GC1

27- 29 th January 1983
Colombo , Sri Lanka

Hon. Ranasinge Premadasa , Prime Minister of Sri Lanka

Member countries (32) :

Afghanistan-3, Bangladesh-3,
Bhutan-2,
India-3,
Maldives-3,
Pakistan-2,
Sri Lanka-16.

Other (16) :

UN bodies-10, WHO-1, IUCN-1, Dept of Env., India-2, Anna Uni. India -1, CISIR-1

Adoption of Resolution calling for the Establishment of a Trust fund for SACEP

Approval of 12 projects formulate by SACEP and lay down of criteria for project selection

Designation of the year 1988 as the Year of Trees for South Asia

GC2

17- 18 th April 1985 , Dhaka , Bangladesh

Rear Admiral Sultan Ahamed, Deputy Chief Martial Law Administrator, & Chief of the Naval Staff & Minister for communications, ports, shipping, irrigation

Member countries (30) :

Afghanistan-3, Bangladesh-15,
Bhutan-2,
India-3,
Maldives-2,
Pakistan-2,
Sri Lanka-3.

Other (13) :

UN bodies-7, Donors-3(AUSaid), SACEP Sec.-3

The adoption of the Rules of Procedure for the Governing Council

Approval of the Modalities of Focal Points of SACEP

Recommended that SACEP should continue to formulate the South Asian Seas Action Plan and its implementation in close collaboration with Oceans and Coastal Areas Programme Centre of UNEP.

Recommended the creation of an efficient planning & monitoring unit within the SACEP Secretariat.

GC3

12-13 th January 1987

New Delhi , India

Hon. Rajiv Gandhi ,

Prime Minister , India

Development of a new formula for sharing the expenditure to make SACEP a viable self-supporting institution.

The meeting sought for the continuing support of SACEP by UN and other International Organizations.

Recommended that member states should seriously examine the appropriateness of their Subject Area Focal Points.

GC4

25- 26 th April 1988 , Kabul , Afghanistan

Hon. Sultan Ali Keshtmand ,

Prime Minister of Afghanistan .

Member countries (18) :

Afghanistan-11,
Bhutan-2,
India-3,
Iran-2,
Sri Lanka-2.

Other (14) :

UN bodies-6, WHO-2, FAO-2, WFP-1, SACEP Sec.-3

Approval of Rules and Regulations of SACEP Secretariat

The establishment of a fund for financing projects and programmes of SACEP on the basis of voluntary contribution by member states and other donors.

Approved the Terms of Reference for a Panel of Experts from within the region to review SACEP's current projects and programmes and to formulate a Plan of Action for next five years.

UNESCO was requested to prepare an Inter-country Environmental Education Project for South Asia .

GC5

27 th September 1992

Sri Lanka

Hon. Ranasinge Premadasa ,

President of Sri Lanka

Member countries (32) :

Bangladesh-3,
Bhutan-2,
India-5,
Iran-2,
Pakistan-2,
Sri Lanka-18.

Other (19) :

UN bodies-5, Donors-5 (ADB, CIDA, JICA, WB), Colombo Plan-1, FAO-1, WHO-1, SACEP Sec.-6

Approval of the creation of project preparation, planning and monitoring cell within the SACEP secretariat.

Approved the SACEP Plan of Action 1992-1996

Working closely with the SAARC Secretariat was stressed.

GC6

1 st September 1994 , Islamabad , Pakistan

Mr. Asif Ali Zardar, Member National Assembly and Chairperson of Pakistan Environment Protection Council

Member countries (25) :

Bangladesh-3,
Bhutan-2,
India-3,
Iran-1,
Nepal-1,
Pakistan-12,
Sri Lanka-3.

Other (7) :

UN bodies-3, IUCN-1, SACEP Sec.-3

Recommended implementation of UNEP/ESCAP/SACEP/ Projects on 'Capacity building in the field of Planning & Management of the Coastal areas in the South Asian seas region, which was approved during the 1994 Intergovernmental Meeting held in India .

Recommended to support the need of the additional space and staff as proposed by the SACEP secretariat.

  Endorsed the recommendation made by the Meeting of Senior Officials on National Focal Points in assisting the Secretariat in its activities.

  Recommended that efforts of SACEP should be publicized more.

Agreed that the relationship between SAARC and SACEP should be such that the scarce resources available in the region should be utilized prudently and that there should not be any duplication of efforts.

