The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) is currently implementing the project entitled “Implementing the Strategic Action Programme for the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand” (SCS SAP Project) which aims to assist countries in meeting the targets of the coastal and marine environment components of the approved Strategic Action Programme (SAP) for the South China Sea through implementation of the National Action Plans in support of the SAP, and strengthening the regional co-ordination for the South China Sea SAP implementation.       

This SCS SAP Project will be implemented for five years, with a funding support of USD 15 Million from GEF and co-financed by USD 81 Million from participating countries. The project will be executed with the support of United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) in partnership with the Ministries responsible for environment in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

The Strategic Action Programme (SAP) is the key output of the previous UNEP/GEF project entitled “Reversing Environmental Degradation Trends in the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand” implemented during the period 2002-2008. The SAP, which was intergovernmentally adopted in 2008, established a series of objectives and priority costed actions for coastal habitats, land-based pollution management, and the over-exploitation of fish stocks in the South China Sea. See http://www.unepscs.org/

Project Objective and Components

The SCs SAP project objective is: To assist countries in meeting the targets of the approved Strategic Action Programme (SAP) for the marine and coastal environment of the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand through implementation of the National Action Plans in support of the SAP, and strengthening regional co-ordination for South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand SAP implementation.

This will be achieved through the following Components:

Component 1. Reducing habitat degradation and loss via national and local reforms to achieve Strategic Action Programme targets for coastal habitat management in the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand 

• Outcome 1.1 Appropriate forms of sustainable management established for 860,000 ha of mangrove by Yr 5
• Outcome 1.2 153,000 ha of coral reef at 82 priority sites managed sustainably by Yr 5, including a reduction in the decadal rate of degradation in live coral cover from 16 to 5%
• Outcome 1.3 Conservation, management and sustainable use of 25,900 ha of known seagrass area in the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand by Yr 5                           
• Outcome 1.4 Integrated management of 783,900 ha of coastal wetland at 19 sites, including habitat restoration and protection strengthened at priority locations
• Outcome 1.5 National and regional level cooperation in tracking results of SAP actions for coastal habitat management   

Component 2. Strengthening knowledge-based action planning for the management of coastal habitats and land-based pollution to reduce environmental degradation of the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand

• Outcome 2.1 Enhanced information-base for coastal habitat management, monitoring and action planning
• Outcome 2.2 Effective integration of regional science in the management of land-based pollution
• Outcome 2.3 Strengthened and harmonized national policies and laws, and supporting financial mechanism, for the management of habitats and land-based sources of pollution
• Outcome 2.4 Updated Total Economic Values of coastal habitats for use in development planning and decision-making and blue economy
• Outcome 2.5 Regionally appropriate tools and mechanisms to guide the development of sustainable management systems for coastal habitats and land-based pollution
• Outcome 2.6 Updated and Ministerially adopted Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis and Strategic Action Programme, including prioritization of national management actions to address climate variability and change

Component 3. Facilitating regional and national level integration and cooperation for implementation of the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand Strategic Action Programme

• Outcome 3.1 Regional and sub-regional co-operation in the integration of scientific knowledge and research outputs with management and policy making
• Outcome 3.2 Capacity for civil society and community organization participation in SAP implementation strengthened via operational partnership with GEF SGP
• Outcome 3.3 Relationships between central and local governments and the private sector strengthened and formalized
• Outcome 3.4 Revitalization of regional mechanisms for communications, knowledge exchange, and information and data management and sharing
• Outcome 3.5 Agreed arrangements for strengthened regional cooperation in the management of the marine and coastal environment of the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand