Centres (RACs) of NOWPAP and its partners such as COBSEA (Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia), YSLME (Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem) and Ocean Conservancy (which initiated the ICC campaigns in 1986) attended the events. In addition, Russian students, NGOs, media representatives and general public also participated.

At the training workshop on 26 September, 12 presentations were given to share national case studies on the ICC campaigns and related activities in the NOWPAP region as well as beyond the region (e.g., East Asian countries). The global vision of the ICC campaign as a year around movement was presented by the representative of Ocean Conservancy. An on-site training for ICC beach cleanup was conducted in Schitovaya Bay, Vladivostok on 27 September. Fifty participants collected approximately 40 kg of marine litter. After the on-site training, there was a small group meeting to exchange views on the annual ICC campaign in the NOWPAP region as part of outreach strategies to address marine litter issues. The meeting encouraged China and Russia to continue their efforts to organize national ICC campaigns after they have recently joined this kind of activity through the NOWPAP projects on marine litter implemented over last three years.

A working meeting was held on 28 September, back-to-back with the workshop and on-site training of ICC, to discuss the current progress on the implementation of RAP MALI. Further activities to be carried out in the 2008-2009 biennium were also discussed in-depth.

International Symposium on the Conservation of East-Asian Coastal Wetlands on 27th October 2008 in the city of Changwon, Republic of Korea

2008-10-15T08:45:13Z

The Yellow Sea Project is co-organising the International Symposium on the Conservation of East-Asian Coastal Wetlands on 27th October 2008 in the city of Changwon, Republic of Korea, This symposium held immediately prior to the Ramsar COP 10 meeting and in the same city, seeks alternative ways of protecting wetlands from intense development imperatives in the East Asian region.

Please download below detail.

http://yslme.org/pres/tor/Tentative_schedule_on_East_Asian_Coastal_Wetlands-ver%206_web.doc

Vacancies in NOWPAP RCU

2008-08-19T12:36:37Z

UNEP has started recruitment of new NOWPAP RCU staff members (starting date – 1 April 2009): Administrative Officer for Toyama office and Scientific Affairs Officer for Busan office. Deadlines for applications are 14 and 17 October 2008, respectively.

[YSLME] YSLME Newsletter No.4 Vol.3 (2008.04 - 2008.06) is online for download.

2008-07-30T12:39:18Z

The YSLME Newsletter No.4 Vol.3 (2008.04 - 2008.06) is online for download. [Newsletter]

http://www.yslme.org/pub/Newsletter/newsletter%20vol4%20no3.pdf

01   1st Fisheries Stock Assessment Workshop Concluded
02 3rd SAP Ad-hoc Meeting & 2nd Special PSC Meeting
03   World Aquaculture Society (WAS) 2008 - YSLME Special Session
04 First Ocean Colour 2008 Meeting Successfully Convened During 7th WESTPAC Scientific Symposium
05 The Summer Co-operative Cruise Will Soon be Underway
06   Korea University Students Visit PMO
07   Small Grants 2008 Awards
08   Competitions Held During World Ocean Day
09 DINRAC Workshop
10   NMEMC and Liaoning Province, China, Host a Marine Assessment Workshop
11   Euidea returns to the PMO
12   Upcoming events

[YSLME] New publication was published, the "Guideline for Economic Analyses of Environmental Management Actions for the Yellow Sea".

2008-07-29T09:01:02Z

New publication was published, the Guideline for Economic Analyses of Environmental Management Actions for the Yellow Sea,

and it is downloadable from http://www.yslme.org/pub/pdf/econ%20guide_final.pdf.

Guideline for Economic Analyses of Environmental Management Actions for the Yellow Sea

_{Isao Endo
UNDP/GEF Project entitled “Reducing Environmental Stress in the Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem” (YSLME Project)
Project Management Office
Ansan, Republic of Korea}

[NOWPAP] New activities set for NOWPAP Regional Activity Centres

2008-07-16T05:54:21Z

In May-June 2008, three NOWPAP Regional Activity Centres (DINRAC, MERRAC and POMRAC) held their Focal Points Meetings (CEARAC Meeting has been held in March 2008). All four NOWPAP Regional Activity Centres (RACs) have reviewed their progress and agreed on new projects for 2008-2009 biennium. In addition to continuing their routine tasks, NOWPAP RACs will implement the following activities:

