The Sharing Experiences and Best Practice in Sustainable Management of MPAs workshop brought together over 60 marine conservation experts from East Asian Seas countries to enhance collaboration and exchange best practices in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) management.  

The workshop featured discussions on MPA network design, biodiversity conservation strategies, community-led enforcement, and the role of technology in marine protection. Experts shared insights on strengthening MPA effectiveness, addressing conservation gaps, and aligning efforts with the 30x30 global target.  

A key highlight was the release of four significant studies on marine OECM criteria, MPA monitoring plans, patrol frameworks, and biodiversity conservation gaps. These reports provided valuable guidance for improving conservation planning and management across the region.  

By fostering knowledge exchange and regional cooperation, the workshop contributed to advancing sustainable marine management in alignment with the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA) 2023-2027).

Marine conservation in ASEAN has lagged, with only 4% of marine areas protected—far below the 10% Aichi target. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM GBF) now calls for 30% protection by 2030, requiring stronger regional cooperation.

The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) is expanding marine protected areas (MPAs) and transboundary conservation through ecosystem-based management and marine spatial planning. To advance these efforts, ACB hosted the session “Achieving Sustainability through Connectivity for Resilient ASEAN Seas” at the EAS Congress 2024 on 6 November.

The session aimed to:

• Showcase ASEAN’s progress toward the 30x30 target.
• Exchange best practices in marine conservation.
• Highlight youth leadership in sustainability.

With participation from government officials, marine experts, NGOs, and youth, discussions emphasized ecological connectivity, inclusive governance, and collaboration. The event reinforced ASEAN’s commitment to ocean sustainability through regional solutions.
 

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Eighth East Asian Seas (EAS) Senior Government Officials’ Meeting (SGOM) was held on 14 October 2024 via Zoom. Senior Government Officials from 10 PEMSEA Country Partners participated in the meeting, namely: Cambodia, PR China, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, Philippines, RO Korea, Singapore, Timor-Leste and Viet Nam. The PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF) served as the Secretariat for the Meeting.

The document contains the proceedings from the PNLC Executive Committee (EC) held 22 July 2024 in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines.

The meeting was participated in by the President and Vice-President of the PNLC, the PEMSEA Executive Director the PNLC Secretariat from IPB and the PEMSEA Resource Facility. The agenda included:

·       Review of the PNLC Workplan
·       PNLC Secretariat Turnover MOA to CCMRS-IPB
·       Updates and plans on PNLC Financial Sustainability Efforts
·       New PNLC Membership Applications
·       PNLG-PNLC Joint Session at the EAS Congress 2024
·       4th PNLC General Assembly Agenda

The meeting was organized jointly by the PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF) and the Center for Coastal and Marine Resources Studies (CCMRS) of the IPB University, Indonesia with support from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) of the Philippines.

The Second Regional Steering Committee (RSC) meeting of the GEF/UNDP/ASEAN Project
on Reducing Pollution and Preserving Environmental Flows in the East Asian Seas through
the Implementation of Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) in ASEAN Countries was
organized back-to-back with the 24th Meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Water Resources
Management (AWGWRM) on 2 July 2024 through a hybrid format, i.e., in-person at Bayon Era
Hotel in Siem Reap, Cambodia and online via Zoom.

Hosted by the Royal Government of Cambodia through the Ministry of Environment (MOE),
the meeting was co-chaired by Mr. Oudomsack Philavong, Chair of the ASEAN Working Group
on Water Resources Management (AWGWRM) and Mr. Gerd Trogemann, Manager of United
Nations Development Programme-Bangkok Regional Hub of Asia and the Pacific (UNDP-BRH).
The meeting was attended by the National Focal Points (NFPs) of the AWGWRM from the
ten (10) ASEAN Member States (AMS), i.e., Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao
PDR, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam, the ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC),
the East Asian Seas Executive Committee (EAS EC) and UNDP-BRH. The Regional Project
Management Unit (RPMU), hosted by PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF) and MOE Cambodia
served as Secretariat to the RSC meeting.