UNDP Capacity 2015, together with UNDP Manila, sponsored the session on Achieving the MDGs through Enhancing Local Capacities in Integrated Coastal Resources Management (ICRM): Evidences and Lessons Learned workshop during the EAS Congress 2006. The session aimed to share and discuss capacity development strategies, experiences, evidences, lessons learned, and ways forward in promoting and strengthening the role of local institutions, including local governments, NGOs, community-based organizations, the academe and the private sector, in ICRM.

The official founding of the PEMSEA Network of Local Governments for Sustainable Coastal Development (PNLG) as a local government-driven and a sustainable regional network, through the signing of the PNLG Charter, was highly recognized as a benefit to local governments in various ways. According to the PNLG Charter, the PNLG will facilitate the exchange of ideas and lessons learned among local government members, build awareness within communities and among stakeholder groups on the need and benefits of responsible use and management of natural resources, and serve as an advocacy group for local governments at regional and international forums, promoting the socioeconomic and ecological benefits of ICM and advancing policy reforms in support of integrated management of coastal and marine resources. The Inaugural Meeting of the PNLG was held at the People’s Hall in Haikou City, Hainan Province, People’s Republic of China on 13 December 2006. The Meeting was organized in conjunction with the East Asian Seas Congress (EAS) 2006 and hosted by the State Oceanic Administration of PR China (SOA), Hainan Provincial Government and Haikou City Government. The Meeting was attended by 130 delegates from 26 integrated coastal management (ICM) sites.

An informal meeting of the Regional Network on Coastal and Ocean Governance was held as a side event of the East Asian Seas (EAS) Congress 2006 in Haikou City, Hainan Province, People’s Republic of China, on 13 December. The meeting took up the matter of what role the network could have in the implementation of the SDS-SEA.

A Meeting of Experts was conducted as one of the side meetings of the EAS Congress 2006 at the China Institute for Reform and Development in Haikou City, PR China. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the development of an efficient and cost-effective monitoring system involving stakeholders at the national and local levels, as well as the production of a State of the Coasts (SOC) report every three years. Fourteen experts representing Australia, France, PR China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam participated in the meeting. The meeting was co-chaired by Dr. Aprilani Soegiarto, Advisor, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, and Dr. Gil Jacinto, Professor, Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippines.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE PEMSEA NETWORK OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR SUSTAINABLE COASTAL DEVELOPMENT (PNLG)

East Asian Seas Congress 2006 Haikou

City, Hainan Province, PR China, 13 December 2006

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. The Inaugural Meeting of the PEMSEA Network of Local Governments for Sustainable Coastal Development (PNLG) was held at the People’s Hall in Haikou City, Hainan Province, People’s Republic of China on 13 December 2006. The Meeting was organized in conjunction with the East Asian Seas Congress (EAS) 2006 and hosted by the State Oceanic Administration of PR China (SOA), Hainan Provincial Government and Haikou City Government.

1.2. The Meeting was attended by 130 delegates from 26 integrated coastal management (ICM) sites, namely Bali (includes the seven Regencies of Badung, Buleleng, Denpasar, Gianyar, Karangasem, Klungkung and Tabanan, and Sukabumi (Indonesia), Batangas, Bataan and Cavite (Philippines), Chonburi (Thailand), Danang and Quangnam (Vietnam), Nampho (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea), Port Klang (Malaysia), Shihwa (Republic of Korea), Sihanoukville (Cambodia), Xiamen and the 10 ICM parallel sites in PR China (Panjin, Leting, Dongying, Qingdao, Lianyungang, Quanzhou, Yangjiang, Fangchenggang, Haikou and Wenchang), as well as representatives from PEMSEA.

1.3. A full list of participants and the Meeting program are attached as Annex 1 and 2, respectively.

The National Forum on Sustainable Development of Coastal and Marine Resources and the National Consultation Workshop on the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA) was held in Hanoi, Vietnam, on 29-31 March 2006. The National Forum was held to assess issues on the marine and coastal environment; to provide a forum for stocktaking of coastal management initiatives and achievements in Vietnam, and to identify priority needs, concerns and requirements of the stakeholders in sustainable coastal and marine development. The program of activities consisted of three major sessions, i.e., the national state of the coast reporting, stocktaking of integrated coastal management (ICM) related initiatives in Vietnam and national implementation of the SDS-SEA. The forum was attended by about 90 participants representing several central and local government agencies including provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DONRE) offices; academic and research institutions; international non-government organizations (NGOs), and the media.

The Workshop on Ecosystem-Based Management of Interrelated River Basins, Estuaries and Coastal Seas was held at Hotel Riviera, Masan, Republic of Korea, from 01 to 03 June 2005. The workshop was co-organized by PEMSEA and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (MOMAF) of RO Korea. The workshop aimed to identify major challenges to ecosystem-based management of interrelated river basins, estuaries and coastal seas; review Proceedings of the Workshop on Ecosystem-Based Management of Interrelated River Basins, Estuaries and Coastal Seas experiences and lessons learned from the practices; and outline response strategies and mode of implementation for the Seas of East Asia region. The workshop was attended by experts and professionals from the People’s Republic of China, Japan, Indonesia, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Wetlands International Malaysia, NOWPAP and PEMSEA Regional Programme Office. Representatives from local NGOs, media, academe, environmental groups and other institutions in RO Korea were also involved.