Marine Litter Workshop and Biodiversity Assessment Activities

RO Korea — In March 2010, NOWPAP organized an International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) activity and a Workshop on Marine Litter Management. The 14th NOWPAP Intergovernmental Meeting also decided to develop a project on assessment of the current status of marine and coastal biodiversity in the NOWPAP region.NOWPAP Marine Litter Workshop and ICC in HiradoWith the kind support of the Japanese government, the NOWPAP International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) and Workshop on Marine Litter Management were successfully organized on 26-28 March 2010 in Hirado, Nagasaki, Japan. Focusing on ICC campaigns, marine litter and solid waste management, the workshop was attended by marine litter focal points and government officials of NOWPAP member states, officials from Nagasaki Prefectural Government and Hirado Municipal Government, several NOWPAP partners (PEMSEA, YSLME and UNEP IETC), directors and representatives of NOWPAP Regional Activities Centres, environmental NGOs, experts on marine litter and local citizens.During the workshop, past NOWPAP ICC campaigns were reviewed with experiences and lessons of promoting and organising the beach cleanups shared. The workshop also discussed the marine litter management in NOWPAP countries, in particular solid waste management which is considered as a key factor to the control of marine litter generation. While recognizing the trans-boundary nature of marine litter and need of building up public awareness, the meeting participants wished to continue the NOWPAP ICC campaigns in the region.The RO Korean government kindly offered to organize the next NOWPAP ICC event in September-October 2010 in the Republic of Korea. On the day after the workshop, the workshop participants together with local citizens participated in the cleanup at Tanoura beach where hundreds of kilograms of marine litter were collected, sorted and recorded. The marine litter data has been complied and shared on NOWPAP website. In conjunction with these events, the NOWPAP RAP MALI (Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter) working meeting was held to finalize the RAP MALI work plan and budget for 2010-2011 biennium.Activities on Biodiversity AssessmentThe 14th NOWPAP Intergovernmental Meeting decided to develop a project on assessment of the current status of marine and coastal biodiversity in the NOWPAP region, which should cover the main threats, pressures, impacts and trends at the ecosystem, community, habitat and key species level.Implementing this decision, NOWPAP RCU, together with RACs, has been working on preparation of the project. As a first step, NOWPAP is participating in the UNEP-initiated global outlook on marine and coastal biodiversity, contributing regional input. A consultant is being contracted, using funds provided by UNEP, to collect and compile regional data and information to be reflected in the global assessment. This global outlook is due to be released for the upcoming 10th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 10) in October 2010 in Nagoya, Japan. At the same time, NOWPAP RCU is preparing a proposal for long term biodiversity assessment which will involve NOWPAP national experts to produce a regional report on the biodiversity issues mentioned above. Currently project proposal has been drafted, competent experts and project proponent to be involved have been identified as well as potential donors for the project funding.The results of the biodiversity assessment activities will be reported to the 15th NOWPAP IGM later this year.