Xiamen Municipal Government receives PEMSEA Leadership Award

 

PEMSEA has conferred Xiamen Municipal Government with the Leadership Award in recognition of its valuable contribution in upholding the mission and vision of the PEMSEA Network of Local Governments for Sustainable Coastal Development (PNLG) and implementing the integrated coastal management (ICM) ICM approach for the past 25 years.

 

During the 2019 PNLG General Assembly held 1 November in PR China, PEMSEA Chair Emeritus Dr. Chua Thia-Eng handed over the award to Xiamen Municipal Vice Mayor Mr. Zhang Yigong.

 

Also present in the awarding ceremony were PEMSEA Executive Director Ms. Aimee Gonzales, PNLG President Ms. Noraini Binti Roslan, PR China Ministry of Natural Resources Director-General of the International Cooperation Department Ms. Chen Yue, and the PNLG Chair Emeritus Mr. Pan Shijan.

 

PNLG is among the major driving forces in realizing the goals of Sustainable Development Strategies for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA). Xiamen has been the host of the PNLG Secretariat since its establishment in 2006. For the past 13 years, the PNLG Secretariat has led the Annual PNLG Forum, capacity building activities, and knowledge and experience sharing in implementing ICM solutions and blue economy development among its members.

 

Xiamen was also cited for their leadership in showcasing and continually demonstrating the relevance of ICM approach in addressing complex, emerging and evolving challenges to sustainable development at the local level. The Leadership Award acknowledged Xiamen’s commitment to strengthening local governance in providing timely management interventions and for advocating coastal and marine innovations.

 

The city, located at the southeast coastline of People’s Republic of China, is one of the country’s Special Economic Zones. Through the ICM program, Xiamen have successfully developed a coordinating mechanism for coastal and marine management, established a legislative framework, implemented functional sea-use zonation and strengthened integrated enforcement of marine management.

 

In particular, ICM program in Xiamen has helped revitalize Yundang Lake and rehabilitate Wuyuan Bay. It also helped turn coastlines into a public resort by relocating seaside roads inland; protected Xiamen’s seas by moving the factories out of Gulangyu Islands and turning it into a scenic spot; and improved the city’s functional zoning schemes by transferring the cage and oyster farms out of the navigational channels.

 

After more than two decades of ICM implementation, Xiamen continues to improve its ICM system to uphold environmental standards while also uplifting economic and social well-being, aligned with global sustainable development targets and other international commitments.