Overview of the Existing Assessments In the Eastern and South-eastern Asian Seas Region

Transcription

1 Regular Process For Global Reporting And Assessment Of The State Of The Marine Environment, Including Socio-economic Aspects Overview of the Existing Assessments In the Eastern and South-eastern Asian Seas Region Juying WANG, Liang LIU National Marine Environmental Monitoring Center, SOA, CHINA

2 Contents Preliminary Inventory Compilation; Preliminary Overview of Existing Assessments Based on findings of AoA

3 Preliminary Inventory Pursuant to A/66/189 Guidelines for Workshop, one of the objective of the Workshop is: Review and evaluate all assessments considered by the participants to be relevant to the sea area under consideration and, on the basis of those evaluations, compile an inventory of assessments likely to be useful for the Regular Process

4 Preliminary information of the Workshop Pursuant to the Guidelines: participants in the Workshop will be asked to provide, in advance of the Workshop, contributions on the information listed in Appendix I to the Guidelines. The Workshop support staff should compile that information into summaries, which should be available, and distributed to participants, in advance of the workshop.

5 Information to be provided existing assessments The details to be provided should include: Agency conducting the specific assessment; Major intended users of the assessment, and the uses for which it was intended; Spatial and temporal scale of the assessment, and frequency of assessment cycle; Issues covered by the assessment; Types of data, experiential knowledge, indicators and the reasons for their selection, and other information sources contributing to the assessment; Where trends of component information sets have been deduced, the methods employed; Where an effort has been made to integrate different types of information, particularly social, economic and ecological information, the extent of, and methods for, such integration; Sources of any evaluation benchmarks, reference levels or ecotoxicological assessment criteria used in the assessment; Extent and sources of any forecasts, projections and scenarios used in the assessment; If data assessment limitations (such as data extrapolation errors, uncertainties and/or information gaps) were addressed in the assessment, a description of how this was done;

6 Template for Individual Assessments CHECK-LIST OF QUESTIONS - 23 QUESTIONS Institutional Arrangements Orientation Coverage and Sources of Information Process Communications

7 Blank Template For Individual Assessments REGION: NAME OF THE ASSESSMENT: CHECK-LIST OF QUESTIONS INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS 1 What organisation carried out the assessment? ORIENTATION 2 Were there explicit objectives for the assessment? If so, what are they? 3 What is the relation of the assessment to the cycle of determining the problems, adopting measures and evaluating progress? COVERAGE AND SOURCES OF INFORMATION 4 What area does the assessment cover? 5 What period of time does the assessment cover? 6 How often will assessments of this kind be produced? 7 What aspects of the marine ecosystem are covered by the assessment? 8 What aspects of human impacts on the marine environment are covered by the assessment? 9 On what information is the assessment based? 10 Where environmental, economic or social data were used, what arrangements were made for subsequent access to this data by the public or by experts? 11 Where environmental, economic or social data were used, are metadata available on these data series? ANSWERS PROCESS 12 How did the assessment control is the quality of the data used in it? 13 Were models of aspects of the marine environment developed and used in the assessment? 14 If the assessment was based (wholly or partly) on traditional knowledge, what practices were used to control its quality? 15 If the assessment was based (wholly or partly) on expert opinion, what practices were used to control its quality? 16 Was any particular conceptual framework used to organise the assessment? 17 How was the involvement organised of the different scientific specialisms? 18 How was interaction organised between scientific, economic and social disciplines and policy makers? 19 How were non-official stakeholders enabled to participate in the assessment? 20 Did differences of opinion arise over the conclusions of the assessment? If so, how were these resolved? 21 Was there a peer review of the assessment before the final text was published? COMMUNICATIONS 22 In which languages is the assessment available? 23 Was there a communications strategy for disseminating the results of the assessment?

8 Response from: International organization/projects NOWPAP, COBSEA, WESTPAC, UNEP/GRID, PEMSEA, etc. Member states China, Japan, Singapore, etc.

9 Information Compilation Ms. Connie Chiang and Mr. Wouter Rommens provided helpful information of existing assessment. Connie and local secretariat finalized the preliminary inventory which has been copied in your U disk.

10 Preliminary Inventory Total : 127 Assessments: International organization/projects: 99 National: 22 Database: 6 Note: The inventory for existing assessment is originally a preliminary one. The inventory should be modified even after the Sanya workshop.

11 Preliminary Inventory Note: The inventory for existing assessment is originally a preliminary one. The inventory could be modified even after the Sanya orkshop.

