I INTRODUCTION

1. The East Asian Seas Region has been recognized by the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as a "concentration area" in which UNEP, in close collaboration with the relevant components of the United Nations System, will attempt to fulfil a catalytic role in assisting the States of the East Asian Region to formulate and implement, in a consistent manner, a commonly agreed upon action plan.

2. The area of application of the action plan initially covered the marine environment and coastal areas of the following States:

Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

3. However, there was a provision that this coverage did not prejudice its future extension so as to cover the marine environment and coastal areas of all the States bordering the East Asian Seas as may be determined at a later stage.

4. At the Ninth Meeting of the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) which was held in Kuala Lumpur on 13-15 November 1991, it was decided to invite other countries to join the East Asian Seas Action Plan. The present coverage includes the marine environment and coastal areas of the following countries:

Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

5. The principal objective of the action plan is the protection and sustainable development of the marine environment and the coastal areas for the promotion of the health and well-being of present and future generations. The action plan is intended to provide a framework for an environmentally-sound and comprehensive approach to coastal area development particularly appropriate to the needs of the region.

6. A basis for the action plan has been provided by a range of activities inter alia:

6.1 IOC/FAO/IPFC/UNEP International Workshop on Marine Pollution in East Asian Waters, University Sains Malaysia, Penang, 7-13 April 1976;

6.2 Indo-Pacific Fisheries Council (IPFC) : Third Session of the IPFC Working Party on Aquaculture and Environment, Bangkok, 31 August-3 September 1976;

6.3 IMCO/UNEP Oil Pollution Contingency Planning for the Straits of Malacca and Singapore Region - Preparatory Stage, November 1976;

6.4 ASEAN Council on Petroleum (ASCOPE) : First Petroleum Conference and Exhibition, Jakarta, 11-13 October 1977;

6.5 ESCAP/UNEP Intergovernmental Meeting on Environmental Protection Legislation, Bangkok, 4-8 July 1979;

6.6 Committee for Co-ordination of Joint Prospecting for Mineral Resources in Asian Offshore Areas (CCOP) : Fifteenth Session, Singapore, 24 October-6 November 1978;

6.7 UNESCO Regional Seminar on Human Uses of the Mangrove Environment and Management Implications, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 4-10 December 1978;

6.8 ASEAN Expert Meeting on the Environment, Jakarta, 18-20 December 1978;

6.9 Fifth Meeting of the ASEAN Experts Group on Marine Pollution, Manila, 7-9 February 1979;

6.10 IOC (UNESCO) Workshop on the Western Pacific (WESTPAC), Tokyo, 19-20 February 1979;

6.11 UNEP Mission to the East Asian Seas region to enquire about the feasibility of an action plan, March 1979;

6.12 Second Meeting of the ASEAN Experts on the Environment, Penang, 17-20 September 1979;

6.13 IMCO/UNEP Meeting on the Development of Sub-regional Oil Spill Contingency Arrangements in the Celebes (Sulawesi) Sea, Jakarta, 7-9 January 1980;

6.14 FAO/UNEP (convened in collaboration with UNESCO and IUCN) Expert Consultation on the Impact of Pollution on the Mangrove Ecosystem and its Productivity in South East Asia, Manila, 4-8 February 1980;

6.15 FAO/UNEP (convened in collaboration with IOC) Expert Consultation on Assessment of Oil Pollution and its Impact on Living Aquatic Resources in South East Asia, Manila, 11-15 February 1980;

6.16 ESCAP (CCOP)/UNEP Ad Hoc Group Meeting on the Marine Environment, Bangkok, 20-25 March 1980;

6.17 IOC (UNESCO)/WESTPAC Workshop on Coastal Transport of Pollutants, Tokyo, 27-31 March 1980;

6.18 Third Meeting of the ASEAN Experts on the Environment, Manila, 19-23 May 1980;

6.19 UNESCO/UNEP Expert Consultation on River Inputs to Southeast Asian Seas, Jakarta, 2-4 June 1980;

6.20 ASEAN Workshop on Nature Conservation of the ASEAN Experts on the Environment, Denpasar, 15-19 September 1980;

6.21 Fourth Meeting of the ASEAN Experts on the Environment, Singapore, 8-10 April 1981;

6.22 First Meeting of the ASEAN Senior Officials on the Environment (ASOEN), which upgraded the ASEAN Expert Group on the Environment (AEGE) to full ASEAN Committee called ASOEN (Kuala Lumpur, 19 June 1990);

6.23 The decision at the ninth COBSEA meeting to include other countries of the region in the action plan (Kuala Lumpur, 13-15 November 1991);

6.24 The ASCOPE Plan for controlling and Mitigation of Marine Pollution (APCMMP) was approved in principle (Bangkok, 1 November 1993);

6.25 The Fifth Petroleum Conference and Exhibition (CNE) was held in Bangkok, 2 - 6 November 1993; and

6.26 Additional studies, suggestions and proposals received from the United Nations System, including the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED).

