Transcript 18 th Meeting of COBSEA (Sanya, 24

THE EAST ASIAN SEAS
STATE OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT
REPORT 2009
L.M. Chou
Department of Biological Sciences
National University of Singapore
BACKGROUND
East Asian Seas Action Plan – recognises value of ‘information
management’ and ‘state of marine environment reporting’
18th Meeting of COBSEA (Sanya, 24-25 Jan 2006) - need for
improved information management on coastal and marine data and
activities re-emphasised.
Late 2007, preparation started for development of State of Marine Environment Report.
19th Meeting of COBSEA (Siem Reap, 22-23 Jan 2008) - outline of
contents approved.
Jun 09 – first draft sent to external reviewers
Aug 09 – second draft sent to NFPs, partner agencies, contributors
Oct 09 – third draft finalised
20th Meeting of COBSEA (Halong Bay, Nov 2009) – report adopted.
Chapter 1. Introduction
Chapter 2. Socio-economic development
Chapter 3. State and trend of the coastal and marine environment
A. Natural environment
B. Water quality
C. Coastal ecosystems
D. Fisheries resources
E. Vulnerability to natural disasters
Chapter 4. Economic valuation of the coastal and marine environment
Chapter 5. Outlook
Chapter 6. Options for action
EAS-SOMER 2009
- presents the current status and projected trends for the coastal
and marine environment.
- analyses ongoing management initiatives at national and
regional levels.
- identifies emerging coastal and marine environmental issues.
- analyses case studies (e.g. economic valuation), best practices,
and effective management measures to address current and
emerging coastal and marine environmental concerns.
Trends based on information over a 25-year period between 1981 and
2006 with new information up to 2009 included as far as is possible.
CONTRIBUTORS
Institutions
Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) – fisheries.
Coordinating Committee for Geoscience Programmes in East and
Southeast Asia (CCOP) - geophysical environment and natural disasters.
Coordinating Unit of the UNEP-GEF “South China Sea” project economic valuation.
Regional consultants
Dr. Gullaya Wattayakorn (Chulalongkorn University) - water quality.
Karenne Tun (National University of Singapore) - coastal habitats.
Dr. Wong Poh Poh (National University of Singapore) - climate change.
REVIEW PROCESS
First draft sent to four independent reviewers.
Revised draft sent to all National Focal Points, partner agencies and
contributors for further review.
Report covers the coastal
and marine areas of
COBSEA member countries:
Australia
Cambodia
People’s Republic of China
Indonesia
Republic of Korea
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand
Vietnam
Combined sea area = 30% of the world’s ocean
surface under national jurisdiction.
Large influence and major role in maintaining the
health of earth’s marine environment.
Coastal/marine ecosystems among richest and most
productive in the world and of vast social and
economic importance.
Almost 75% of the region’s human population of 2
billion live in the coastal area (100km). Rapid coastal
development.
Coastal habitat loss
Coral reefs – 40%
Mangroves – 50%
Fisheries production - 40% of world’s total.
Aquaculture production – >87% of world’s total.
(SE Asia - 3mil ha mangrove lost to aquaculture)
Climate-related hazards impose substantial socio-economic
burden. Cost of direct damage by tropical cyclones and floodrelated damages increased sharply in recent decades.
Steady decline in quality of region’s marine and coastal waters
(from oil spills and contaminants from shipping, sewage, other
domestic wastes, industrial effluents, and urban and
agricultural runoff). Most serious is rising levels of nutrients
from land-based sources leading to increased risk of harmful
algal blooms (HABs).
Suspended solids in Asia’s rivers quadrupled since late 1970s
Two-thirds of the world’s total sediment transport to oceans
occur in Southeast Asia.
Exposure to unsustainable resource exploitation and environmental
degradation intensified by threats from climate change and natural
hazards.
There is:
• growing awareness to manage marine environment/resources and
adoption of various strategies
• growing political will to commit resources to address current
problems and at least mitigate impacts of future problems.
OUTLOOK
• Capacity to deal with issues differs widely across region
because of varying socio-economic situations.
• Capacity building urgent for countries facing enormous
pressures.
• State of the marine environment differs among countries
because of varying pressures.
• Capacity development and transfer needed to strengthen
region’s capability to address common goal of improved
sustainability of coastal and marine environment.