1

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

2

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.

3

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.

4

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 .

5

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.

6

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.

7

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.

8

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.

9

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.

10

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.

11

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.