7. The principal aims of the action plan are as follows:

7.1 Assessment of the state of the marine environment, including assessment of the effects of marine, coastal and other land-based activities on environmental quality, so as to assist Governments to effectively address with marine environmental problems;

7.2 Implementation of integrated coastal and marine management and sustainable development plans to address activities which have an impact on environmental quality or on the protection and use of renewable resources.

7.3 Development of suitable co-ordinating measures for the successful implementation of the action plan.

7.4 Development of an effective and integrated mechanism based on sound scientific knowledge for the restoration of the marine environment in cases where critical ecosystems have been degraded or where important species or communities have been lost.

7.5 To foster increased environmental awareness in the region.

8. All components of the action plan are interdependent and provide a framework for comprehensive action which should contribute to both the protection and the sustainable development of the region. No component will be an end in itself. Each activity is intended to assist the Governments of the region in improving the quality of the information on which environmental management policies are based.

9. The programme arising from the action plan should contribute not only to resolving environmental problems commonly faced by the participating States, but should also strengthen co-operation in other related areas of interest as reflected in, inter alia, the Conference on Technical Co-operation among Developing Countries, the United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, the UNDP/CCOP Project on Regional Offshore Prospecting in East Asia, the South China Sea Fisheries Development and Co-ordinating Programme, and the UNESCO-COMAR (Coastal Marine Programme) as well as the UNESCO-IOC Working Group for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) Programme. In addition, full account should be taken of the policies and interests of the States as expressed in various regional and sub-regional organizations, in particular, in the ESCAP, IPFC, South East Asian Fisheries Development Centre (SEAFDEC), and ASEAN, including its ASCOPE, Expert Group on Marine Pollution, and the ASEAN Experts on the Environment.

10. The action plan is to be implemented primarily through national and regional institutions of the participating States by way of co-ordinated national, sub-regional and regional activities. To achieve this goal, an intensive training programme was carried out supporting the development of the action plan. Some examples of related activities are:

10.1 regional and national seminars on protection of the marine environment and related ecosystems in Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP/SEPS), 1979/1980;

10.2 WHO/UNEP Regional Seminar on Environmental Health Impact Assessment, New Delhi, 8-12 October 1979;

10.3 UN/UNEP Workshop on Coastal Area Development and Management, Manila, 3-12 December 1979;

10.4 Asian Symposium on Mangrove Environment (UNESCO), Kuala Lumpur, 25-29 August 1980;

10.5 International Workshop on the Prevention, Abatement and Combating of Pollution from Ships in East Asian Waters (IMCO/UNEP), Manila, 3-8 November 1980;

10.6 Workshop on Environmental Impact Assessment for Water Resource Development Projects, Kanchamburi, 15-20 February 1981;

10.7 UNESCO/IOC Training Course in Biological Oceanography, Cebu City, 23 March - 15 April 1981.

11. More recently, various activities outside of the Regional Seas Programme have contributed to the objectives of the action plan, and now form part of the basis for its revision. Among these are:

11.1 ASEAN-US Coastal Resources Management Project; 11.2 ASEAN-Australia Economic Cooperation Programme (AAECP) Marine Science Project: Living Coastal Resources;

11.3 ASEAN-Australia Economic Cooperation Programme (AAECP) Marine Science Project: Regional Ocean Dynamics;

11.4 ASEAN-Canada Cooperative Programme in Marine Science;

11.5 IGBP Global Change System for Analysis, Research and Training (START);

11.6 IMO global programme for the protection of the marine environment;

11.7 CCOP programme for sustainable development of non-living resources in East Asian coastal areas in the light of global environmental change;

11.8 Network for Environmental Training at Tertiary Level in Asia-Pacific (NETTLAP);

11.9 Initiatives for joint scientific research in the South China Sea spearheaded by the Government of Indonesia;

11.10 GEF-funded project on Prevention and Management of Marine Pollution in the East Asian Seas;

11.11 Asian Development Bank's project on Coastal and Marine Environmental Assessment and Monitoring Information System;

11.12 UNESCO and its IOC (Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission), and the UNESCO-COMAR (Coastal Marine) program.

12. A general description of the various components of the action plan is given in the following paragraphs.

II SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES LEADING TOWARDS MANAGEMENT

13. In the light of the historical development of the East Asian Seas Action Plan, the relevant past and recent events within the East Asian Seas region, the emergence of new issues in marine and coastal environmental protection, including the formulation of Agenda 21 (particularly Chapter XVII), and the nature of marine and coastal environmental problems besetting the region which require specific and decisive management action, the following are proposed as the main scientific activities to be given priority in the action plan in the coming decade.

14. An integrated and interdisciplinary approach to the study of marine and coastal ecosystems listed below is envisaged. To this end, and to the extent feasible, participating States will identify and designate pilot areas for the co-ordinated implementation of the activities listed below.

15. The programme components listed below are interdisciplinary and interrelated. Therefore, while preparing the operational details of each programme component, due attention should be paid to close co-ordination among these activities.

