Partnership for resilient ASEAN Seas renewed at East Asian Seas Congress 2024
A new chapter in regional marine conservation has begun as the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) and the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia Resource Facility (PRF) solidify their commitment to ocean health with the two organisations’ announcement of renewed partnership at the East Asian Seas (EAS) Congress held in Xiamen, China on 7 November 2024.
This collaboration, through the ACB’s project Effectively Managing Networks of Marine Protected Areas in Large Marine Ecosystems in the ASEAN Region (ASEAN ENMAPS) underscores both organisations’ dedication to the effective management of Southeast Asia’s rich and diverse marine ecosystems.
The EAS Congress 2024, themed “Building a Blue Economy for the East Asian Seas,” convenes regional leaders, experts, and environmental champions to shape sustainable pathways for coastal and marine communities. The event focuses on strengthening networks, fostering partnerships, and empowering local communities, which is a fitting platform for the ACB and PRF to announce their renewed commitment to a collaborative vision for the East Asian seas. A highlight of this partnership, the signing of the ASEAN ENMAPS contract, was celebrated as a key outcome of the Congress, marking a major step forward in regional marine conservation efforts.
Building on collaboration for marine conservation
The ACB and PRF recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the joint implementation of the capacity-building component of the ASEAN ENMAPS Project. The MOA builds on the Letter of Cooperation formalised between the ACB and PRF on 20 September 2024, establishing a foundation for joint project development. Through the ASEAN ENMAPS Project, the two organisations will focus on collaborative activities to strengthen marine protected areas (MPAs) and improve coastal and marine management systems across Southeast Asia. Funded by the Global Environment Facility and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with the ACB as the executing arm of the project, ASEAN ENMAPS focuses on four Large Marine Ecosystems—the Bay of Bengal, the Indonesian Sea, the South China Sea, and the Sulu-Celebes Sea, with 11 pilot sites across Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand.
Ms. Akiko Yamamoto, UNDP Asia-Pacific Regional Team Leader for the Environment and Energy Team, marked as a key witness to ACB’s and PEMSEA Resource Facility’s landmark agreement. Her participation underscores the alignment of ASEAN ENMAPS with UNDP’s vision, advocating for partnerships that empower local communities and strengthen coastal governance, and emphasises UNDP’s mission to foster resilience and inclusivity in regional conservation efforts.
PRF was established as the technical and secretariat arm of PEMSEA, coordinating the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA). For nearly two decades, PEMSEA has driven integrated coastal management (ICM) across East Asia, covering 40.4% of the region’s coastline and positively impacting over 146 million people.
Key areas of collaboration under ASEAN ENMAPS
Through ASEAN ENMAPS, the ACB and the PRF will focus on two main objectives:
Governance and enabling environment. Enhancing policies that strengthen the MPA networks and marine biodiversity corridors across ASEAN. The PRF will lead ASEAN ENMAPS’s capacity development initiatives on integrated coastal management (ICM), marine spatial planning (MSP), and the ecosystem approach to fisheries management (EAFM), ensuring that ASEAN member states are well-equipped for resilient marine governance.
Learning, knowledge management, and networking. Promoting knowledge-sharing and cross-regional partnerships to support adaptive management and resilience in the ASEAN region, fostering sustainable practices that can be shared across borders and passed to future generations.
Dr. Theresa Mundita Lim, Executive Director of the ACB, highlighted the significance of the partnership. “This collaboration likewise reinforces our collective commitment to sustainable marine resource management, resilience, and biodiversity conservation. By leveraging PEMSEA’s expertise in integrated coastal management, marine spatial planning, and ecosystem approach to fisheries management, this partnership enhances ASEAN’s capacity to meet international biodiversity targets and contribute to the global effort to conserve vital coastal and marine ecosystems,” she said.
“Well-managed and interconnected MPAs have proven effective not just in restoring marine biodiversity, but in generating food and livelihoods for people,” says Ms. Aimee Gonzales, Executive Director of PRF. “PEMSEA is pleased to work with ACB, national and local partners in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand to build capacity, enhance local livelihood programmes, and share best practices on Integrated Coastal Management. Through this project, we aim to contribute to the sustainable development of coastal and fishing communities, plus marine resources in the ASEAN region and beyond
As the ASEAN ENMAPS Project aligns with the ACB and PRF’s joint mission to foster sustainable marine and coastal resource management, the EAS Congress has offered an ideal stage for celebrating this collaboration. With today’s agreement, the ACB and PRF are charting a course for resilient, thriving ASEAN seas, reinforcing the spirit of cooperation at the heart of the congress and the future of sustainable blue economies in East Asia.
About the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity
The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), established in 2005, is ASEAN’s response to the challenge of biodiversity loss. It is an intergovernmental organisation that facilitates cooperation and coordination among the 10 ASEAN Member States, with regional and international organisations on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, as well as the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of such natural treasures.