12 Contents Preliminary Inventory Compilation; Preliminary Overview of Existing Assessments Based on findings of AOA

13 Geographical coverage The East Asian Seas region includes six subregional seas or Large Marine Ecosystems (LME). The East Asian Seas are semi -enclosed with a total surface area of 7 million km 2, a coastline of km, and a total watershed area of about 8.6 million km 2. Source from: UNEP and IOC-UNESCO 2009

14 Ecological Characteristics some of the most productive marine waters in the world and rich in natural resources. They sustain 30% of the world s coral reefs and mangroves, produce about 40% of the world s fishery catch. The region contains some of the most heavily populated countries in the world. Approximately 2 billion people live in the region, with this number expected to increase to 3 billion by Source from: PEMSEA (2007).

15 Institutions Undertaking Assessments A number of formal institutions are involved in undertaking assessments in this region. GEFis supporting a number of projects in this region, including YSLME project (UNDP), PEMSEA project (UNDP/IMO), GIWA regional assessments (UNEP) and SCS project (UNEP). Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission (APFIC) COBSEA Other institutions involved in the assessment : Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC), IMO, FAO, UNOPS, World Resources Institute (WRI), PICES, WESTPAC, NOWPAP the International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN)

16 Coverage & Extent Of Regional Assessments indication of the coverage and extent of the regional assessments examined. Water Quality: Time series on multiple attributes and some analyses are available Living Marine Resources: Assessments of some important species in the region are available. Habitat Characterization and Impacts: Assessments of status and trends in habitats covering multiple biophysical features are available for a substantial portion of the region. Source from: UNEP and IOC-UNESCO 2009

17 coverage and extent of regional assessments indication of the coverage and extent of the regional assessments examined. Lower Trophic levels:assessments of status and trends of some aspects of primary and secondary productivity are available for some portion of the region. Protected Species: Assessments of status and trends of some protected species designated for specific conservation measures (marine mammals, sea birds, turtles etc.) are available but not on a regular basis. Social and Economic Conditions: Assessments of status and trends of some social and economic factors for some portions of the region are available on an irregular basis. Source from: UNEP and IOC-UNESCO 2009

18 Data Ecosystem data There is normal coverage of data on the physical and chemical background of the marine environment, marine habitats, fisheries, mariculture, waste disposal, land-based development, and litter. Data on offshore wave/wind energy generation and maritime catastrophes are few. Information on living aquatic resources is usually inadequate, incomprehensive, and sometimes contradictory. Source from: UNEP and IOC-UNESCO 2009

19 Data Socio-economic data Large gaps remain in the socio-economic data at the regional level Large gaps remain in data on the impact of environmental changes on humans such as maritime catastrophes, pollution, and climate change. Few data on the relationship between ecosystem and human activities. Source from: UNEP and IOC-UNESCO 2009

20 Data For most assessments, effective arrangements were designed to facilitate access to and use of the data and information. However, these need further maintenance and updating based on an effective international data management and exchange policy. UNEP-WCMC UNEP/SCS Research and Training Regional Centre START NOWPAP Data and information network regional activity Centre DINRAC WESTPAC International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange system IODE(NEAR-GOOS/SEA-GOOS) YSLME Project s database World Fish Center Fish Base and Reef Base

21 Assessments at Region Level Integrated assessments YSLME TDA(UNDP/GEF 2007), SCS TDA (Talaue-McManus 2000),GIWA for the Yellow Sea (UNEP 2005), East China Sea (UNEP 2005), South China Sea (UNEP 2005), Sulu-Celebes Sea (UNEP 2005) and Indonesian Sea (UNEP 2005) were all integrated assessments Covering nearly all aspects of the marine environment. Identifying priority concerns Analyzing immediate and root causes. Options for intervention or policy options. Source from: UNEP and IOC-UNESCO 2009

22 Integrated assessments COBSEA State of the Marine Environment Report for the East Asian Seas, (2009, regional seas) Concerning about state and trend, economic valuation, outlook and option for action in the assessment. NOWPAP Existing Assessments at region level State of Marine Environment Report, (SOMER)

23 Existing Assessments at region level Thematic/sectoral assessments 1) PEMSEA Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) component Manila Bay Integrated Environmental Monitoring Programme (MBEMP) 2) APFIC Status & Potential of Fisheries & Aquaculture in Asia and the Pacific 3) WRI and ICRAN Reefs at Risk in Southeast Asia 3) YSLME Regional Governance Analysis 5) SCS project Reports of the Regional Task Force on Legal Matters Source from: UNEP and IOC-UNESCO 2009