Development of a regional database

16 Since the inception of the action plan, activities arising from it, together with related programmes carried out in the region, have resulted in the following accomplishments:

* Baseline information on the structure, distribution and dynamics of major marine ecosystems (e.g. coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, soft bottoms) situated in the different countries; * Information on levels and trends in the distribution of important non-oil pollutants originating from land-based and offshore sources; * Information on levels and trends in the distribution of oil pollutants, from both land-based and offshore sources (including shipping); * Directories of scientific institutions, research centres, information centres and data sources in the region; * Bibliographies of publications on relevant marine environmental issues in the region.

A regularly updated database should integrate all this information into a compatible format including risk assessment estimates readily assessable to and usable through electronic networking by policy/decision makers, managers and other scientists.

17. A database on the status and distribution of marine ecosystems and their associated species has been developed by the ASEAN-Australia Economic Cooperation Programme (AAECP) Marine Science Project: Living Coastal Resources. A new phase of AAECP aims at establishing national decision-support systems by integrating different databases relevant to the coastal and marine environment. An important activity of the action plan would be to build on and expand these valuable databases to incorporate all information generated pertaining to the East Asian Seas. This will provide decision makers with a sound basis for the management and protection of the marine and coastal environment on a regional basis.

Long term-monitoring and environmental assessment

18. It is imperative that monitoring programmes already underway, covering both the status of ecosystems, and levels and trends in distribution of pollutants, be continued within the framework of the action plan. In addition, efforts should be made to identify gaps in information which would require the establishment of expanded or additional monitoring programmes. The vital importance of long-term monitoring to help ensure effective management is stressed in many parts of Chapter XVII of Agenda 21. Long-term monitoring is also an essential feature of efforts to anticipate and mitigate the adverse effects of global change.

19. In order to keep abreast of international efforts to cope with global change, the action plan should incorporate elements relating to the immediate effects of resource use as well as the longer effects of atmospheric change. With respect to use, these would include data on the existing and projected levels of use and socio-economic demand. With respect to atmospheric change, these would include the effects of possible sea level change, and of the increasing amounts of ultraviolet radiation that penetrate the atmosphere due to depletion of ozone concentrations and that would adversely affect both terrestrial and marine communities.

Rehabilitation of vital ecosystems and restoration of ecologically or economically-important species and communities

20. Such action would be in line with the global call to conserve biodiversity through the Biodiversity Convention. It also directly addresses the need to maintain the livelihood and resource base of human populations of the region which are dependent on the seas, directly or indirectly. Consideration should be given to the development of cooperative regional approaches for the effective conservation and management of migratory marine species, particularly among the range countries.

21. Scientific research should be encouraged and supported which seeks to create a sound basis for the rehabilitation of critical ecosystems which generate a range of benefits for human society, including food, products used in shelter and industry, recreation, and physical protection from natural hazards. Such ecosystems also serve as habitats for commercially and ecological important species. Under such an activity, research into basic ecological processes such as productivity and factors which structure communities is indispensable.

22. Studies should be conducted on the basic biology and ecology of important species that are threatened with significant depletion in numbers or with extinction. The scientific results thus produced would be used for the purpose of guiding efforts to restore species or ecologically important functional groups to their normal levels in their natural habitats, or to introduce them in convenient locations for exploitation (as in mariculture and sea-ranching).

Marine protected areas

23. Marine protected areas play a critical role in the conservation of biodiversity. The scientific basis for this should be examined, for example, the function of marine protected areas as refugia or as replenishment sources for endangered species. Relevant questions also concern the minimum size or area of such areas, and the corridors which connect them to similar reserves elsewhere to form a viable network for the preservation of critical habitats or species.

Quality assurance for pollution monitoring

24. This activity would be of primary importance in the region because of the need to ensure that data gathered on the types and levels of pollution in the marine environment is updated to meet appropriate standards for quality and intercomparibility.

25. The component on quality assurance for pollution monitoring is to be strengthened through an intensive programme of training and technical support of local scientists and technicians, including (UNEP/IG.26/6, Annex IV, paragraph 17):

25.1 Standardization of analytical techniques for measuring pollutant concentration, and of techniques used to measure the effects of pollutants on human health, fishery resources and marine and coastal ecosystems;

25.2 Introduction of quality control of analytical procedures within and among the laboratories participating in the action plan, including the conduct of regional intercalibration exercises on a regular basis to ensure intercomparability;

25.3 Assistance to the laboratories in the field of instrumental analysis through the establishment of a joint regional equipment service;

25.4 Training of scientists and technicians through existing national, regional and international institutions ready to offer their facilities;

25.5 Updating and development of compatible methodology for the handling, validation and regional evaluation of data collected through the above research projects.

Biological and ecological effects of pollution

26. In order to develop proper management measures to combat the adverse impacts of pollution, effects at all relevant levels of the ecological hierarchy must be understood. Pollutants always exert action first at the molecular and cellular levels. Processes that are triggered on these scales then build up to be manifested at higher levels, such as in the form of pathological reactions in individual organisms. Deleterious consequences may make their way up the ecological hierarchy to entire populations or even communities. Active collaboration in this area of research is foreseen with UNESCO and its Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC).

III ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

27. It is expected that data produced by scientific activities described in the paragraphs above shall have direct utility for programmes designed to protect and properly manage the marine and coastal environment of the East Asian Seas region, and to promote the utilization of resources on a sustainable basis and promote awareness of the requirements and basis for sustainability.