• Improve the Internet Communication System among NOWPAP members to provide relevant data and information about marine environment quality in the region in order to serve as a clearing house;
• Carry out case studies on harmful algal blooms (HAB) in NOWPAP member states, develop HAB integrated website and procedures for assessing coastal eutrophication, conduct second training course on remote sensing data analysis;
• Organize 2nd NOWPAP Joint Oil Spill Exercise in Qingdao, China in 2008 and a regional workshop to share the experiences in the cleanup of the Hebei Spirit oil spill (occurred in December 2007 in the Republic of Korea);
• Integrate Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) into the existing NOWPAP Regional Oil Spill Contingency Plan, develop HNS response operations guidelines, training manual and database;
• Carry out activities related to Integrated Coastal and River Basin Management (ICARM) with involvement of all NOWPAP RACs and in cooperation with partners such as PEMSEA, organize a workshop during the 2009 East Asian Seas Congress;
• Implement the NOWPAP Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter (RAP MALI).

[PEMSEA] The Philippines Announces the Hosting of the East Asian Seas Congress 2009

2008-07-01T10:48:35Z

The Philippines Announces the Hosting of the East Asian Seas Congress 2009

The Government of the Philippines through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) announced today, 5 June 2008, its hosting of the East Asian Seas (EAS) Congress 2009, to be held in Manila on 23-27 November 2009 at the Philippine International Convention Center. Through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between DENR and the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA), the Philippines formalized its commitment to host the international event and provide the necessary in-country support and preparations. The MOA was signed between DENR Secretary Jose L. Atienza, Jr. and PEMSEA Executive Director Raphael P. M. Lotilla.

To ensure the successful organization and conduct of the EAS Congress 2009, a National Organizing Committee (NOC) led by the DENR has been organized with support from key government agencies including, Foreign Affairs, Tourism, Budget and Management, Interior and Local Government, Office of the President, Customs, Metro Manila Development Authority, Manila International Airport and the Philippine Information Agency.

In line with the EAS Congress theme, “Partnerships at Work: Local Implementation and Good Practices,” Mr. Lotilla emphasized the importance of the Congress as it will highlight initiatives at the local level, as well as review progress of the East Asian region with respect to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA), the regional blueprint adopted by the countries of East Asia to ensure the sustainability of the East Asian Seas. Secretary Atienza reinforced the department’s commitment to the environment by balancing out the energy used, travels made and waste produced by the conference through offsetting activities such as tree-planting.

Also in attendance to witness the signing ceremony are DENR regional directors, bureau and service directors, and PEMSEA officers and staff.

The East Asian Seas Congress 2009 is supported by the Global Environment Facility, the United Nations Development Programme, and the United Nations Office for Project Services and the Coastal Management Center.

About the Congress

The East Asian Seas (EAS) Congress is a triennial event that was first conducted in 2003. It is a pioneering region-wide platform for capacity building, strategic action and cooperation for the sustainable development of the Seas of East Asia. The Congress will feature the Third Ministerial Forum, the International Conference on Sustainable Coastal and Ocean Development, the Third EAS Partnership Council Meeting, the Second EAS Youth Forum, an Environmental Exhibition on Good Practices and Innovative Technologies, Field Visits, and other side events. It will bring to Manila experts and practitioners from the region and outside, as well as government officials, NGOs and the private sector to tackle implementation issues in the coastal and ocean zones including the impact of climate change and other natural and man-made hazards.

About PEMSEA

PEMSEA was first established in 1993 as the Regional Programme on the Prevention and Management of Marine Pollution in the East Asian Seas. In 1999, it entered its second phase as the Regional Programme on Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia. PEMSEA was transformed from a project-based initiative into a regional coordinating mechanism for the implementation of the SDS-SEA in December 2006. Participating countries of PEMSEA are Cambodia, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Indonesia, Japan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, People’s Republic of China, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.

The objective of PEMSEA is to coordinate and support the efforts of participating governments and non-state partners to develop and manage the coastal and marine environment and resources of the Seas of East Asia in a sustainable manner in accordance with the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA). The SDS-SEA was adapted by participating countries in 2003, as their common framework for managing marine and coastal resources sustainably, as well as a platform for intergovernmental and multisectoral cooperation. PEMSEA receives financial support from the Global Environment Facility through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) as the executing agency.

About DENR

The Government of the Philippines has been host to the Project since its establishment in 1993, with the PEMSEA holding its offices within the DENR compound.