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). Rather than formal exercises, the committee engaged in robust group discussions to rank transboundary environmental problems and ensure future priorities are grounded in rigorous data. Additionally, the Regional Task Force on Economic Valuation (RTF-EV) introduced the approach for Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) to evaluate the potential impact of prioritized actions versus the cost of inaction.
The committee also reviewed a draft summary of achievements showing significant progress toward 2008 SAP targets between 2008 and 2021. Management efforts for coral reefs and seagrass reached 93.3% and 96.3% of their respective hectarage targets. Nearly 15,000 hectares of mangroves were replanted across the region, achieving 69.9% of the target. Beyond original targets, participating countries established or upgraded 47 MPAs and OECMs, protecting over 2.1 million hectares of habitat.
The meeting concluded with a roadmap to meet project deliverables:
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The Regional TDA/SAP Team Lead will provide a detailed monthly schedule for TDA and SAP development, which will be finalized and shared by the PCU.
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The Regional TDA/SAP Team will provide final transboundary actions within two weeks to initiate the RTF-EV's cost-benefit evaluations.
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Participating countries are requested to provide additional updates to the habitats achievement report within two weeks to support final publication.
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The SCS SAP Communications Specialist will share a template for gathering multimedia materials and geodata with National Technical Focal Points by 15 February 2026 to highlight outstanding good practices.
The session concluded with a field visit to key marine sites, Phu Quoc's prime pearl industry center and globally-renowned fish sauce factory, highlighting the successful interplay between marine conservation and the local "heritage craft" of sustainable production.
A full report detailing the meeting’s technical discussions and final agreements will be disseminated to all stakeholders in the coming days.
