Quezon City, Philippines — PEMSEA announces the release of the latest issue of the Tropical Coasts which focuses on the Sulu and Sulawesi Seas, a large marine ecosystem (LME) within the Seas of East Asia. Titled Conserving the Sulu and Sulawesi Seas, the issue is a joint effort of PEMSEA and Conservation International-Philippines, a non-Country Partner of PEMSEA.

Manila, Philippines — In celebration of the Philippine Water Week and the international observance of World Water Day last March 22, the importance of water and ways to conserve was staged in an exhibit at the Trinoma Mall from 23-27 March.Dubbed, Makibahagi: Pagyamanin ang Tubig Natin, the exhibit is located at the 4th Floor, Cinema Lobby of Trinoma was made possible through the collaboration of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in partnership with the Ayala Foundation, Ayala Malls and Trinoma Mall.DENR Secretary Lito At

Makati City, Philippines — Remaining true to its objectives, the Provincial Government of Bataan together with the civil society and a consortium of Bataan-based companies (i.e., the Bataan Coastal Care Foundation (BCCF)) continue to set good examples with their continuing partnership to implement the Bataan ICM program.At the 5th Fellowship Meeting held on 26 February 2009, with Governor Enrique Garcia, Jr. leading Bataan's local government leaders, 17 members of the BCCF were represented, along with representatives of civil society groups and the provincial environmental office.

Quezon City, Philippines — The Government of the Philippines will host the East Asian Seas (EAS) Congress 2009, to be held on 23-27 November at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila.

Manila, Philippines — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo discussed preparations for the hosting by the Philippines of the East Asian Seas Congress 2009 with Environment Secretary Jose L. Atienza, Jr., the Conference host, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo, PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF) Executive Director Raphael P.M. Lotilla, UNDP Philippines Country Director Renaud Meyer, East Asian Seas Partnership Council Chair Dr.

Manila, Philippines — A workshop on project development for officials and experts from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea was organized on 18-21 March in Manila and Batangas, Philippines. The workshop was designed to provide basic understanding of the PEMSEA approach on integrated coastal management (ICM) and the common framework for Sustainable Development of Coastal Areas (SDCA) through ICM.DPR Korea has been a strong advocate of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA) as declared during the 1st East Asian Seas Partnership Council Meeting in 2007.

Phnom Penh, Cambodia — Coastal management is not a new concept in Cambodia. The level of funding committed by national agencies and international partners over the past few years attest to the serious attention being provided to pull address poverty alleviation and other aspects of sustainable development. A quick estimate made by the Ministry of Environment (MOE) and PEMSEA in 2006 indicated that investments in projects and programs within the framework of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA) from 1998 were about USD 90.477 million.

Quezon City, Philippines — The East Asian Seas Region Ministerial Forum, to be held in Manila on 26-27 November 2009 as part of East Asian Seas (EAS) Congress 2009 and to be hosted by Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Jose L. Atienza Jr., will be addressing climate change adaptation through integrated coastal management. The East Asian Seas region is recognized as being highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

RO Korea — NOWPAP Data and Information Network Regional Activity Centre (DINRAC) has recently completed its 8th Focal Points Meeting in Beijing, where the workplan and budget for 2010-2011 that is to be submitted to the NOWPAP 14th IGM was approved; NOWPAP representatives attended the World Ocean Conference in Manado, Indonesia on 11-15 May 2009 and the Global Gathering 2009 in Busan, Korea on 23 May 2009; NOWPAP has developed a cooperative relationship with the Korea UNEP National Committee, initially starting with information exchange, website linkage and publication-sharing; and NOWPAP a

Busan, RO Korea — Dr. Young-Woo Park, Director of the UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP), visited the NOWPAP RCU Busan office on 9 June 2009; and NOWPAP Marine Environmental Emergency Preparedness and Response Regional Activity Centre (MERRAC) approved the workplan and budget for the 2010-2011 biennium.UNEP ROAP Director Visit to NOWPAP RCUDr. Young-Woo Park, Director of UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP), visited NOWPAP Regional Coordinating Unit (RCU) Busan office on 9 June. Dr.