28. Integrated management efforts shall draw on the spirit of Chapter XVII, Agenda 21 of UNCED, as reflected in the "Guiding Principles" of the Long-Term Strategy of COBSEA. The action plan should eventually see the "implementation of integrated coastal and marine management and sustainable development plans and programmes at appropriate levels" (Agenda 21, Chapter XVII, paragraph 17.6).

29. The specific management activities that are considered essential for the success of the action plan are as follows:

Maintenance of a regional database

30. Effective management action can rely only on the availability, interpretation and use of the right kind of data at the right time (paragraph 16) on critical habitats, endangered species, vulnerable coastal areas, trends in pollution, corresponding socio-economic and political structures.

Development and maintenance of monitoring and environmental assessment programmes

31. Long-term monitoring and periodic assessments of the state of the coastal and marine environment will help provide sufficient early warning of danger to habitats, species, and even human populations from either anthropogenic activities or natural phenomena. Timely management action can thus be instituted.

Rehabilitation of vital ecosystems and restoration of ecologically or economically-important species and communities

32. Active measures to rehabilitate damaged natural habitats (within the realm of scientific and economic possibility) and to replenish depleted species populations will need to be undertaken to restore the kind of sustainable productivity which serves as the basis for the generation of food, other useful products, and amenities on which human populations depend. Establishment of regional mechanism for the development of cooperative management approaches to the conservation of migratory marine species.

Establishment of a viable network of marine protected areas

33. A network of properly managed marine protected areas including strictly protected reserves should be established. Critical habitats to form part of this network are to be selected on the basis of their productivity, uniqueness, or vulnerability. Such a measure would have the twin goals of conserving biodiversity (to the degree possible), and maintaining useful levels of productivity with respect to human needs.

Employing appropriate technologies for the prevention and management of pollution

34. Much progress has been made within and outside of the region towards the development of technologies, processes and activities for controlling pollution, either at source, or upon discharge into the marine environment. Every effort should be made to adopt the most appropriate technologies for specific cases, if it is not already in place. There is, however, no substitute for actual prevention of pollution, so that the over-all approach should be PREVENTIVE and PRECAUTIONARY in nature.

35. With respect to land-based sources of pollution, States are urged to take account of the Montreal Guidelines for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Sources (Agenda 21, Chapter XVII, paragraph 17.24) and development emanating there from.

36 With respect to prevention, reduction and control of degradation of the marine environment from sea-based activities, States will be encouraged to ratify appropriate international conventions including: UNCLOS (UN Convention on Law of the Sea); MARPOL 73/78; the London Convention 1972 (Convention of the Prevention of Marine Pollution from the Dumping of Waste and other matter, 1972) and OPRC 1990 (Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness Response and Co-operation).

Environmental impact assessment

37. An important component of the action plan would be strengthening capabilities in environmental impact assessment in the region in order to prevent or minimise adverse impacts on the marine and coastal environment and lead to sustainable development. In order to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of environmental impact assessment, managing agencies are urged to monitor the actual impacts of use and development and reconcile them against the predictions in environmental impact assessment.

38. In addition to the above items, it will be necessary to take note of points made in Chapter XVII, Agenda 21 that are not within the mandate of the action plan (e.g., fisheries management), but which are also critical for the attainment of objectives for comprehensive management and sustainable development of the coastal and marine environment of the region.

Capacity building

39. An indispensable component of any management plan would be the manpower and institutional factor. This again cannot be over-emphasized, and is reiterated several times in Chapter XVII, Agenda 21 (e.g., paragraphs 17.15-17.17). In the action plan, sufficient attention will be devoted to education and short-term training, the development of an institutional framework as well as institution building. An ultimate objective of such efforts would be the development of SUSTAINED PUBLIC AWARENESS of coastal and marine environmental issues involving targeted educational programs starting with decision makers and continuing through to include education of the general public. Specific effort will be directed towards revision of existing curricula at all levels of formal education. Particular attention should be given to strengthening the role of system-wide considerations. In the educational curricular, emphasis should be given to environmental quality and not to economic considerations. Co-operation between UNEP and UNESCO can be strengthened to ensure success in this aspect of the work.

40. A priority of the action plan should be the support and strengthening of institutions within the region which have the capability or potential to contribute significantly to its objectives. Such "centres of excellence" will be crucial in its successful implementation.

41. Collaborative linkages will be developed with relevant programmes of the United Nations system and other organizations that aim towards the incorporation of environmental issues into general education at the various academic levels. Particular attention will be paid to the elaboration of appropriate environmental curricula at all levels of the education system with particular emphasis on marine and coastal systems.

42. In capacity-building, all relevant sectors of society should be involved (both private and Government), and their resources mobilized. Special attention should be paid to tapping the traditional knowledge and enhancing the involvement of local or indigenous communities in the management of the marine and coastal environment.

