FISHERIES REFUGIA PROJECT SITES (Fisheries Linkages)
About the South China Sea
SCS Strategic Action Programme
Project Document
Stronger together: SCSSAP retreat fosters collaborative action
Following the 26th Intergovernmental Meeting of COBSEA in Siem Reap, members of the South China Sea Strategic Action Programme (SCS SAP) participated in a two-day strategic retreat aimed at strengthening cross-border collaboration for marine conservation.
The retreat focused on developing practical solutions for regional environmental challenges, particularly important given the program's operation across multiple Southeast Asian nations. Through collaborative exercises, participants explored how to better align individual country priorities with regional conservation goals while building stronger inter-team relationships.
United for marine protection at COBSEA's East Asian Seas Meeting
The 26th Intergovernmental Meeting of the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) convened in Siem Reap, Cambodia on 23-25 October 2024. The meeting brought together delegates from all nine COBSEA participating countries: Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
COBSEA nations convene for stronger marine and coastal ecosystem management
Siem Reap, Cambodia – The Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) convened its Working Group on Marine and Coastal Ecosystems in Siem Reap, Cambodia, on 21-22 October 2024. Representatives from the nine COBSEA member countries – Cambodia, China, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam – gathered to address pressing challenges facing the region's vital marine environments. The meeting facilitated the sharing of national updates and progress, aiming to advance collaborative solutions outlined in the Marine and Coastal Ecosystems (MCE) Framework adopted by COBSEA in 2023.
A central theme of the meeting was the importance of adopting an integrated approach to coastal management. Recognizing the interconnectedness of marine habitats, participants emphasized the need to manage mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs as a cohesive whole, maximizing the benefits of ecological synergies.
Strategic collaboration in tackling the triple planetary crises in the East Asian Seas region
The SCS SAP Project and the UNEP Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) will convene a session on "Strategic Collaboration in Tackling the Triple Planetary Crises in the East Asian Seas Region: Climate Change and Marine Impacts; Nature and Marine Biodiversity Loss; Marine Pollution" on 7 November 2024 at the PEMSEA EAS Congress 2024 in Xiamen, China. The session objective is to encourage collaborative efforts amongst regional marine organizations in the East Asian Seas to address the triple planetary crises.
Aside from SCS SAP Project and COBSEA, key regional organizations like PEMSEA, IUCN, UNESCO/IOC-WESTPAC, NEAMPAN and ACB will share their experiences, thoughts and insights on collaborative efforts and approaches and how these could transform into a strategic partnership. For more details, please visit the EAS Congress 2024.
2nd Meeting of the Regional Scientific and Technical Committee
The 2nd Meeting of the Regional Scientific and Technical Committee (RSTC) was held on 23-25 July 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand, with participation from National Technical Focal Points and Technical Staff from Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, together with Regional Working Group (RWG) chairpersons, regional experts, regional partners, and with support by the National Coordinators and Project Coordination Unit. The meeting was also attended by Ms. Isabelle Vanderbeck, UNEP Task Manager, and Mr. Anders Poulsen, Senior Project Manager of the SCS SAP Project. During the meeting, the process for updating of the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) and Strategic Action Programme (SAP) and the potentials for regional data and knowledge management processes for the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand were discussed. The updated TDA and SAP, as well as effective regional knowledge management processes, are considered key outcomes of the SCS-SAP project, and can be used by SCS countries - and the region as a whole - to mobilize future support for multiple national commitments related to climate, biodiversity and the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 and beyond.
Harnessing science for the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand: Special Forum highlights solutions for improved management
BANGKOK, 22 April 2024 — A critical forum kicks off today at the 2nd UN Ocean Decade Regional Conference and 11th WESTPAC International Marine Science Conference focusing on science-driven strategies for managing and preserving the rich ecosystems of the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand and will run until 24 April at the Berkeley Hotel Pratunam in Bangkok, Thailand. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), will convene the Special Forum that explores how scientific knowledge can translate into tangible environmental improvements.
Scientists and representatives from the governments of Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, who are key stakeholders of the South China Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, as well as lead conservation experts from across the Asia Pacific region will gather to discuss sustainable development in the South China Sea. Over the course of three-days, they will share observations from multiple initiatives that have been conceived to boost the ‘blue economy' in the region’s most affected areas. Discussions will also cover the different challenges being faced by communities and ecosystems along Thailand’s coast, including the impact of tourism on the coral reef ecosystem around Koh Mak Island. Additionally, reports from fishermen operating in overlapping fishing areas and coastal dolphin habitats in the Middle Gulf of Southern Thailand will be presented. Attendees will also learn about reef coral decline and adaptive solutions for coral reef conservation in Nui Chua National Park in Vietnam.
The South China Sea is a biodiversity hotspot under increasing pressure from overexploitation, habitat degradation, and pollution. The Gulf of Thailand and the South China Sea are interconnected large marine ecosystems, sharing water, marine life, and even environmental threats. Their connection means that pollution or habitat loss in one can impact the other, underscoring the need for a unified management approach.
China Organizes Expert Consultation Meeting to Discuss Execution of Site Level Activities
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South China Institute of Environmental Sciences (SCIES), Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of China has organized an expert consultation meeting on SCS SAP Project PCA (Project Cooperation Agreement) on 14 July 2022 as part of the UNEP/GEF “Implementing the Strategic Action Programme for the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand (SCS SAP Project). The objectives of this meeting were to discuss activities of habitats including mangroves, seagrass and coastal wetland to be implemented during 2022-2023 in China. The meeting took the form of combination of online and offline. Participated by about 40 participants, the meeting was chaired by Dr. Xiangbin Pei, who is China’s national coordinator of the UNEP/GEF SCS SAP Project.
Cambodia Finalizes National and Site Level Activities for Execution
The Ministry of Environment of Cambodia has organized a national consultation workshop from 24-25 February 2022 in Kampot Province as part of the UNEP/GEF “Implementing the Strategic Action Programme for the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand (SCS SAP Project).
Participated in by 32 participants, the workshop discussed and finalized the project activities and budget for national and site level execution, which will form part of the agreements between MOE and UNOPS that will support the execution of project activities in Cambodia. A total of 12 sites (three sites for each habitat) were identified for the restoration and management of mangrove, coral reef, seagrass and wetland habitats in the four coastal provinces in Cambodia. It is expected to achieve the targets of 33,978 has of mangroves, 1,080 has of coral reefs, 3,231 has of seagrasses and 21,052 has of wetlands under sustainable use and management.
In Recognition of Mike Baumann (1967-2022)
It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Michael Francois Baumann last month, in Pattaya, Thailand.
Mike has been a key contributor and behind the scenes to both the initial South China Sea project (http://www.unepscs.org/) and now the SCS SAP Implementation Project (https://scssap.org/) and the Fisheries Refugia Project (https://fisheries-refugia.org/) providing his services in the design and development, hosting and maintenance, data security and network solutions, backups, and updating of the UNEPSCS, SCSSAP, and Fisheries-Refugia websites and associated databases. He has also worked in various UN organizations such as UNEP, UNDP and FAO, and regional organizations and projects such as SEAFDEC, COBSEA and SOPAC. He also is responsible for the development of GEF funded project web-sites such as the SOPAC/GEF Pacific IWRM Project and Pacific R2R Project websites and associated databases (http://www.pacific-iwrm.org and https://www.pacificr2r.org/).
