Recent Projects

  Strengthening Environment Assessment and Monitoring Capabilities in Asia Pacific region (SEAMCAP) (1998 - 2002)

  Malé Declaration on Control and Prevention of Air Pollution and its Likely Transboundary Effects for South Asia (Phase 1: 1998 - 2001 & Phase 2: 2001 - 2003)

Strengthening Environment Assessment and Monitoring Capabilities in Asia Pacific region (SEAMCAP) (1998 - 2002)

In November 1998, NORAD designated UNEP's Environment Assessment Programme for Asia and Pacific (UNEP EAP.AP - now known as the Regional Resource Centre for the Asia Pacific - RRC.AP) to implement a project on Strengthening National Capabilities on Environment Assessment and Monitoring towards the Preparation of the Global State of the Environment Report 2000, focusing on two Asia-Pacific subregions - South Asia and the Greater Mekong sub region. SENRIC assisted in this initiative in the SACEP member countries.

The SEAMCAP project assisted in strengthening the capacities of the institutions and staff on data management and were also involved in preparing national and regional SoE reports which were a contribution to "2002 Global State of Environment Report" and "2002 World Summit for Sustainable Development". . Some of the outputs were:

Training programmes that trained the designated officials on the overall principles and conceptual framework of SoE reporting, , database development and management, environmental data standards, environmental trend and statistical analysis, , and country report preparation.

A mechanism for completing the SoE Database with indicators/parameters was developed. This database contains environmental data (ie. land, forest, water, atmosphere, biodiversity and coastal and marine resources), socio-economic data and information based on the SoE database framework, as well as a compilation of relevant literature (ie. reports, handbooks, CDs, journals, etc.).

Provision of Hardware/Software for Capacity building and data management equipment for institutional strengthening of government institutions

The National and Regional State of the Environment Reports (2001) were prepared using the the Pressure-state-impact-responses (PSIR) framework. These reports increase the data available on current and pressing environmental issues and the links between human actions and environmental consequences.

Click here to view reports >>


Malé Declaration on Control and Prevention of Air Pollution and its Likely Transboundary Effects for South Asia

Given the rapid growth and urbanization and the increasing focus on industrial development, air pollution has emerged as a major environmental issue in South Asia. In March 1998, senior government officials, analysts and experts met in Thailand to discuss this issue and the possibility of regional mitigatory measures. As a result this transboundary control mechanism was developed and adopted at the 7 th Governing Council of SACEP in April 1998 that took place in the Maldives. This is the first intergovernmental agreement to address regional air pollution and involves Bangladesh, Bhutan , India , Iran, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The implementation is carried out by the governments, while it is coordinated by , SACEP and UNEP-RRC.AP, with technical assistance from Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and financial support from SIDA (RAPIDC initiative).

Through activities under the Malé Declaration, the human and physical capabilities of each country to monitor and address air pollution problems is being strengthened. The countries also share information and data towards better management of transboundary air pollution issues.

This project thus far indicates that successful collaborative projects within countries that are of benefit to the whole region can be achieved.

Text of Malé Declaration >>

Phase I: (completed)

Objectives: 1) Establishing a network of National Focal points (NFP), National Implementation Agencies (NIAs) and other experts and organisations, 2) collecting baseline data to assess the knowledge base and the shortfall, and to assess status of air pollution in each country, 3) raising awareness on acidification issues, and 4) formulating national and regional Action Plans and policy recommendations.

• Baseline studies: Baseline information was collected in all member countries on: the nature of the problem, status of monitoring, pollutants monitored, number of monitoring stations, capacity of monitoring stations, and Air Quality standards, with assistance from the NIAs. The study has helped identify gaps in existing data and monitoring plans.

• Action plans : Action plans to address identified problems were developed for all countries by 2000 in close consultations with the NFPs, NIAs and experts.

• Monitoring Committee (MoC) : The Malé Network approved a three member expert committee to study national needs and recommend plans to address the gaps in the monitoring system. The committee identified equipment needs for South Asia and also assisted in development of the Phase II implementation plan. The Committee also prepared a technical manual titled "Technical Documents for Wet and Dry Deposition Monitoring for Male' Declaration".
  

Phase III: (future activities 2004 - 2007)

Activities are being finalized.
National Council for Sustainable Development (NCSD) Related inception activities (2004 - 2005)

During the 3rd Collaborative Assessment Network meeting (November, 2002) UNEP-RRC.AP proposed a Strategy towards Early Warning and Assessment for 2003/4 keeping in view the outcomes from the WSSD and the MDG. The major tasks envisaged will focus on establishing the NCSD and NSDS in all the sub-regions with selected regions/countries.