1 SOUTH ASIAN SEAS PROGRAMME PRESENTATION TO THE ICRI CPC MEETING SEYCHELLES 25 TO 27 APRIL 2005

2 SOUTH ASIAN SEAS PROGRAMME (SASP) MEMBER COUNTRIES  BANGLADESH  INDIA  MALDIVES  PAKISTAN  SRI LANKA

3 SOUTH ASIAN SEAS PROGRAMME (SASP) ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE  INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE  CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE  SECRETARIAT  NATIONAL FOCAL POINTS  SOUTH ASIAN SEAS TRUST FUND

4 SOUTH ASIAN SEAS PROGRAMME (SASP) FORMAL ADOPTION IN MARCH 1995  A Meeting of Plenipotentiaries - New Delhi - March 24th 1995  A single original copy of the Final Act has been deposited in the archive of Department of Ocean Development, Government of India, New Delhi. IMPLEMENTATION  Came into force only in January with the signing of the act by the fifth state  Since it came into force, the 1 st Intergovernmental Meeting of Ministers was held in March 1999, which approved the programme activities for the Project Cycle

5 SOUTH ASIAN SEAS PROGRAMME (SASP) PRIORITY PROGRAMME AREAS Priority Area 1 Integrated Coastal Zone Management Priority Area 2 Development and Implementation of National and Regional Oil Spill Contingency Planning Priority Area 3 Human Resources Development Through Strengthening Regional Centres of Excellence Priority Area 4 Land Based Sources of Marine Pollution

6 MAJOR CORAL REEF ACTIVITIES (1) REGIONAL TRAINING FOR MANAGEMENT OF PROTECTED AREAS & CORAL ISLAND ECOSYSTEMS IN THE INDIAN OCEAN This project was implemented by SACEP in close co- operation with the National Focal Points & Institutions and UN and International Organisations This project was implemented by SACEP in close co- operation with the National Focal Points & Institutions and UN and International Organisations A second workshop is scheduled for 2005 A second workshop is scheduled for 2005

7 MAJOR CORAL REEF ACTIVITIES (2) GLOBAL CORAL REEF MONITORING NETWORK (GCRMN) SACEP has been working in very close co-operation with the GCRMN South Asian Co-ordinator from the very inception in promoting the GCRMN objectives and will continue to support its activities in the future. SACEP by virtue of the fact that it is the Secretariat for the South Asian Seas Programme has been mandated to promote the GCRMN at regional level and acts as the GCRMN Node for South Asia.

8 MAJOR CORAL REEF ACTIVITIES (3) CORAL REEF DEGRADATION IN THE INDIAN OCEAN (CORDIO) SACEP has played a pivotal role in CORDIO Activities in the region especially in co-ordinating with local governments

9 FOCAL POINT ACTIVITIES - INTERNATIONAL CORAL REEF INITIATIVE (ICRI) At the ICRI Workshop for the South Asian Region, SACEP as the Secretariat for the South Asian Regional Seas Programme was designated to act South Asia. SACEP has co-ordinated the preparation of the South Asian Regional Report for International Tropical Marine Ecosystems Management Symposium (ITMEMS 1) and shall play a active role in the preparation of future reports SACEP has actively participated in the activities of ICRI and is also a Committee member of CPC. SACEP wishes to acknowledge the support it has received from DFID, ICLARM and the ICRI Secretariat in supporting its participation at the CPC Meetings as well as at other important meetings and symposia

10 FUTURE MAJOR ACTIVITIES IN CORAL REEF ACTIVITIES – Collaboration with ICRAN / UNEP Coral Reef Unit  EC Call for Proposals ("Environment and Forests in Tropical Countries")  and a complementary proposal through the GEF Medium Sized Project proposal stream (Biodiversity Focal Area).  Development of Small Grants Projects on Coral Reef

11 FUTURE MAJOR ACTIVITIES IN CORAL REEF ACTIVITIES Finalisation of Priority Project under the SASP Assessment of Areas Vulnerable to Sea Level Rise in the South Asian Seas Region The main objective of the project will be: To develop A Community Diversity Index and An Aquatic Biodiversity Index, that would assist in locating resources for economic development and managing the biodiversity of the ecosystems in extreme condition of events

12 SACEP’s Role in Tsunami Activities in Sri Lanka SACEP is hosting the UNEP team in Post Tsunami Activities in Sri Lanka UNEP has provided funds through SACEP to the Govt of Sri Lanka for the following Activities US $ 20,000 for Operational Expenses US $ 65,000 for preparation of Rapid and detailed Assessments Reports, both and Green and Brown Issues and the preparation of a Portfolio of projects which will be submitted to the Donors for funding