The First Meeting of the SCS SAP Regional Working Group on Wetlands

The First Meeting of the SCS SAP Regional Working Group on Wetlands (RWG-W) was held on December 7, 2021, via teleconference, to revitalize the working group and initiate the project implementation activities for the wetland focal area. The RWG-W is responsible for coordinating the work of National Wetland Committees in participating countries, ensuring the effective implementation of project activities towards wetland management targets, and providing a mechanism for the exchange of information and experience. The main objectives of the meeting were to formally establish the RWG-W and elect its officers , present and discuss the Strategic Action Programme (SAP) targets for wetlands and selected sites , review the SAP implementation status from 2008-2020 , and discuss the execution arrangements and workplans for 2021-2022. A key topic was the revision of SAP targets at the national level, building upon recent initiatives and best practices, as the original targets were adopted in 2008. The meeting also reviewed the Provisional Terms of Reference for the group and heard national presentations on achievements and future plans from Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Philippines, and Thailand. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands Secretariat presented on how the project can leverage the convention's framework and tools. The project aims to achieve the integrated management of 813,647 hectares of coastal wetland at 19 priority sites. The outcomes of this meeting set the stage for the signing of legal agreements and the commencement of national-level project execution.

 FIRST RWG-WETLANDS FULL MEETING REPORT