NOWPAP Participation in Recent Events

Nagoya, Japan — The Northwest Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP) has organized and participated in various activities including the Marine Biodiversity Forum and CBD COP10, among others.

 

NOWPAP Participation in the Marine Biodiversity Forum and CBD COP10

 

In conjunction with opening of the 10th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 10, 18-29 October, 2010, Nagoya, Japan), the Northwest Pacific Region Environmental Cooperation Centre (the host of the NOWPAP Special Monitoring and Coastal Environmental Assessment Regional Activity Centre), organized the Marine Biodiversity Forum in the Northwest Pacific Region on 16 October 2010 in Toyama, Japan. Sponsored by the Toyama Prefectural Government, this forum, organized as a side event of the CBD COP10, was attended by representatives of UNEP Marine and Coastal Ecosystems Branch, Pacific Regional Environmental Programme, Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem project, several research institutions in Japan, together with some international students from Nagoya University and local citizens. NOWPAP has been actively involved in the preparation of the forum in terms of providing advice on the meeting programme, identifying international speakers and contributing a presentation introducing NOWPAP activities on marine biodiversity in the region since 2007.

 

Being a part of the UNEP Regional Seas Programme (RSP), NOWPAP RCU has been requested to help organizing another CBD COP10 side event on 19 October 2010 where UNEP launched its Global Outlook, a series of the reports from the Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans as well as global synthesis of the Marine Biodiversity Assessment. NOWPAP has contributed to the global outlook, together with the other 17 regions around the world through providing the necessary information and analysis. Joint efforts by RSP headquarters and NOWPAP RCU staff in the field have made the launch a successful event. RCU staff has also helped with translation of news releases for some other UNEP side events. During the CBD COP10, a UNEP booth was set up with the help of NOWPAP RCU staff to promote UNEP and Regional Seas Programmes activities related to biodiversity, including NOWPAP. The booth has attracted public attention, receiving a few dozen of visitors every day.

 

NOWPAP at 2010 Global Gathering in Busan

 

For the third time in a row, NOWPAP participated in the annual event organized by Busan City Hall on 31 October 2010 to promote cultural exchanges among different countries and international organizations.

 

Among 64 exhibitors, NOWPAP arranged its booth to exhibit NOWPAP activities, including the way of addressing marine litter at the grass-root level.

 

NOWPAP is Strengthening Relationships with Partners

 

At a joint workshop on capacity building for the UN Regular Process for global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment, organized by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and the Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute (KORDI) on 21-22 October 2010 in Ansan, Republic of Korea, NOWPAP representative contributed a presentation introducing NOWPAP activities relevant to the Assessment of Assessments (AoA) and Regular Process. NOWPAP experience shared at the workshop, together with other partners such as COBSEA, PEMSEA, PICES, WESTPAC and YSLME, constitutes regional efforts towards the Regular Process. According to the NOWPAP workplan for 2010-2011, NOWPAP Regional Activity Centers are implementing several thematic assessments which might serve as a basis for the second "State of Marine Environment Report" for the NOWPAP region, contributing to the Regular Process as well.

 

NOWPAP also participated in the 7th Executive Committee Meeting of PEMSEA held on 26-27 October 2010 in Manila, the Philippines. This expanded Executive Committee Meeting allowed PEMSEA partners to discuss the future of PEMSEA as it is becoming an independent international organization (evolving from a GEF-financed regional project). As one of the non-country partners, NOWPAP has been supportive in PEMSEA activities since the Letter of Cooperation (LOC) was signed three years ago. With the renewal of the LOC in 2010, both sides are committed to further develop the partnership towards implementation of the NW Pacific Action Plan and the PEMSEA Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia.