On 24 April 2026, local fishers and stakeholders participated in a workshop in Chonburi, Thailand, to discuss the implementation of Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs). The initiative seeks to empower local communities to manage coastal waters and mitigate environmental impacts within Udom Bay.

My journey in marine conservation began in 1982 when I joined Task Force Pawikan — a specialized initiative under the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to protect a rapidly declining sea turtle population. I eventually stepped into the role of Project Leader, a position that defined the trajectory of my career and laid the foundation for my current work as National Coordinator for the SCS SAP Project.

Kampot Province, Cambodia (15 May 2026) — In a significant step forward for regional marine and coastal conservation, the Ministry of Environment's General Directorate of Natural Protected Areas (GDNPA) organized a national consultation workshop to discuss designating the Anlung Pring Protected Landscape as Cambodia's sixth Ramsar Site. Held in Kampong Trach District, the workshop brought together 39 key stakeholders, including national ministries, provincial departments, local authorities, rangers, non-governmental organizations, and community leaders. The consultation sought to build trust, foster local ownership, and secure multi-level institutional consent for the proposed nomination.

On April 2026, two significant milestones anchored the SEA Grantees’ progress. In Cambodia, SAMAKY Organization and Khmer Ocean Life (KOL) inaugurated the Kampot Dolphin Visitor Center, the country’s first community-run ecotourism hub dedicated to the Irrawaddy dolphin. Meanwhile, in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, the Women4Mangrove (W4M) network opened a community house in the heart of the forests they have protected for years.

These events were not just a ceremony. The SCS SAP Project’s SEA Grants program, supported by the GEF, UNEP, UNOPS and COBSEA, was announced in 2025. Since the launch of the first cohort later that year, it has been testing a vital theory: can a modest investment of USD 50,000 drive lasting regional impact? The progress reported at the March 2026 midpoint meeting, coupled with these recent launches, provides a resounding "yes" to that theory.

Between 4 April and 9 April 2026, a conservation mission was conducted in Bintan, Indonesia, to implement protection measures for local seagrass meadows. 

Barangay Bogtong in Busuanga, Philippines has adopted local mangrove restoration practices to support ecosystem health and climate change mitigation. 

Tha Chana, Surat Thani (31 March 2026) – The Marine and Coastal Resources Office 4 hosted a landmark event showing that the future of our oceans is in local hands. The "2026 Shellfish Festival" at Tha Chana celebrated the official launch of new Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs) and community-led conservation zones.

Philippine TDA-SAP Coordinator, Dr. Michael Angelo B. Promentilla, advocates for placing ecosystem health at the heart of the updated Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA 2.0). By recognizing natural habitats as essential infrastructure and leveraging successful local models like Bogtong's mangrove restoration, the Philippines aims to integrate ecosystem preservation as a cornerstone for regional resilience and sustainable development.