NOWPAP Shares Its Recent Activities to the Region

As a part of partnership building efforts, NOWPAP attended and introduced its activities at the international workshop organized by the Amur-Okhotsk Consortium on 17-18 December 2014 in Sapporo, Japan. In preparation for the 4th Amur-Okhotsk Consortium Meeting to be held in 2015, this workshop reviewed the recent progress in studies on environment and sustainable development in the Amur-Okhotsk region and shared information on future projects and activities related to the sustainable development of the region. For details, visit the workshop meeting page at http://amurokhotsk.com/?page_id=1482.
NOWPAP Pollution Monitoring Regional Activity Centre (POMRAC) has also recently published the Regional Overview of PTS in the NOWPAP Region.  Addressing the general characteristics, sources, transport and ecotoxicological effects of PTS in the region, the report synthesized the national inputs on a group of chemicals which are defined as PTS. Based on existing data and information available from literature and from the national experts who provided the national inputs, the report presents an outline of the current status of PTS issues and efforts made by NOWPAP countries in terms of monitoring and research on the PTS.  Identifying the data gaps and needs for capacity building, the report emphasized the importance of establishment and enhancement of sound chemical management system and monitoring network in the region.
This report is prepared by Professor Yasuyuki Shibata of National Institute for Environmental Studies of Japan with contribution of the national experts nominated from China, Korea and Russia.  The whole report can be accessed at http://pomrac.nowpap.org/Pub/DOC/2014/PTS%20Regional%20Overview.pdf.
The NOWPAP RCU office in Toyama celebrated its 10th anniversary during a symposium held on 6 December 2014 in Toyama, Japan, participated in by staff members of NOWPAP Regional Coordinating Unit (RCU) and Special Monitoring and Coastal Assessment Regional Activity Centre (CEARAC). Organized by the Toyama prefectural and municipal governments, the symposium was attended by 500 local participants, composed mostly of high school students, who were given a lecture and panel discussion about the United Nations and international cooperation to mark the 10th anniversary of the establishment of NOWPAP RCU office in Toyama.  The Toyama Prefecture governor and NOWPAP coordinator delivered opening remarks at the symposium. Posters and brochures about NOWPAP were displayed, showcasing some achievements in the past 10 years.