IV IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EAST ASIAN SEAS ACTION PLAN

Over-all authority

43. The Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) is the over-all authority to determine the content of the action plan, to review its progress and to approve its programme of implementation, including the financial implications. Specific functions of COBSEA are as follows (UNEP(OCA)EAS IG.4/7, Annex IV, paragraph 15):

* Examine, at regular intervals, its Long-Term Strategy, and, on the basis of the evaluation of results of completed activities as well as relevant developments, amend and extend it accordingly; * In order to enhance inter-regional cooperation and exchange of information, regularly review the situation and advise the Regional Coordinating Unit of the East Asian Seas Action Plan (EAS/RCU--see "Coordination" below) and UNEP on potential areas of cooperative venture with other Regional Seas Programmes; * With an enhanced coordinating function within the wider East Asian Seas region, and in order to avoid duplication of activities, on policy issues advise, and on technical aspects guide the EAS/RCU on the development of its programme activities; * With reliance on information concerning national, bilateral and regional activities and programmes, advise and assist UNEP and the EAS/RCU on avenues to be pursued for securing possible additional funding for its major priority programmes; * The projects to be developed for implementation within the priorities of the action plan will be based on the elements of the comprehensive Long-Term Strategy of COBSEA.

Coordination

44. The Regional Coordinating Unit of the East Asian Seas Action Plan (EAS/RCU) will assist COBSEA in the implementation of the action plan by serving as the Secretariat for the action plan. In addition to its general coordination function, the EAS/RCU will be tasked with programme and financial management (UNEP(OCA)/EAS IG.4/3, Annex I).

45. The channel of communication between the EAS/RCU and the participating Governments in the East Asian Seas Action Plan will be through the respective National Focal Points. In matters of technical nature, the EAS/RCU may communicate with individuals and/or institutions concerned, providing copies of communications to the relevant National Focal Points.

Project formulation, development and funding

46. On the basis of past experiences under the action plan, the steps recommended for project formulation, development and funding are as follows (UNEP(OCA)/EAS IG.4/3, paragraph 40): * The national focal points, through COBSEA, should limit the number and approval of small scale projects as much as possible and aim at the development of major regional projects within the framework of the Long Term Strategy as well as the priorities that are emerging or already established. * The approved project proposals should be developed (see statement immediately following) and presented through the EAS/RCU, acting as Secretariat, for funding. * For each project proposal or concept approved by COBSEA, an appropriate amount of funds from the East Asian Seas Trust Fund or the Environment Fund will be approved for project development. Project development and formulation should be undertaken with full cooperation of the relevant national focal point(s), the Secretariat, and the national project coordinator(s). This could be achieved through short missions involving the national project coordinator(s) and the Secretariat. * The projects thus approved should then, depending on the decision of COBSEA, be funded either by the Trust Fund or the Environment Fund, or where appropriate be presented to potential donors or funding agencies. * On the basis of needs identified by various fora in the region, the EAS/RCU shall periodically solicit project proposals from competent national institutions or individuals (e.g. the Association of South East Asian Scientists) for activities to further the objectives of the action plan. 47. In the formulation stage, due consideration should be paid to the scientific aspects of a project to ensure its technical soundness. Over-ambitious workplans and timetables should also be avoided (UNEP(OCA)/EAS IG.2/10, paragraph 26).

48. Scientific experts should provide assistance in developing the operational details of the programme components (UNEP/IG.26/6, Annex IV, paragraph 19).

Project implementation

49. The activities of the action plan as described above will be implemented directly by competent national institutions of the participating States identified by the National Focal Points with intensive involvement of scientists, technicians, administrators and other appropriate experts from the East Asian Seas region (UNEP/IG.77/6, paragraph 39; UNEP(OCA)/EAS IG.2/10, paragraph 26).

50. Emphasis will be given to collaboration among national institutions, in particular to the exchange of scientists and managers among countries in order to maximize benefits from the expertise that has been cultivated since the inception of the action plan in the region, and also to optimize the use of laboratories that have since been established or developed, including major equipment and facilities that have been acquired in the course of implementation of the action plan and other programmes.

51. International, intergovernmental and regional organizations will play an active role in these activities, contributing their expertise and experience in the management of large-scale multidisciplinary programmes (UNEP/IG.77/6, paragraph 39).

52. In each of the States participating in the action plan, coordinating mechanisms will be established and/or enhanced under the chairmanship of the respective national focal point in order to ensure timely and effective implementation of projects (UNEP/IG.77/6, paragraph 39).

53. For each project, a scientific or technical coordinator shall be clearly identified. Technical matters shall be communicated directly to this coordinator with copies to the implementing organizations and to the national focal points (UNEP(OCA)/EAS IG.2/10, paragraph 26).

54. A widely distributed newsletter will be issued regularly in order to improve communication among scientists, resource managers, development experts, policy-makers and the general public on matters relevant to the action plan (UNEP/IG.77/6, paragraph 39).

55. UNEP will be requested to continue supporting the action plan as part of its Regional Seas Programme (UNEP/IG.77/6, paragraph 39).

