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.

Ms. Ying Liu, vice director of marine ecology conservation and environmental quality division, department of marine ecology and environment, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and Mr. Kaiming Li, Chief Scientist of SCIES attended the meeting and delivered welcome remarks respectively. In addition, experts attended included those from Third Institute of Oceanology (Ministry of Natural Resources), Chinese Academy of Forestry ,

South China Sea Institute of Oceanology (Chinese Academy of Sciences). Representatives from NGOs such as China Environmental Protection Fund, local governments and local communities and universities joined in the consultation, too.

The meeting invited Mr. Reynaldo Molina and Dr. Vo Si Tuan of the Project Coordination Unit, SCS SAP Project, to respectively deliver presentations of the project overview and requirements, and some technical issues to facilitate implementation of the SAP. These presentations provided important guidance and reference for subsequent discussion on the activities.

The meeting discussed the project activities for site level execution, which will form part of the agreements between SCIES and UNOPS that will support the execution of project activities in China. A total of 14 sites (4~5 sites for each type of habitats) were identified for the restoration and management of mangrove, seagrass and wetland habitats in three coastal provinces in China. The meeting improved activities for habitats and delivered a Report on expert review/evaluation opinions on the activities. 

Ms. Liu stated that the implementation of the Strategic Action Plan for the South China Sea and the Gulf of Thailand is of great significance to strengthen international cooperation and promoting marine environmental protection in the South China Sea under multilateral mechanisms. It will also help the region achieve the ocean-related goals of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Mr. Li stated that this expert consultation meeting flags an important event for the implementation of SCS SAP project in China. He added that as the National Specialized Executing Agency, SCIES hopes experts to provide guidance and support, and that the comments and suggestions from the diverse participants were so crucial for the finalization of the proposed project activities, leading to the PCA and project implementation in the years to come.

SCIES is the National Specialized Executing Agency of the SCS SAP Project in China. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment is the national leading agency of the Project in China.