I hope
all the government of this region will come forward with
every possible support to SACEP for making it an effective
regional environmental organization. To that end, I
reiterate the support of our people and the government
towards SACEP.
Allah Hafez, Bangladesh Zindabad.
Message of
His Excellency Mr. Lyonpo Wangchuk
Prime Minister, Royal Government of Bhutan
I extend my best
wishes to the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP)
on the occasion of its silver jubilee. Bhutan is proud to be
a founding member of SACEP and has benefited from a number
of SACEP’s projects and programs in the areas of
environmental education, environment legislation and air
pollution.
South Asia covers almost one twentieth of the earth’s
surface and is one of the world’s most diverse regions with
a diversity of ecosystems, cultures, religions and economic
development patterns. We harbor 14% of the world’s mangrove
forests, 6% of the world’s coral reefs and one of the
world’s most important mountain ecosystems that is home to
more than 25,000 species of plants. Along with the immense
natural wealth, We are also home to one fifth of the world’s
population.
Globally, human activities are resulting in mass extinction
of species and climate change that pose a great threat to
future generations. Global economic development is already
outgrowing the carrying capacity of the earth. Even in our
region, unprecedented economic development during the last
decade has led to increased pressure on the region’s natural
environment, causing depletion and pollution of water
resources and biodiversity, deforestation, Soil degradation
and air pollution .Furthermore, natural calamities such as
floods, cyclones, tsunamis, drought and landslides have
exacerbated the rate of environmental degradation. All of
these have tremendous impact on the livelihood and wellbeing
of our people, particularly the poor.
With its mission to promote regional cooperation in the
field of environmental management and sustainable
development, SACEP today is lauded as the oldest regional
intergovernmental environmental organization in the world.
The organization is a reflection of our region’s collective
commitment to sustainable development and recognition that
cooperative action is crucial to address both environmental
degradation and poverty alleviation in the region.
With 25 years of experience behind it, SACEP must now
shoulder great and definitive responsibilities in promoting
collective regional action in priority areas of
environmental concern such as waste management, adaptation
to climate change, biodiversity conservation, water resource
management and reduction of natural disasters.
Bhutan remains committed to the ideals and visions of SACEP
and I extend my best wishes and Tashi Delek for the success
of the organization in promoting environmental conservation
and sustainable development in our region.
Message of
His Excellency Dr. Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister, India
It is heartening to
note that the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP)
is celebrating its silver jubilee this year.
At the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in
Stockholm in 1972, the then Prime Minister, Mrs. Indira
Gandhi expressed the feelings of many developing countries
when she said "How can we speak to those who live in
villages and in slums about keeping the oceans, the rivers
and the air clean when their own lives are contaminated at
the source? The environment cannot be improved in conditions
of poverty". India is committed to a process of sustainable
development that maintains a balance and harmony between the
environment and the imperative of economic growth.
I extend best wishes to SACEP on this significant milestone.
Message of
His Excellency Mr. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom
President, Republic of Maldives
It gives me great
pleasure to extend warm greetings and sincere congratulations to
the Governing Council, Consultative Committee, National Focal
Points, Subject Area Focal Points and Secretariat of the South
Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP), on the
historical occasion of SACEP's silver jubilee. I also extend my
good wishes of the occasion to the national focal point for
SACEP the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Water.
Since its inception in 1982, SACEP has made an important
contribution to promoting cooperation in protecting and
preserving the environment of its member-states.
From the mountainous terrains of the Himalayas to the coral
gardens of the Maldives, the South Asian region contains
some of the most spectacular environments and biologically
diverse ecosystems anywhere in the world. SACEP has matured
steadily over the years towards fulfilling its stated
visions of recognizing environmental degradation,
integrating environment and development and promoting
cooperative action among member-states.
SACEP has successfully implemented a number of Programmes
and projects in a variety of areas, including air pollution,
protection and management of the coastal environment and
environmental legislation. It is also the secretariat for
the South Asian Seas Programme.
SACEP’s role in strengthening environmental protection
standards in the Maldives is indeed significant. In this
regard, I recall SACEP’s assistance towards improving our
State of the Environment reporting, and the implementation
of the first phase of the historic ‘Male’ Declaration on
Control and Prevention of Air Pollution and its
Transboundary Effects for South Asia’. The second phase of
implementing the Declaration is currently underway. SACEP’s
role in revising UNEP’s Regional Seas Reports and Studies
for South Asian Seas, strengthening regional response to
marine oil and chemical spills, and long-term management and
conservation of coral reefs in South Asia are further
milestones of SACEP.
I am confident that SACEP will go from strength to strength,
and continue to work in partnership with the member
countries in preserving and protecting our environment.
Message of
His Excellency Mr. Girija Prasad Koirala
Prime Minister, Nepal
I am
delighted to learn that the South Asia Co-operative Environment
Programme is celebrating the silver jubilee of its foundation
this year On this happy occasion, I, on behalf of the people and
government of Nepal as well as my own, would like to express my
sincere congratulations to the South Asia Co-operative
Environment Programme (SACEP)
The last few decades have proved challenging for all the
regions in the world and more so for South Asia in achieving
sustainable development. During this period, we have
realized that national capacity-building is critical to
ensure sustainable development that alone protects the
rights of the future generations to have an access to the
benefits of the environmental resources. It must be
acknowledged that prudent utilization of environmental
resources within the limits of its carrying capacity is
necessary, but not sufficient condition, to ensure the
equitable sharing of benefits to the present and future
generations.
