Dear SCS SAP Colleagues and Friends,

As 2025 concludes, on behalf of the Project Coordination Unit (PCU), I want to reflect on a truly pivotal and impactful year for the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand (SCS-GOT) Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs). This year was defined by critical decisions, invaluable in-person collaboration, and the meaningful expansion of our growing SCS SAP family.

Evaluating progress and setting priorities

Our year began with the Mid-Term Evaluation (MTE) in the first quarter, which was critical for defining the path toward a successful and sustainable project conclusion. The MTE process resulted in key recommendations, including a project extension until December 2027 and a decision to further integrate our activities with the COBSEA.

This direction was formalized during the Third Meeting of the Project Steering Committee (PSC) in Manila, Philippines, in May. The PSC, with representatives from our six participating countries, UNEP, and UNOPS, made crucial decisions based on the MTE recommendations, enabling us to implement adaptive management and strengthen commitments at our project sites.

Knowledge sharing and global engagement

A major highlight of 2025 was the successful return of in-person Regional Working Group (RWG) meetings, bringing local and regional experts together to share vital knowledge and practical experience, and evaluate and enhance SCS SAP implementation:

• Coastal and Marine Ecosystems: Second Meeting of the RWG in Iloilo, Philippines (August).

• Land-Based Pollution: Third Meeting of the RWG in Batam, Indonesia (November).

• Economic Valuation: Meeting of the Regional Task Force held online (December).

We organized the SCS SAP Project Day in our host organization Kasetsart University Faculty of Fisheries to introduce the SCS SAP to inspire and engage with the next generation of marine scientists and conservationists. We also participated in key global and regional events, including the 10th Our Ocean Conference (Busan), Annual Large Marine Ecosystems Consultation Meeting (Athens), the Third UN Ocean Conference (Nice), the COBSEA Accelerating Marine and Coastal OECMs Workshop (Iloilo), the SCS SAP-PEMSEA Learning Exchange (Jakarta), and the First Asian Regional Dialogue on Seagrass and Dugong Conservation (Bangkok), and the Second WESTPAC Workshop on Marine Spatial Planning (Pattaya). These platforms were instrumental in highlighting achievements, sharing best practices, and discussing lessons learned from the site-, national-, and regional-level implementation of the SCS-GOT Strategic Action Programme.

In an initial step toward securing long-term impact, we collaborated closely with COBSEA during their Working Group on Marine and Coastal Ecosystems (WGMCE-3) and their Task Force for the Strengthening of the COBSEA. We look forward to deeper integration in 2026.

Expanding our family and reach

We significantly expanded our reach and network this year:

• PCU Experts: The PCU team is now complete with additional experts, ensuring all SCS SAP activities are on track.

• Regional MPA Network: The East Asian Seas Regional Collaborative Network of MPAs, which began discussions in late 2024, gained incredible momentum. Thanks to the dedication of nine regional organizations (on voluntary commitment!), we convened five online meetings, a workshop, and three official side-events at the 10th Our Ocean Conference in Busan and the Third UN Ocean Conference in Nice, creating a powerful, sustained forum for MPA management.

• SEA Grantees: We officially launched our seven SEA Grantees, making our work more impactful by actively involving people whose proximity to the coasts and stakes in conservation are highest. They are now integral members of the SCS SAP Family.

Updating foundational science

A significant undertaking this year was updating our foundational document: the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA). The last TDA was completed over 25 years ago! Regional and thematic TDA 2.0 experts have been diligently researching new trends, grounding the analysis in the context of the three planetary crises: Climate Change, Pollution, and Biodiversity Loss.

• Our Regional Team of Experts is leading this work together with National Coordinators and Focal Points focusing at the national level. We are progressing well, with national and regional TDA reports due before the end of the year.

• Our goal is to secure endorsement of the TDA by the COBSEA Intergovernmental Meeting (IGM) in October 2026.