56. With respect to the routine management of projects, the following are recommended (UNEP(OCA)/EAS IG.2/10, paragraph 26): * Progress reporting, as well as the analysis and evaluation of reports, should be on a regular basis and as envisaged in the project documents. * A mandatory scientific report should also be included in the reporting procedure for projects, in addition to UNEP's requirements. * Progress (including scientific) reports should be copied to all national focal points by the project coordinators for information and for comments. This would serve to promote a clearer understanding among the participating institutions. * Any scientific papers which arise out of or are directly related to EAS projects should accompany the half-yearly reports. * The scientific symposia of ASEAMS (see paragraph 57 below) and the meetings of experts on the action plan should as far as possible be organized in tandem. The symposia would serve as one forum for the presentation of scientific results of the projects.

Project evaluation and revision

57. In order to undertake as an objective and comprehensive evaluation as possible of the action plan, COBSEA shall solicit on a regular basis the independent advice of scientists and managers in the region on various aspects ranging from project proposal assessment to the critique of technical outputs of projects. The role of the Association of Southeast Asian Marine Scientists (ASEAMS) as an independent body representing scientists and managers of the region, and providing advice to Governments of the region and to UNEP, shall be supported and enhanced (UNEP(OCA)/EAS IG.4/7, paragraphs 35-36).

58. Each project revision should not only concentrate on the budget and the workplan and timetable but consideration should also be given to refining or changing the objectives and activities with a view towards the strengthening of the technical and scientific aspects of a project (UNEP(OCA)/EAS IG.2/10, paragraph 26).

Legal framework

59. The feasibility of the development and adoption of a suitable legal framework consisting of a convention and relevant protocols for the action plan will be explored (UNEP/IG.77/6, paragraph 39).

Collaboration

60. In the implementation of the action plan, consideration will be taken at all times of similar projects and programmes being undertaken within and outside the region by national or regional institutions funded by national, regional or international bodies. Every effort will be taken to collaborate with such entities to ensure complementarity rather than duplication of efforts, and to benefit from each other's endeavors so that a fund of knowledge and experience is mutually built up for the East Asian Seas region.

INSTITUTIONAL AND FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS SUPPORTING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ACTION PLAN

I. INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

Policy guidance and co-ordination

1. [The meeting agreed that] The overall authority to determine the content of the action plan, to review its progress and to approve its programme of implementation, including the financial implications, is vested in the regular, periodic meetings of governments (intergovernmental meetings) participating in the action plan. For this purpose, the participating governments will form a coordinating body to be known as the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA). The participating governments have agreed that in the case of the ASEAN countries the existing ASEAN Senior Official on Environment would also function as the government representatives in the COBSEA, while in the case of non-ASEAN countries the Government appointed National Focal Point(s) will represent the government(s) in the COBSEA.

2. COBSEA will make policy decisions concerning all substantive and financial matters related to the action plan, and in particular, will:

(i) adopt a workplan for the implementation of the programme at each annual meeting;

(ii) approve the budgetary resources required to support the work plan and their allocation;

(iii) review the progress achieved in implementing the programme since the previous meeting;

(iv) evaluate the results achieved;

(v) at regular intervals review, amend, and extend the Long Term Strategy; and

(vi) provide information and guidance on the coordination of coastal and marine environmental activities within and without the framework of the East Asian Seas activities.

3. The communication links in respect of policy matters are shown in Annex I to this report.

Overall technical co-ordination

4. The governments participating in the action plan requested the Executive Director of UNEP to establish the Regional Coordinating Unit for the East Asian Seas Action Plan (RCU/EAS) in order to provide, under his direction, the overall technical coordination and the continuous supervision of the implementation of the action plan.

5. In order to provide a channel of communication with RCU/EAS and UNEP between the periodic meetings of COBSEA, the participating governments have decided to designate a Coordinating National Focal Point (CNFP) to undertake this function. The National Focal Point for the East Asian Seas will take turn on alphabetical order to discharge the CNFP functions for one calendar year. The Terms of Reference of the CNFP will be the same as those of the now abolished Interim Coordinator. The communication links on technical matters are shown in Annex II.

6. The Ninth meeting of the COBSEA decided on the establishment of a small Regional Coordinating Unit for the East Asian Seas (RCU/EAS). The RCU/EAS when established will be kept small but yet effective in order to maximize the availability of funds for programme activities under the action plan.

National focal points

7. The participating governments have designated the following national focal points (NFP):

Australia: First Assistant Secretary Portfolio Marine Group Department of the Environment, Sport and Territories

Cambodia, Kingdom of Minister Ministry of Environment State Secretariat for Environment

China, Peoples Republic of Chief, Division of Marine Environmental Management NEPA

Indonesia: The Assistant Minister of Environment State Ministry of State for Population and Environment

Korea, Republic of Director, International Environment Organization Division Internal Economic Main Bureau Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Malaysia: Director-General Department of Environment Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment

Philippines: Director Environmental Management Bureau Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Singapore: Head, International Environment and Policy Department Ministry of the Environment

Thailand: Secretary-General Office of Environmental Policy and Planning

Vietnam, Director Socialist Republic of National Environmental Agency Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment

8. The role of the NFPs will be: (i) to act as the official channel of communication between the Coordinating National Focal Point (CNFP) and their respective governments; (ii) to co-ordinate, as appropriate, the participation of national institutions and agencies in the agreed programme;

(iii) to consult with all relevant organizations within their countries on the activities and progress achieved in implementing the action plan.