In South Asian context, poverty remains one of the daunting
challenges that need to be addressed seriously to mitigate
the environmental problems. Sustainable development would
remain a distant dream if poverty is not eradicated in all
its forms and dimensions, Our experiences suggest that
poverty and underdevelopment contribute to environmental
degradation. The adoption of the Millennium Declaration and
Millennium Development Goals 2000 underlines the commitment
that the world leaders have made towards eradicating poverty
in the world.
The SACEP represents our commitment to make collective
efforts to address the environmental problems we are facing
and to attain the lofty goal of sustainable development in
the region. The efforts made by SACEP in the field of
environmental management are noteworthy. However, much
remains to be done. I am confident that the SACEP will
continue to make sustained efforts to address, in a
comprehensive manner, environment related challenges and
problems including those associated with climate change. It
is a matter of serious concern that Nepal and her
neighbouring member states have been experiencing the
adverse impact of climate change. We, therefore need to
address this problem collecively, resolutely and
steadfastly.
I wish the SACEP all success in its endeavours!
Message of
His Excellency Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa
President, Sri Lanka
I am
pleased to send this message for the silver jubilee celebrations
of the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP), a
pioneer inter-governmental regional organization on management
of the environment.
The Government of Sri Lanka played a lead role in
establishing SACEP and offered to host its secretariat in
Colombo. Taking stock of its achievements over 25 years, we
see that SACEP has faced many challenging issues both within
and outside the environmental sector, in South Asia and
beyond. I am glad to note the significant achievements of
SACEP in addressing these issues.
The emerging environmental issues of a trans-boundary nature
call for collective action by the countries of the region.
With the added complexities of globalization, the role of
SACEP as the facilitator of environmental management in our
region becomes more important. The collaborative
arrangements between SACEP and other international
organizations to meet emerging challenges are commendable.
I congratulate SACEP on its silver jubilee celebrations and wish
it all success in future activities to promote the
protection, management and enhancement of the environment in
the countries of South Asia.
Director General's Message
Dr A.A. Boaz
I
consider myself extremely fortunate to be at the helm of
South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP) at
this period of time in its history when it celebrates 25
years of its existence.
SACEP carries a very rich tradition of many great
achievements since its inception and I salute to the wisdom
of its founding fathers who had the vision to establish this
regional organisation, the first of its kind not only in
South Asia but in the world and for the member countries for
their commitments.
I carry the torch lit by my predecessors who has kept the
flame alive with their untiring efforts to bring many
innovative projects and programmes to this region.
Today, our region faces the challenges of rapid economic
growth coupled with an ever increasing population. This has
a strong impact on the environment. Uncontrolled
Urbanisation and the changing lifestyles of this population
have led to an aggravated problem of Waste Management. The
effects of Climate Change and Global warming are being
progressively felt in this region with Glacial Lakes and Sea
level rise being critical issues for the mountain and the
small islands and the coastal regions respectively. SACEP is
trying to address these burning issues and has prioritised
both Waste Management and Adaptation to Climate Change as
priority issues in its current Work Programme.
The External Review of SACEP done in 2003, has given a way
forward for SACEP to learn from its weaknesses and transform
itself into a dynamic and relevant organisation to its
member countries. I have put in all my efforts to steer
SACEP on this new recovery path and to strengthen it to
become a premier institution in the field of environment. As
envisaged in the revised Mission Statement, we have tried to
establish close links with several national, regional and
International Institutions and to work with them for the
benefit of the region. In this aspect, we are happy to
mention the MoUs and Project Agreements that we have signed
with UNEP, European Commission, IMO, WMO, SIDA, IUCN and the
Royal Belgium Institute of Environment
I am profoundly honoured to the attention from the
international community for the present strong status of
SACEP in the South Asia Region.
I am thankful to the Host Government Sri Lanka for its
continued strong support. The United Nations Environment
Programme, other network of regional and international
organisations, several governmental and non governmental
organisations for strengthening the partnerships to achieve
the expected role of the Secretariat.
I am particularly grateful for the strong support of the
member country governments to carry forward the programmes
of SACEP and I am confident that this support will not only
continue but grow to help SACEP evolve into the organisation
that was the dream of its founding fathers to act as a
fulcrum of all sustainable environmental activity in this
region.
SACEP has performed and is recognised for its renewed
strength to play its part for achieving environmental
sustainability in the region, taking the Millennium
Development Goals as a scale to measure its regional
performances.
I am confident that SACEP has found its bearings to lead and
be proactive to take up its role to enhance leadership in
the region for environmental management on every issue from
the atmosphere to the mountains right down to the deep
oceans.
In framing its strategies for the future generations of our
region, SACEP will continue to observe the global changes to
adapt to the regional status, observe and incorporate
economic considerations in addressing the environmental
concerns to achieve sustainable development and above all
the cause of poverty alleviation for the millions of under
privileged in the South Asian Region.
I look forward to the continued support from all concerned
to take this organisation to greater heights in the near
future.
