Breadcrumb
Timor Leste
Capital:
Dili
Land Area:
14,874km²
Inland Water Area:
0km²
Length of Coastline:
706km
Timor-Leste is a country endowed with natural beauty, including magnificent coral reefs, pristine coastal waters, and megafauna assemblages including whales, dolphins, whale sharks, orcas and manta rays. It is also a young country that is in the process of rebuilding its physical, governance and institutional structures, with primary focus on poverty reduction and promotion of equitable and sustainable economic growth. The National Development Plan (2004) recognizes the inextricable link between these goals and natural resource management, and promotes sound management and utilization of natural resources together with development of alternative sources of livelihood.
Over the years, Timor-Leste has made considerable advances in the sustainable management of its oceans, addressing various threats that cross jurisdictions and sectors, and promoting integrated management approaches. ICM in the context of climate change was promoted in cooperation with various development partners. For example, in the municipalities of Dili, Manatuto, and Liquica, the SDS-SEA Program is assisting the local governments to strengthen collaborative planning mechanisms in support of ongoing government decentralization processes.
In 2007, Timor-Leste created its first marine park, Nino Konis Santana National Park, in order to conserve 123,600ha of land and seascapes which are home to nationally and globally significant species and habitats. The park includes 55,600ha of the "Coral Triangle" and 25 endemic bird species. Timor-Leste has also undertaken coastal resource and habitat assessment and mapping and various activities in the watershed areas in collaboration with various experts and donors. Capacity development activities for alternative livelihood to reduce poverty and protect marine and coastal resources have also been undertaken in selected local areas. Various efforts are also underway to develop plans and enabling policies and legislations for natural resource conservation and sustainable development, including the implementation of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) and the National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA).
The National Strategic Development Plan (SDP) 2011-2030 provides directions for the integrated management of environment and natural resources across sectors. In addition, a roadmap for the implementation of the SDP and UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has been created. In 2018, the National Oceans Policy (NOP) for Timor-Leste continued to be promoted to the government and various development partners as a framework for consolidating government, sectoral and donor/partner-supported initiatives related to the coasts and oceans. Consultations were also initiated on the development of the NOP Implementation Plan. To demonstrate local implementation of the policy, the municipalities of Dili, Manatuto and Liquica—through their inter-agency ICM Task Teams, with support from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF) and PEMSEA ICM Learning Centers at the National University of Timor-Leste (UNTL) and Oriental University of Timor-Leste (UNITAL)—held stakeholder consultations for the preparation of coastal strategies and implementation plans, which will promote a coordinated approach among governments, communities and various partners in addressing priority issues in their respective coastal areas.
Focal Points:
Mr. Acacio Guterres
Director-General of Fishery, Aquaculture and Marine Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF)
Mr. Celestino da Cunha Barreto (Operational Focal Point)
National Director of Marine Spatial Planning, Capture Fisheries, and Aquatic Resources Management, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF)
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
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Proceedings of the Thirty Second Meeting of the Executive Committee
The 32nd PEMSEA Executive Committee (EC) Meeting was conducted virtually on 19 March 2024 via Zoom. Participants of the meeting included the EC members , particularly the Chair and Co-Chair, Intergovernmental Session Chair and Co-Chair, the Technical Session Chair of the EAS Partnership Council (PC), and the Executive Director of the PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF). Observers from the China PEMSEA Center, Ministry of Environment (MoE) of Cambodia, and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) of the Philippines also attended the meeting. PRF served as the Secretariat of the meeting.
DOCUMENT NUMBER DOCUMENT TITLE EC/32/DOC/01a List of meeting documents EC/32/DOC/01b Provisional agenda EC/32/DOC/02 Updates on the EAS Asian Seas Congress 2024 EC/32/DOC/02a Provisional Structure of the EAS Asian Seas Congress 2024 EC/32/DOC/03 Development of the 8th Ministerial Declaration EC/32/DOC/03a Concept Note and Draft Zero of the 8th MF EC/32/DOC/04 Global Trends and Opportunities Impacting the EAS Region EC/32/DOC/05 Updates on the 16th EAS PC Meeting