National institutions

9. National institutions (NI) (such as research centres, laboratories, government services, universities), designated by each participating government, will provide the institutional basis for carrying out the projects under the action plan. They will be the principal executors of the specific work and research under the action plan. NIs will be designated by the NFPs, taking into account the specific characteristics of the national administration and organizational structure of each State.

10. In order to allow for complete and effective participation in agreed activities, technical assistance (such as provision of equipment and training) may be extended through the action plan to strengthen the capabilities of NIs to participate in the programme.

Sub-regional and regional institutions (SRI and RI)

11. Sub-regional (covering only part of the East Asian region as defined by the action plan) and regional institutions will be used to the maximum possible extent for the implementation or co-ordination of the action plan.

12. Where appropriate, NIs will be proposed by a State to assume a sub-regional or regional role with the objective of providing services in support of the action plan (such as intercalibration exercises or data collection, collation and dissemination).

13. Technical assistance may be provided through the action plan to participating sub-regional and regional institutions.

Networking

14. In principle, several NIs nominated by the NFPs in various States of the region could become participants in any one activity of the action plan. The NIs, working on the same activity, could be linked in a network of co-operating institutions.

15. RIs and SRIs participating in an activity may also be considered as members of the activity's institutional network.

16. It may be decided by governments that it would be useful if one member of a network assumed the role of a regional activity centre (RAC) for that network and became responsible for coordinating the activity for which the network was established.

International organization

17. Participation of the international organizations in the programme, in particular those belonging to the United Nations System, can greatly assist the implementation of the action plan, and, therefore, their technical and managerial support for specific projects may be solicited. UNEP was invited to assume responsibility for coordinating such support. Contacts between the international organizations and NIs participating on specific projects should be channeled through the appropriate NFPs.

II. FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS

Financial support

18. Financial support for the activities of the action plan may come from:

(i) contributions from participating governments to the trust fund according to a scale determined from time to time by the governments concerned;

(ii) contributions made in addition to (i) above from the participating governments;

(iii) contributions from governments supporting the action plan but not participating in it;

(iv) support from any United Nations organization on a project-funding basis;

(v) support from the regional and international organizations which are not part of the United Nations System (e.g. ASEAN) in most cases on a project-funding basis;

(vi) support from bilateral and multilateral donors; and (vii) any other source of funding agreed to by the participating governments.

19. Contributions to the action plan may be in cash or in kind (staff time, experts, training, facilities, services, etc.), or both.

20. Ultimately, the action plan is expected to be financially self-supporting through the trust fund or some other mechanisms. In the meantime, it is expected that the Environment Fund of UNEP will provide financial support to the action plan although this will, over time, decrease as a proportion of the total annual cost.

Funding

21. The original total contribution of the participating governments to the East Asian Seas trust fund was US$ 86,000, starting in 1982. The present contribution is US$ 101,778,000 in accordance with the table below: State US dollars __________________________________________

Australia ........ Cambodia, Kingdom of ........ China, Peoples Republic of ........ Indonesia ........ Korea, Republic of ........ Malaysia ........ Philippines ........ Singapore ........ Thailand ........ Vietnam, Socialist Republic of ........ __________________________________________

TOTAL ........ 22. The cost to UNEP relating to the supervision of the activities of the RCU/EAS, in so far as its own staff and related costs are concerned, is estimated at US$ 250,000 per year. In addition, UNEP, subject to the availability of funds, will contribute toward the programme in accordance with specific and ad hoc needs.

Management of financial resources

23. In response to the request of the participating governments during the ninth session of Governing Council, a trust fund has been established and the authority for its administration delegated by the United Nation's Secretary-General to the Executive Director of UNEP. The trust fund will therefore be administered according to the financial rules of the United Nations and the terms of reference agreed by the participating governments and provided in annex VII to this report. These arrangements will be subject to review at least six months before the end of the interim period.

ANNEX I COMMUNICATION LINKS ON POLICY MATTERS

ANNEX II COMMUNICATION LINKS ON TECHNICAL MATTERS

ANNEX III TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE EAST ASIAN SEAS TRUST FUND

1. The Trust Fund of the East Asian Seas Action Plan for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment and Coastal Areas of the East Asian Region, hereinafter referred to as the "Trust Fund", is established to provide financial support for the Action Plan adopted by the Intergovernmental Meeting on the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment and Coastal Areas of the East Asian Region, Manila, 29 April 1981.

2. The Trust Fund shall be established for two calendar years beginning 1 January 1982 and ending 31 December 1983. In the event that the participating States wish the Trust Fund to be extended beyond 31 December 1983, the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) shall be so advised in writing at least six months before that date. It is understood that such extension of the Trust Fund shall be decided at the discretion of the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

3. The administration of the Trust Fund shall be entrusted to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and, should he deem it necessary, to the Executive Director of UNEP. The establishment and management of the Trust Fund shall be governed by the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations, the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations, and other administrative policies or procedures promulgated by the Secretary-General. It is understood that these Rules provide that the United Nations shall make a deduction equal to 13 per cent of all expenditures financed from the Trust Fund to defray the administrative support costs of the Trust Fund.