GC7

22 nd April 1998 , Malé, Madives

Hon. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom , President, Maldives

Member countries (20) :

India - 4,
Maldives-8,
Nepal-2,
Pakistan-2,
Sri Lanka-4.

Other (12) :

UN bodies-4, WHO-1, WMO-1, SACEP Sec.-6

Endorsement of a revised list of priority subject areas (SSP2) for South Asia , which are in accordance with Agenda 21.

Adoption of Malé Declaration on Control and Prevention of Air Pollution and its Likely Tranboundary Effects for South Asia .

Requested the Director General of SACEP to prepare a portfolio outlining in detail the aims and activities of SACEP and make it available to possible donor/funding agencies.

Agreed to ensure that SAARC is informed of SACEP's experience in the field of environment and its wish to collaborate and complement work of SAARC in that area.

GC8

28-29 th September 2001

Colombo ,

Sri Lanka

Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena

Minister of Transport & Environment

Member countries (25) :

Bangladesh-2,
Bhutan-2,
India-3,
Maldives-3,
Nepal-6,
Pakistan-3,
Sri Lanka-6.

Other (21) :

UN bodies-13, Donors - 1(ADB), SAARC-1, Regional Env. Hub (US Embassy)-1, SACEP Sec.- 5

Recommended that the present system of Focal Points should remain, but mechanisms for intra-country co-ordination need to be stimulated and strengthened.

  Agreed that SACEP Secretariat should be strengthened in terms of staff and other requirements.

  Recommended the use of the State of Environment Reports prepared by the member countries as the basis in formulating new programme activities.

  Recommended to select few priority issues related to the whole region and develop programme activities to be implemented during a specific time period.

  Recommended SACEP Secretariat to take measures to collect, collate and disseminate all information on environment, so that SACEP should become the storehouse of knowledge in the region and

  Recommended the invitation of major donors to the SACEP programmes, as observers at SACEP GC Meetings.

1 st July, 2002

Colombo , Sri Lanka

1 st Special Session

Hon. Rukman Senanayake

Minister of Environment & Natural Resources

Member countries (18) :

Bangladesh-2, Bhutan-1, India-2, Maldives-2, Nepal-3, Pakistan-2, Sri Lanka-6.

Other (9) :

UN bodies-2, IMO-1, IOI-1 Regional Env. Hub (US Emb.)-1, SACEP Sec.- 4

  The meeting was held to initiate a process for developing a South Asia regional position paper on sustainable development for the WSSD.

  This report is to contain salient features from the countries of the region to be presented to the high level delegations at the Summit .

  SACEP with UNEP assistance will develop a Type 2 paper for submission to WSSD.

  UNEP to assist SACEP to organize a launch meeting to present the position paper.

21 st January, 2003

Colombo , Sri Lanka

2 nd Special Session

Hon. Tyronne Fernando

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Member countries (20) :

Bangladesh-3, Bhutan-2, India-2, Maldives-2, Nepal-3, Pakistan-4, Sri Lanka-4.

Other (19) :

UN bodies-5, Donors-2(CIDA), AFEG-1, SAARC-1, SACEP review panel-2, SACEP Sec.- 8

  Highlighted the need to collaborate as a region to demand that necessary support services are forthcoming to achieve and implement the goals endorsed at the WSSD.

  Some recommendations given to SACEP by member countries:

  Develop projects to mobilize international support

  Assist with capacity building to achieve the obligation in MEAs.

  Forge alliances for environmental protection & sustainable development

  Develop mechanisms to promote environmental compliance and enforcement at national and regional level

  Address response mechanisms for interlinked poverty and environment issues

  Increase co-operation and collaborative work in the region

  The South Asia environment Education and Training Action Plan - 2003-2007 approved.

  SACEP external review stated that SACEP's performance can be enhanced through member country support, secretariat efficiency, donor support and support (collaboration) from NGOs, Academia, Scientific institutions.

  Work programme for 2003-2004 approved - including:

  Developing a regional action plan for implementation of WSSD outcomes

  Developing regional legislative frameworks for coastal zone management, EIA, Assessment /documentation of bio-diversity.

  Implementation programme for water and sanitation

  Initiation of sound environment management plans for dismantling of ships in the SAS region.

6 November 2003 ,

Colombo , Sri Lanka

3 rd Special Session

Hon Rukman Senanayake, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources

Member countries (20) :

Bangladesh-4, Bhutan-2, India-3, Maldives-1, Nepal-2, Pakistan-2, Sri Lanka-4.

