The Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities

GPA Adopted in 1995 in Washington by 108 States and the EC Aims at preventing the degradation of the marine environment from land based activities and the physical alteration and destruction of habitats

The core of the GPA GPA is a source of conceptual and practical guidance For every pollutant source category GPA provides –A basis for action –Objectives/proposed targets –Lists of specific actions covering the policy lifecycle

National and Regional Action Plans Identification and assessment of problems Establishment of priorities Setting management objectives Identification of strategies, measures and approaches Performance criteria

Implementation of the GPA GEF has played a major role Supports local, regional, and river-basin Strategic Action Plans Implementation under review for the first intergovernmental GPA review meeting in 2001 in Canada, including review of GPA-related GEF projects

Next Steps With regard to the GEF: –Too early to assess strategies? –Strategic Action Plans need to be implemented first? –Time to take stock of directions and lessons learned so far? –Is there a gap between theory and practice?

With regard to the GPA Coordination Office –Binding agreements –Voluntary agreements involving different stakeholders –Financial resources and mechanisms –Private sector –Capacity building and sharing experiences

GEF Project Proposals Support countries in developing action-oriented national plans of action Review ongoing GPA-related GEF projects to distill lessons learned, share experiences and define the way forward.

Visit the GPA clearing-house!