4. The expenditures of the Trust Fund for 1982 and 1983 shall be financed from contributions in accordance with the decisions of financial arrangements adopted by the Intergovernmental Meeting on the East Asian Seas on 11 December 1981. No expenditure from the Trust Fund shall be made in advance of the receipt of contributions, and none shall be made before a minimum of US$50,000 has been contributed to the Trust Fund.

5. All contributions shall be paid in full convertible United States dollars. Contributions from the States of the region shall be paid in equal yearly installments. The contributions shall be due on 1 January 1982 and 1 January 1983. Contributions shall be paid into the following account:

Account No. 015-002756 UNEP General Trust Funds Account Chemical Bank, United Nations Branch New York, N.Y. 10017 Indicating purpose of payment: East Asian Seas.

6. Contributions received into the Trust Fund and not immediately required to finance activities shall be invested at the discretion of the United Nations, and any income shall be credited to the Trust Fund.

7. The Trust Fund shall be subject to audit by the United Nations Internal Audit Service.

8. The budget estimates covering the income and expenditure for each of the two calendar years constituting the financial period to which they relate, prepared in United States dollars, as well as the work plan for the same period, shall be submitted to the annual intergovernmental meetings of the States participating in the East Asian Seas Action Plan.

9. The Secretary-General, or the organization designated by him to administer the Trust Fund, shall submit annual reports on the administration of the Trust Fund to the annual intergovernmental meetings of the States participating in the East Asian Seas Action Plan.

LONG-TERM STRATEGY FOR THE PERIOD 1987-1996 The meeting after considering the Executive Director's proposals decided to formulate and adopt the following as COBSEA's long-term strategy for the period 1987-1996:

(a) The development and protection of the marine environment and the coastal areas for the promotion of the health and well-being of the present and future generations remains the principal objective of the action plan;

(b) The action plan should provide a framework for an environmentally sound and comprehensive approach to coastal area development appropriate to the needs of the region;

(c) Projects being implemented within the framework of the action plan will concentrate on the most important issues identified by the Governments of the region as requiring solution through regional co-operation;

(d) Pollution from petroleum hydrocarbons and the disposal of urban, industrial and agricultural wastes were identified as the most imminent threat to the marine and coastal environment of the East Asian Seas region. Therefore, the action plan will concentrate on activities leading to concrete measures contributing to the control of these pollutants;

(e) A regional assessment of the major sources of urban, industrial, agricultural and oil pollution will be undertaken, including the identification of their present environmental impact. In parallel with the preparation of this assessment, recommendations for possible control measures will be formulated, in particular those requiring a regionally coordinated approach;

(f) A regionally applicable methodology for the assessment of environmental risk from major potential pollutants, including suitable environmental impact assessment procedures, will be developed and applied as part of the environmentally sound and comprehensive approach to coastal area development appropriate to the needs of the region;

(g) A region-wide monitoring system will be initiated to provide, on a continuous basis, regionally comparable information on the levels and trends of marine pollution and to serve as an early warning system for changes which may require action on national or regional level;

(h) Management plans for the protection, rehabilitation and utilization of endangered coastal and marine living resources (mangroves, coral reefs, seagrass beds, etc.) will be formulated and applied;

(i) Activities described in (e)-(h) above will be implemented by national institutions of the States participating in the action plan with intensive involvement of scientists, technicians, administrators and other appropriate experts from the East Asian Seas region. The international, intergovernmental and regional organizations will play an active role in these activities, contributing their expertise and experience in the management of large-scale multidisciplinary intercountry programmes;

(j) In order to intensify the involvement of regional experts in the implementation of the Action Plan and to benefit from their independent technical advice, a professional NGO should be encouraged to develop capabilities and opportunities and to participate in the activities relevant to the Action Plan;

(k) The feasibility of the development and adoption of a suitable legal framework (a convention and relevant protocol (s)) for the Action Plan will be explored;

(l) A system for management (collection, verification, quality control, evaluation, distribution, etc.) of data generated by or relevant to the action plan will be established and operated as part of the action plan;

(m) A widely-distributed newsletter will be regularly issued in order to improve the communication between scientists, resource managers, development experts, policy-makers and the general public on matters relevant to the action plan;

(n) In each of the States participating in the action plan coordinating mechanisms for the East Asian Seas action plan will be established under the chairmanship of the respective national focal point in order to ensure timely and effective implementation of Action Plan's projects; and

(o) UNEP will continue supporting the action plan as part of the UNEP-sponsored Regional Seas Programme. Within the decisions of periodic intergovernmental meetings of the States participating in the action plan (COBSEA) and under the policy guidance of these meetings, UNEP will continue to be responsible for the overall technical co-ordination of the agreed project activities and for the management of the Trust Fund as the action plan's secretariat.

***** East Asian Seas Action Plan

260