Other (19) :

UN bodies-2,DA - 1, SACEP review panel-1, SACEP Sec.- 8

  SACEP will continues to concentrate on issues of regional significance that complement and supplement the work by the member country governments, with expressed focus in the following work areas: a)Assessments and Strategy Development b) Experience Sharing and Networking and c) Capacity Building

  The work programme and future work undertaken should reflect general priorities set by WSSD/MDG/SoE reports with attention to issues of poverty, equity, gender, economic stability, and cultural norms of the region.

  Bangladesh and India accepted to co-host the Climate Change SAFP while Bio-safety was included within the Biodiversity SAFP hosted by India .

  Developed projects/programmes to be implemented in collaboration with partners inclusive of civil society while also strengthening links and collaborative work with NFPs and (SAFPs).

  Recruitment of additional staff.

  The establishment of an Advisory Committee to assist SACEP with technical and other support services needed to carry out the work programme.

  Establishing close co-operation with SAARC in the field of environment.

  Exploring modalities to establish the Corpus Fund.

 GC9

Hon' Prime Minister of the Royal Government of Bhutan, His Excellency Mr Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba

Member countries (23) :

Afghanistan 1; Bangladesh-1, Bhutan-14, India-3, Maldives-2, Sri Lanka-2.

Other (08) :

UN bodies-4, SACEP Sec.- 4

  The Director General shall complete the detailed work programme for circulation and approval by the Chairman of the 9th Governing Council by December 2005

  The support from UNEP to the on-going activities to be recognized and UNEP is requested to continue its support to SACEP through the SENRIC project implementation.

  The Governing Council approved additional allocation of US Dollars One hundred thousand only (US $ 100,000) for core programme development from recovered arrears.

  The Secretariat to maintain one single fund for the purpose of Trust fund / Reserve / Program development and by laws for the fund to be framed to permit proper utilization of such funds.

  The Advisory Body for SACEP proposed was decided, may not be necessary as it will create another layer of bureaucracy.

 GC10

Hon' Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat, Minister of Finance, Government of Nepal

Member countries (18) :

Afghanistan 1; Bangladesh-1, Bhutan-4, India-2, Maldives-2, Nepal-5, Pakistan-2, Sri Lanka-1

Other (17) :

UN bodies-4, ADB-1, GoUSA-1, CEE-2, ICIMOD-2, SAARC-2, SACEP Sec.- 5

  Agreed for establishment of Basel Convention Regional Centre for South Asia to be hosted at SACEP Secretariat

  Endorsed the resolution for Adoption of SAICM for South Asia Region

  Agreed in principle to establish a regional Biodiversity CHM in SACEP. Noted that except for one country none of the other countries had developed National CHMs and it will be beneficial to develop national CHMs in close co-ordination with the Regional CHM.

  The GC decided that SACEP should incorporate Combating illegal trading in wildlife to the Work Programme which helps to strengthen the enforcement of CITES in the region and in controlling illegal domestic and international trading wild Fauna and Flora

 GC11

Hon' Shri S. K. Singh, the Governor of Rajasthan, Government of India

Member countries (14) :

Afghanistan 1; Bangladesh-1, Bhutan-3, India-3, Maldives-2, Nepal-1, Pakistan-1, Sri Lanka-2

Other (13) :

UN bodies-1, GoUSA-3, Traffic In'tl-4, SACEP Sec.- 5

  Endorsed the Statement on South Asia Wildlife Trade Initiative as the ‘South Asia Initiative for Combating Illegal Trade in Wildlife’, and unanimously adopted it as the “JAIPUR DECLARATION”.

  The Meeting of the Governing Council of SACEP endorsed the Proposal on Waste Management

  The Meeting appreciated the proposed initiative on Environmentally Sustainable Transport (EST) in collaboration with UNCRD

The Meeting appreciated the collaboration developed between SACEP and SAARC for development of the State of Environment Report for South Asia

 GC12

Hon’ Mr. D. M. Jayaratne, Prime Minister of Government of Sri Lanka

Member countries (19) :

Afghanistan 3; Bangladesh-2, Bhutan-2, India-2, Maldives-4, Nepal-1, Pakistan-1, Sri Lanka-4

Other (10) :

UN bodies-3, SACEP Sec.- 7

  The Meeting agreed on the principle of rotation to be followed to appoint the Director General of SACEP

  Agreed upon the the Declaration on Cleaner Fuel and Vehicles prepared by the SACEP Secretariat

  The meeting adopted the Ministerial Statement on ‘South Asia’s Biodiversity beyond 2010’.

  To Strengthen the linkage between SACEP and SAARC