PEMSEA eBulletin - September 2024
PUBLICATION DATE:
Monday, September 30, 2024
PUBLICATION TYPE:
Magazines and Newsletters
STATUS:
Available (Newsletter)
DESCRIPTION:
Dear PEMSEA community,
Welcome to the September e-bulletin!
With just over a month to go until the East Asian Seas Congress, we are excited to unveil our lineup of global and regional experts who will lead various technical sessions and plenary discussions. The opening ceremony will feature Mr. Vidar Helgesen, Executive Secretary of IOC-UNESCO and Assistant Secretary-General of UNESCO, alongside Dr. Vann Monyneath, Chair of the EAS Partnership Council, Ministers and senior leaders of PEMSEA country and non-country partners.
As the EASC returns to Xiamen, discover how the Congress has evolved and thrived over three decades, paralleling the city’s own journey toward promoting sustainable and resilient blue economy.
This month, PEMSEA representatives are taking the stage at various workshops and events across the globe. PEMSEA Executive Director Aimee Gonzales participated in the Marine Spatial Planning Cooperation Workshop of Maritime Silk Road Partner Countries held in Beijing, China, on 26 September 2024 where she emphasized the importance of integrating coastal management mechanisms with area-based management tools to meet global biodiversity targets.
Ms. Nancy Bermas, Regional Project Manager of the UNDP/GEF/ASEAN Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) Project, attended the 10th Biennial International Waters Conference (IWC10) in Punta del Este, Uruguay, from 23-26 September 2024, where she delivered a pitch on the IRBM Project’s experience in establishing governance mechanisms at both regional and basin levels.
While Ms. Gusung Lee, PEMSEA Technical Advisor was in Bangkok, Thailand to represent PEMSEA in a panel discussion on regional and subregional instruments, frameworks and bodies (IFBs) at the Workshop for North-East and South-East Asia on the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), held from 16-20 September 2024. She discussed PEMSEA’s experience in Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) and Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) as essential tools to manage land-sea use interaction which would be vital in extending protection and sustainable management of biodiversity in the high seas.
From the field, we share the latest updates on the UNDP/GEF/ASEAN IRBM project which held a dialogue with indigenous leaders in the Province of Pampanga on 17 September 2024. The Marine Plastics Project local partners in Dipolog City and Bulan, Sorsogon in the Philippines participated in the International Coastal Cleanup on 21 September 2024.
In other news, PEMSEA and the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) have renewed their partnership on biodiversity conservation and marine habitat protection and restoration through a five-year Letter of Cooperation, signed on 20 September 2024, by their respective Executive Directors Aimee Gonzales and Dr. Theresa Mundita S. Lim.
From the ATSEA-2 Project, check out the recent publication of six key scientific studies focused on marine conservation and sustainable development in the Arafura and Timor Seas.
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
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8th East Asian Seas (EAS) Ministerial Forum
The 8th East Asian Seas (EAS) Ministerial Forum was held on 6 November 2024 at the Xiamen International Convention Center, PR China, as part of the East Asian Seas Congress 2024. Hosted by the Ministry of Natural Resources of China and organized by PEMSEA, the forum was attended by Heads of Delegation from 10 PEMSEA Country Partners, members of the PEMSEA Executive Committee, representatives from Non-Country Partners, and other collaborators. The event highlighted the key points of the Xiamen Ministerial Declaration, reinforcing commitments to sustainable ocean governance and the implementation of the SDS-SEA.
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EASC2024 Congress Report
The East Asian Seas Congress 2024, in collaboration with the World Ocean Week in Xiamen, convened in Xiamen, China from November 6-8, bringing together 855 delegates from 20 countries. Under the theme "Blue Synergy for a Shared Future: One Sustainable and Resilient Ocean," the Congress resulted in the signing of the Xiamen Ministerial Declaration, renewed partnerships, and strengthened commitments for sustainable ocean management in the East Asian region.
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Capacity Building Workshop on the Global Estuaries Monitoring (GEM) Programme Proceedings
The Global Estuaries Monitoring (GEM) Programme extended a formal invitation to all existing and potential partners to participate in an exclusive workshop meticulously crafted to provide a comprehensive update on the latest advancements and achievements within the GEM initiative. This workshop serves as a pivotal
platform for attendees to acquaint themselves with ongoing projects within GEM, delve into the innovative development of passive samplers, and collaboratively design the forthcoming phase of the GEM Programme.
Throughout this workshop, participants can expect:
- Detailed updates on the progress and notable achievements of the GEM Programme.
- Insightful sessions focusing on the groundbreaking development of novel passive samplers.
- Engaging discussions aimed at collectively shaping the future trajectory of the GEM Programme.
Prospective attendees were warmly encouraged to join this significant event, where
knowledge-sharing, exploration, and collaborative planning converge to steer the
Global Estuaries Monitoring Programme towards heightened success and impact. -
Yellow Sea Biosphere Conservation Cooperation Proceedings
The Yellow Sea is a maritime area shared by three countries, Republic of Korea, China, and Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and it contributes significantly to social and economic aspects. The Yellow Sea is a crucial habitat for migratory species such as marine mammals and migratory birds. Recently, China and Korea have been making efforts to protect their coastal areas by registering as UNESCO World Natural Heritage sites. Notably, the countries that share the Yellow Sea agree on the necessity for joint cooperation to preserve it. In this session, the policies, actions, and pending tasks of the Republic of Korea and China for Yellow Sea ecosystem conservation will be introduced, along with the discussion.
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Training Workshop on Pollution Assessment and Management (PAM)
The PAM training workshop aimed to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange among environmental scientists and practitioners from East Asian Seas countries. With over 20 participants, the event provided a platform for discussing the latest advancements in environmental risk assessment (ERA) and management techniques.
The training session focused on new pollutants, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and their impacts on marine ecosystems and public health. Discussions provided participants with a comprehensive understanding of these emerging challenges and equipped them with the knowledge to develop local solutions to global environmental issues. The workshop facilitated active engagement and collaboration, allowing participants to share their experiences and expertise in ERA and environmental management. This exchange of information and best practices was instrumental in enhancing the collective understanding of environmental risks and fostering a collaborative approach to addressing them.