24 Prioritized Issues the most important prioritized issues in EAS region were identified Unsustainable exploitation of fish and other living resources, including over exploitation & destructive fishing practices. Decline in landings of many traditional commercially important species and increased landing of low value species, including changes in dominant species; Source from: UNEP and IOC-UNESCO 2009

25 Prioritized Issues the most important prioritized issues in EAS region were identified: Habitat loss and degradation, including significant losses of sea grass beds, corals and mangroves; Eutrophication especially nitrogen enrichment. Modification of ecosystems, increased frequency of harmful algal blooms as well as shift in species composition, abundance, and biomass. Effects on the environment as a result of land-based activities such as large dam construction and land reclamation. Source from: UNEP and IOC-UNESCO 2009

26 SUPRA-REGIONAL ISSUES There are several issues in the region that warrant consideration and study at the global or supra-regional level. These include: Effects of global climate changes and concomitant issues, including sea level rise, sea water intrusion and land salinization; Modification of ecosystems and the loss of biodiversity; and Marine and atmospheric transport of pollutants. Source from: UNEP and IOC-UNESCO 2009

27 Capacity Building Need Regional organizations can provide an appropriate platform to conduct various types of assessment and undertake corresponding work if a global marine assessment is undertaken. The substantial amount of available data and information contained in the existing assessments can facilitate subsequent assessments. There are many marine scientists working in monitoring & assessment and scientific research in the EAS region, and thus the expertise is available. Source from: UNEP and IOC-UNESCO 2009

28 Capacity Building Need Information on living aquatic resources is usually inadequate, incomprehensive, unsystematic, and sometimes contradictory. As a result long-term and wellplanned biodiversity studies are needed. The links between environmental issues and socioeconomic aspects need to be better understood and evaluated. Future regional activities should address the issue of maintaining regional activities after project termination. Source from: UNEP and IOC-UNESCO 2009

29 Capacity Building Need Questions? Geographical unbalanced in capacity: transfer, platform? Data obtaining capacity building: especially time series data obtaining, data quality control An effective international data management and exchange policy: How to make full use of the existing data? How to fill the data gap? Integrated assessment methodology? forecasts, projections and scenarios analysis? How to develop evaluation benchmarks, reference levels or ecotoxicological assessment criteria used in the assessment

30 Reference PEMSEA (2007). PEMSEA: Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia ( ): A Regional Mechanism Facilitating Sustainable Environmental Benefits in River Basins, Coasts, Islands and Seas PEMSEA IEC Material 2, 5pp UNEP and IOC-UNESCO 2009, An Assessment of Assessments, Findings of the Group of Experts.Start-up Phase o a Regular Process for Global Reporting and Assessment of the State of the Marine Environment including Socio economic Aspects. ISBN Talaue-McManus, L. (2000). Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis for the South China Sea. EAS/RCU Technical Report Series No. 14. UNEP, Bangkok, Thailand UNDP/GEF (2007). UNDP/GEF project: Reducing Environmental Stress in the Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis. UNEP (2004a). Report of the Second Meeting of the Regional Task Force on Legal Matters. UNEP/GEF / SCS/RTF L.2/3, 1-9pp UNEP (2004b). Reversing Environmental Degradation Trends in the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand. Review of obligations of signatory States under global environmental conventions with regard to regional cooperation. UNEP/GEF/SCS/RTF-L.1/13, 1-17pp UNEP (2005a). Teng, S.K., Yu, H., Tang, Y., Tong, L., Choi, C.I., Kang, D., Liu, H., Chun, Y., Juliano, R.O., Rautalahti-Miettinen, E. and Daler, D. Yellow Sea. GIWA Regional assessment 34. University of Kalmar, Kalma Sweden UNEP (2005b). Qu, J., Xu, Z., Long, Q., Wang, L., Shen, X., Zhang, J. and Cai, Y. East China Sea. GIWA Regional assessment 36. University of Kalmar, Kalmar, Sweden UNEP (2005c). Wilkinson, C., DeVantier, L., Talaue-McManus, L., Lawrence, D. and Souter, D. South China Sea. GIWA Regional assessment 54. University of Kalmar, Kalmar, Sweden UNEP (2005d). De Vantier, L., Wilkinson, C., Souter, D., South, R., Skelton, P. and Lawrence, D. Sulu-Celebes (Sulawesi) Sea. GIWA Regional assessment 56. University of Kalmar, Kalmar, Sweden UNEP (2005e). Abdullah, A. and others. Indonesian Seas. GIWA Regional assessment 57. University of Kalmar,

31 Thanks for Attention!