Getting Ready for the East Asian Seas (EAS) Congress 2009

Manila, Philippines — Following the success of the East Asian Seas (EAS) Congress 2006, PEMSEA together with its Partners are again getting ready for the next EAS Congress in 2009. This time, the spotlight is set on the doers on the ground.With the theme, "Partnerships at Work: Local Implementation and Good Practices," the EAS Congress 2009 focuses on real actions and initiatives from the local level that contribute to the achievement of international and regional environmental targets and objectives, as well as the issues that confront local governments, communities and other stakeholders. The 2009 Congress will also serve as the venue to review and identify future actions pertaining to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA).The EAS Congress 2009 aims to delve on key issues that are affecting the local communities and stakeholders, including foreshore development and coastal reclamation, environmental infrastructures and services such as waste management, pollution reduction and water use; local coastal and marine governance and good practices at the local level; innovative technologies; exercising corporate social responsibility for sustainable development; and others.The 2009 Congress is hosted by the Government of the Philippines through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and is scheduled on 23 to 27 November. The Congress will feature the Third Ministerial Forum, the International Conference on Sustainable Coastal and Ocean Development, the Third EAS Partnership Council Meeting, the Second EAS Youth Forum, an Environmental Exhibition on Good Practices and Innovative Technologies, Field Visits, and other side events.The EAS Congress began in 2003 and has been held every three years to serve as a marketplace for knowledge and venue for partnership building contributing towards the vision of attaining the sustainable development of the East Asian Seas region.If you wish to know more about the EAS Congress 2009, please email congress@pemsea.org or eascongress@gmail.com.