Finally, with support from GEF IW:LEARN, we shared impactful stories from our partners and stakeholders with the wider International Waters community. We successfully launched our new website (scssap.org) in November and welcome your feedback as we continue to improve our communication tools.

 

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Top 5 Priorities for 2026

1. Successfully complete the updated TDA 2.0, resulting in recommended priority national and regional actions, and secure endorsement from policymakers.

2. Launch SEA:LEARN, a new AI-backed Regional Knowledge Gateway on coastal and marine ecosystem management. 

3. Sustain the MPA Networking Meetings to enhance regional collaboration on protected area management, resulting in tangible outcomes such as regional MPA mapping and collaborative project proposal development.

4. Launch SEA:PUFFER, a new innovative long-term sustainable financing mechanism to enhance marine and coastal management in the region.

5. Progressively embed the SCS SAP's work and outcomes within the COBSEA to secure enduring long-term impact.

I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the entire project team — Ivan, Jimin, Khristine, Kong, Marvie, Ob, Rey, and Tuan — as well as our six dedicated National Coordinators — Sopheak, Pei, Heru, Romy, Suwimol, and Chinh — for your hard work, dedication, and adaptability throughout 2025.

We wish you a rejuvenating holiday season and meaningful time spent with your loved ones, and all the best for the new year.

Sincerely,
Anders

The SCS SAP Third Meeting of the Regional Working Group on Land-Based Pollution (RWG-LbP) took place from November 26-28, 2025, in Batam, Indonesia. Objectives include reviewing the overall status and progress of the SCS SAP Project implementation at regional and national levels.

Members from Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam presented the status and achievements of land-based pollution activities at the national level, including the development and updating of national Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) on pollution reports and data needs.

We extend our gratitude to the following participants for sharing their reflections: Ms. Aditya Yuniarti (Indonesia, Directorate of Coastal and Marine Pollution and Degradation Control, Ministry of Environment/Environmental Protection Agency); Dr. Michael Angelo B. Promentilla (Philippines, Professor of De La Salle University); Ms. Mitila Pransilpa (Thailand, Environmental Management Bureau); and Dr. Gil Jacinto (SCS SAP, Marine Pollution Expert).

Seven community-based organisations across the East Asian Seas have been awarded a total of USD 350,000 through the SEA Grants program to protect and conserve marine and coastal ecosystems in the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand.

The health of the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand faces immense pressure from land-based pollution, making the upcoming Third Meeting of the Regional Working Group on Land-Based Pollution (RWG-LbP) in Batam, Indonesia (26-28 November 2025) a pivotal event. This meeting is critical for the SCS SAP Project ("Implementing the Strategic Action Programme for the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand") as it drives coordinated regional action against one of the basin's most significant environmental threats.

The powerful, yet often under-recognized, force in environmental stewardship is the focus of the GEF/UNEP/UNOPS SCSSAP Project this International Day of Rural Women on 15 October. Across the globe, it is rural women in coastal and sea resource management whose firsthand knowledge and tireless labor prove absolutely vital to the health of the world's oceans and the livelihoods of their communities.

Cambodia’s coastal landscape is a mosaic of vital ecosystems: mangroves, coral reefs, seagrass beds, and wetlands. These habitats are the lifeblood of the region, providing food security and livelihoods for millions; protecting them is central to the Strategic Action Programme (SAP) for the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand Large Marine Ecosystems (LME).

Hear it from our project site managers. This video features reflections and key takeaways from those who attended the 2025 PEMSEA (Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia) Network of Local Governments (PNLG) Forum on 16-18 September in Jakarta.

The SCS SAP Project is co-organizing a crucial learning exchange and study tour with the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) from 16-18 September 2025 in Jakarta, Indonesia. This collaborative event, held in conjunction with the annual PEMSEA Network of Local Governments (PNLG) meeting, marks a significant step towards strengthening coastal and marine resource management in the East Asian Seas region.