2E02 VIP Room

ST 2.10: Achieving Sustainability through Connectivity for Resilient ASEAN Seas

Overview

In the ASEAN region, the conservation of marine areas is one of the big gaps seen in the previous global target for biodiversity. By the end of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets implementation period, only 4% (out of 10% target) of the region’s coastal and marine areas had been protected.

This would pose a new challenge with the more ambitious targets pledged under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), which was adopted at the 15th Conference of Parties to the UN Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) in December 2022.

A key target under the KM GBF, Target 3, is the conservation of at least 30% of the world’s lands and waters by 2030 (30×30). It could be a greater challenge for the ASEAN region because despite some areas of progress, the region was short in meeting the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. The KM GBF, with its 23 targets, is supposedly an effort to rectify the reasons for this failure and catch up on the lost progress. Among the actions highlighted in the KM GBF is the need for a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to meet the targets.

More specifically, to meet the ambitious “30×30” of Target 3 and improve the health of coastal and marine ecosystems in the region, ASEAN Member States (AMS) should work together at establishing larger areas of conserved and protected waters.

The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) has taken some steps to advance the efforts of the ASEAN Member States in building strong collaboration and cross-boundary partnerships to protect larger areas of coastal and marine biodiversity in the ASEAN region.

These include the development and implementation of projects designed to address coastal and marine ecosystem threats and challenges by facilitating transformative changes in the collaborative management of marine protected areas (MPAs), MPA networks and associated marine corridors through integrated coastal management, marine spatial planning and the ecosystem-based management of fisheries.

To amplify the commitment of the ASEAN Member States to the KM GBF and to showcase experiences in achieving sustained efforts in the ASEAN, ACB proposes an interactive discussion on “Achieving Sustainability through Connectivity for Resilient ASEAN Seas.”

This session will serve as a platform for sharing the experiences of ASEAN Member States in achieving sustainability, knowledge acquisition, sharing and networking – highlighting ACB’s contributions in scientific and data management, ongoing coastal and marine conservation projects, plus youth engagement initiatives aimed at ensuring sustainable and resilient seas within the ASEAN.

Objectives:

  • Showcase ASEAN’s contributions to the 30 x 30 GBF target through successful case studies and initiatives.
  • Facilitate knowledge sharing among ASEAN member states and East Asian counterparts on effective marine conservation strategies.
  • Engage youth representatives in promoting sustainable marine practices and conservation efforts.

Program

TIME AGENDA
14:00 – 14:30 Registration and AVP Presentations
14:30 – 14:35 Introduction
14:35 – 15:15 First Session

Proposed Topics:

Achieving Sustainability in the ASEAN Seas:

1. Towards Successful MPA and MPA network management in the ASEAN region

· Speaker 1: Dr. Suchana Apple Chavanich, Ph.D. (Thailand)

 

2. Lessons to share for Sustainable Fisheries in the ASEAN Region Speaker 1: Md. Ketut Putra (Expert from Indonesia)

· Speaker 1: Dr. Nygiel Armada (Expert from the Philippines)

 

15:15 – 15:30 Q&A
15:30 – 15:35 Wrap-up and Introduction to Second Speaker
15:35 – 16:05 Second Session

Connectivity for a Resilient ASEAN Seas Proposed Topic:

1. An Overview of the ASEAN ENMAPS Project

· Dr. Sheila Vergara, ASEAN ENMAPS PM-CTA

 

2. The ENMAPS Approach: Understanding “Connectivity” in the ASEAN Marine Ecosystems

· Dr. VIncent Hilomen, ASEAN ENMAPS Regional Fisheries and Connectivity Consultant

 

16:05 – 16:15 Q&A
16:15 – 16:20 Wrap-up and introduction to Third Session
16:20 – 16:40 Third Session

Youth for Sustainable ASEAN Seas

Proposed Topic:

1. The role of youth organizations in coastal and marine conservation and fisheries management

· Speaker: Sapawan “Ploy” Ponlaboot (Youth Leader from Thailand)

16:40 – 16:50 Q&A
16:50 – 17:10 Panel Discussion
17:10 – 17:30 Wrap-up Closing Announcements

ST 2.7: Yellow Sea Biosphere Conservation Cooperation (Regional Cooperation for the Yellow Sea Ecosystem Conservation)

Overview

The Yellow Sea is a sea area shared by three countries, South Korea, China, and North Korea, and has a high social and economic contribution. The coastal wetlands of the Yellow Sea are a very important habitat for migratory animal species such as marine mammals and migratory birds. Recently, China and Korea are making efforts to protect their coastal wetlands (the Yancheng area in China and the southwestern part of Korea) by registering them as UNESCO World Natural Heritage sites. The Yellow Sea is a large marine ecosystem, and countries that share it agree on the need for joint cooperation to preserve the Yellow Sea. In this session, Korea and China’s policies, actions, and pending tasks for yellow sea ecosystem conservation will be introduced, and cooperation measures between neighboring countries will be discussed.

Integrated management of border oceans was selected as the session topic to contribute to the theme of this PEMSEA EAS Congress, “Blue Synergy for a Common Future.” Conservation of the Yellow Sea ecosystem is a task that must be accomplished for the common future pursued by neighboring countries. Additionally, the Yellow Sea is very important as part of East Asian Seas, and these regional solutions should be of interest.

Expected Outcomes and Outputs

  • List of proposed regional solutions can be sought among countries bordering the Yellow Sea. Exemplary management of the Yellow Sea also has important implications for the management of East Asia’s marine ecosystem.

Programme

 

TIME AGENDA
1430 – 1435 Welcome address

·         Dr. LEE Changhoon, President, Korea Environment Institute

1435 – 1520 Presentations:

Korea’s Yellow Sea conservation policies, activities and tasks

●        Speaker: Dr. Choong-ki Kim, Korea Environment Institute

China’s Yellow Sea conservation policies, activities, and tasks

●        Speaker: Prof. Jing Xu, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences

Meaning and importance of yellow sea ecosystem conservation in East Asia

●        Speaker: Mr. Masanori Kobayashi, Ocean Policy Research Institute

1520 – 1600 Discussion

●        Dr. Suk-jae Kwon, KIOST

●        Prof. Zhi Li, Xiamen University

●        Free discussion by audience