The First Meeting of the Regional Working Group on Land-Based Pollution

The First Meeting of the Regional Working Group on Land-Based Pollution (RWG-LbP) of the SCS SAP Project was held as a teleconference on December 13, 2022. The RWG-LbP is responsible for coordinating the work of National Land-Based Pollution Committees, ensuring effective implementation of project activities for land-based pollution management targets, and facilitating the exchange of information and experience in this area. The main objectives of this inaugural meeting included: formally establishing the Regional Working Group and its members ; reviewing and presenting the SCS Project outputs and the SAP targets for land-based pollution, with an invitation to review, amend and adopt the targets ; and presenting and discussing the status of SAP implementation achievements on land-based pollution from 2008-2021, including sharing best practices. A critical function of the meeting was to review and discuss the prioritization of land-based pollution activities for project implementation and to discuss the executing arrangements and work plans for 2022-2023. Participants included the Chairpersons of the National Land-based Pollution Committees from countries like Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam, as well as the SCS SAP Project Coordination Unit members and invited regional experts. The Chairperson and Vice-Chair were to be elected from amongst its members.