|
The Action Plan for the South Asian Regional
Seas Programme was formally adopted at a Meeting of
Plenipotentiaries of the concerned countries held in New Delhi,
on March 24th 1995.
The Action Plan of the South Asian Seas
Programme approved at the Meeting of Plenipotentiaries has
certain important elements, which will assist the member
countries in protecting the marine environment of the region.
The table highlights the chronology of South
Asian Seas Action Plan development and adoption.
| Event |
Year
& Place |
Major
Activities/Initiatives |
| First
National Focal Points Meeting for the Development of
an Action Plan |
March 1984
Bangkok |
The
identification of the geographical scope and 8
priority areas of regional concerns. The
recommendation of preparation of country and regional
report/s. |
| A Meeting of
Experts of the SAS Region |
December 1986
Bangkok |
The review
of the Country Reports, the draft Regional Report and
the draft Action Plan. |
| Second
National Focal Points Meeting for the Development of
an Action Plan |
December 1987
Bangkok |
Agreement
reached for the setting up of a Trust Fund to support
the implementation of the Action Plan, and SACEP
entrusted with the task of its management |
| Meeting of
Legal and Technical Experts |
February 1990
Bangkok |
The review
and revision of the draft umbrella Convention and 3
draft Protocols prepared by UNEP in connection with
and as the legal framework of the SASAP |
| ESCAP/UNEP/SACEP
Workshop on Management Strategies for the Protection
of the Coastal and Marine Environment of the SAS
Region. |
December 1993
Colombo |
An overview
of the coastal environment of the South Asian Seas
Region was presented at the meeting. A thorough
assessment of capacity-building requirements in the
region was carried out and recommendations were
formulated to address the issues. |
| ESCAP/UNEP/SACEP
Intergovernmental Meeting on Capacity Building in
Coastal and Marine Environment in SAS region |
May 1994
New Delhi |
Endorsement
of the 4 priority activities of the Action Plan, as
priority elements for environmentally sound coastal
zone management in the region in accordance with
Chapter 17 of Agenda 21 |
| Third
National Focal Points Meeting for the Development of
the Action Plan |
November 1994
Colombo |
The member
states came to an agreement on the institutional
arrangements for the implementation of the Action Plan |
| Fourth
National Focal Points meeting for the Development of
the Action Plan |
March 1995
New Delhi |
The revision
and finalization of the South Asian Seas Action Plan
to be adopted by the Plenipotentiaries |
| Meeting of
Plenipotentiaries of the Member States |
March 1995
New Delhi |
04 Member
States formally adopted the Action Plan for the South
Asian Seas Programme |
| The
South Asian Seas Action Plan came into force in
January 1997, when the Government of Bangladesh
ratified the Final Act |
The Action Plan in addition to specifying the
needs under the main components of Environmental Assessment,
Environmental Management, Environmental Legislation &
Institutional and Financial Arrangements, identified the areas
where priority activities need to be developed for
implementation under the Action Plan. These priority activities
are in four specific areas.
The Four Areas are:
1. Integrated Coastal Zone Management,
2. Development and Implementation of National and Regional Oil
Spill Contingency Planning
3. Human Resources Development through Strengthening Regional
Centres of Excellence
4. Protection of the Marine Environment from Land Based
Sources of Marine Pollution
Resolutions adopted at Plenipotentiaries
Meeting
The Meeting of Plenipotentiaries also adopted
three resolutions in respect of the implementation,
Institutional Arrangements and Financial Arrangements and the
Final Act of the South Asian Seas Action Plan.
SACEP is the Secretariat for the
implementation of the Action Plan in respect for the South Asian
Seas programme. A Trust Fund has also been established for the
maintenance of the Secretariat. |
