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Progress in achieving the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand SAP targets

GEF-UNEP-SCS SAP Implementation Project

By IW:LEARN

December 20^th, 2021

The “Implementing the Strategic Action Programme for the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand” (SCS SAP Project) completed its Inception Phase with the 1st Steering Committee Meeting held online on the 29 and 30 of June, 2021 with official representatives from Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam and the UNEP Task Manager for the project, with the support of SEAFDEC, UNOPS and the Project Coordination Unit staff. This was followed by the Inception Workshop was held on the 1 July 2021 in order to present and launch the project and discuss key partnerships. In the opening statements it was noted that this is a “monumental event” to launch the project and coordinate with partners and stakeholders, with over 200 participants, including participating country national teams, and other relevant national stakeholders, and key regional and global partners and projects. The Vice Chair of the Steering Committee, Mr Srey Sunleang of the Ministry of Environment, Cambodia, stressed that “This meeting and the number of participants has shown the huge commitment in cooperating together to tackle the marine and coastal environment in the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand, and we will keep up the momentum”

To view the documents and presentations from the Inception Meetings, click here

Cambodia consultation meetings. Photo credit: Chanikan Vibulsuk/SCS-SAP

Research on conservation and breeding of seagrasses, with the goal of _restoring seagrasses and bringing dugongs home. Photo credit:Chanikan Vibulsuk/SCS-SAP

Philippines online consultation meeting. Image credit: Chanikan Vibulsuk/SCS-SAP

Thailand consultation meeting. Photo credit: Chanikan Vibulsuk/SCS-SAP

In spite of the challenges during 2020 and 2021, participating countries have been coordinating and organization meetings, consultations and site visits including compiling information and data on the SAP targets and the priority identified sites each participating country with regards to the management and restoration of mangroves, coral reefs, seagrasses and wetlands. Particular focus is given to what has been achieved since the SAP adoption in 2008, key priorities remaining in line with recent national, regional and global planning and targets, including climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals.

In early December these findings were presented by the first Regional Working Group Meetings for Mangroves (1 December), Coral Reefs (2 December), Seagrass (3 December) and Wetlands (7 December) were held with national experts and committee chairs of each working group. Across the habitat working groups it was evident that significant progress had been achieved in SAP implementation over the last decade, both in terms of the adoption of policy and legislative reforms, management plans and restoration in key sites. These finding will be published in a SAP evaluation report to be completed by February 2022

Huidong Mangrove Reserve Restoration Project. Photo credit: Chanikan Vibulsuk/SCS-SAP

A number of best practices in habitat management and restoration were also presented, building upon those of the first UNEP GEF South China Sea project, but also including more recent experiences from the national and regional level. It was agreed that further compilation of best practices would be undertaken and a side event to present further and discuss available experiences, tools and guidelines from other global initiatives would be held in the first quarter of 2022.

Ministerial Decree for the Conservation Area in the Province of the Bangka Belitung Islands, Indonesia. Image credit: SCS-SAP

Whilst all key regional meetings of the project were help effectively online during 2020 and 2021, the opportunities provided by working together had been really missed and it was agreed that the majority of meetings in 2022 would be held in person, in order to allow more time to exchange and ensure greater synergies between all the countries and habitat teams.

Meeting in Indonesia. Photo credit: SCS-SAP

About the SCS-SAP Implementation Project

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) is currently implementing the project entitled “Implementing the Strategic Action Programme for the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand” (SCS SAP Project) which aims to assist countries in meeting the targets of the coastal and marine environment components of the approved Strategic Action Programme (SAP) for the South China Sea through implementation of the National Action Plans in support of the SAP, and strengthening the regional co-ordination for the South China Sea SAP implementation.

This SCS SAP Project will be implemented for five years, with a funding support of USD 15 Million from GEF and co-financed by USD 81 Million from participating countries. The project will be executed with the support of United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) in partnership with the Ministries responsible for environment in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

For more information please contact the Project Manager Virginie Hart (virginieh@unops.org), consult the project website, and visit the dedicated project page on iwlearn.net.