Practical experience in the application of ICM in the East Asian region over the past 15 years has led to the development of a common framework for sustainable development of coastal areas. This common framework covers a system of governance as well as several issue-specific management systems critical to achieving the overall goals of sustainable development, including climate change adaptation. The ICM framework has become a very useful guide for national and local governments to promote sustainable development initiatives and programs. Key areas of competence addressed in the governance component of the framework include: Policy, strategies and action plans; Institutional arrangements; Legislation; Public awareness and information management; Sustainable financing; and Capacity development.

This Policy Brief is based on the outcome of the East Asian Seas IGR-2 Preparatory Workshop entitled, Partnership Opportunities for Enhancing GPA Implementation, held in Bangkok, Thailand, on 4-5 September 2006. The workshop was co-organized and co-sponsored by the UNEP East Asian Seas Regional Coordinating Unit (EAS/RCU) and the GEF/UNDP/IMO Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) for the Second Intergovernmental Review Meeting (IGR-2) of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities (GPA).

The objectives of the workshop were to review the status of national GPA implementation 2002 through 2006; to identify the roles and contributions of regional programs and projects to GPA implementation; to outline major activities and targets of countries and regional programs and projects with respect to GPA objectives over the next five years; to delineate unmet demands regarding sewage and sanitation in the region, and to examine what is needed to strengthen investments in this sector; and to prepare an information document on implementation of GPA in the East Asian region for submission to the IGR-2 meeting.

The workshop was attended by representatives from six countries, namely: Cambodia, China, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Representatives from the following regional organizations were also in attendance: COBSEA; APEC Marine Resource Conservation Group; ASEAN Working Group on Coastal and Marine Environment; UNEP/GPA, UNEP EAS/RCU and PEMSEA.

The Brief contains key recommendations for action that may serve as a guide in the formulation of policies and programs to enhance the implementation of the Manila Bay Coastal Strategy, as well as to limit redundancy, improve efficiency, and enhance communication and support among sectoral stakeholders in the Bay region.

This Brief hopes to provide basis for further policy debate and, in due course, enable policymakers and managers to formulate concrete actions to address marine endangered species trade.