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.

In the quiet coastal village of Barangay Bogtong, located on the island of Busuanga in Palawan — the Philippines last ecological frontier — the rhythm of life is intertwined with the tide.

For the over 1,200 residents of Bogtong, the green belt of mangrove forests is more than just scenery; it is their "bioshield," their nursery, and their supermarket.

Following the catastrophic impact of Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, which left a trail of damaged ecosystems, the community realized that their survival depended on the health of these salt-tolerant trees.

Today, with the support of the GEF/UNEP/UNOPS Implementing the Strategic Action Programme for the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand (SCS SAP), Bogtong has emerged as a modest beacon of community-led restoration.

The Third Meeting of the Regional Scientific and Technical Committee (RSTC-3) for the SCS SAP Project was successfully convened in Phu Quoc, Vietnam, from 26–28 January 2026. This pivotal gathering, opened by representatives from UNEP and UNOPS, focused on the critical task of reviewing draft Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) reports and documenting over a decade of environmental achievements. The meeting served as a primary platform for the presentation and review of six national and one regional draft TDA reports, which provide the scientific foundation for updating the Strategic Action Programme (SAP). 

On 19 January 2026,  attendees representing national ministries, consultants, technical focal points, and provincial departments from Cambodia’s coastal provinces participated in the SCS SAP critical workshop in Kampot Province, Cambodia. The workshop conducted included presenting Cambodia’s contribution to the regional Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) findings emphasizing on the country’s land-based pollution (LbP) sources such as nutrients, solid waste, wastewater, and plastics.

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.

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.