The health of the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand faces immense pressure from land-based pollution, making the upcoming Third Meeting of the Regional Working Group on Land-Based Pollution (RWG-LbP) in Batam, Indonesia (26-28 November 2025) a pivotal event. This meeting is critical for the SCS SAP Project ("Implementing the Strategic Action Programme for the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand") as it drives coordinated regional action against one of the basin's most significant environmental threats.

The powerful, yet often under-recognized, force in environmental stewardship is the focus of the GEF/UNEP/UNOPS SCSSAP Project this International Day of Rural Women on 15 October. Across the globe, it is rural women in coastal and sea resource management whose firsthand knowledge and tireless labor prove absolutely vital to the health of the world's oceans and the livelihoods of their communities.

The SCS SAP Project is co-organizing a crucial learning exchange and study tour with the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) from 16-18 September 2025 in Jakarta, Indonesia. This collaborative event, held in conjunction with the annual PEMSEA Network of Local Governments (PNLG) meeting, marks a significant step towards strengthening coastal and marine resource management in the East Asian Seas region. 

Every year, on 12 August, the world celebrates International Youth Day, acknowledging the power of young people in translating global goals into local actions.

With the theme "Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond," International Youth Day 2025 highlights the significant role of youth in achieving a sustainable future. Across the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs), young people are not only beneficiaries of change but are its driving force, actively participating in efforts to protect our coastal and marine environments. Their creativity, energy and deep community ties are bridging the gap between high-level policy and grassroots action, and the now with the future.

After nearly four years, the SCS SAP Project Regional Working Groups (RWG) on coastal and marine ecosystems, namely Coral Reefs, Mangroves, Seagrass, and Wetlands, is finally moving from virtual meetings to an on-the-ground gathering. Taking place in Iloilo City, Philippines from 11-12 August 2025, this meeting marks a pivotal moment for the project. It is our first in-person gathering for the RWGs since the inaugural virtual meetings in December 2021. 

Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) are productive ocean areas near continents, crucial for both the environment and coastal economies. Facing threats like pollution, habitat loss, and overexploitation, LMEs require transboundary cooperation. Protecting our global ocean and biodiversity is a top priority for the United Nations, and for UNOPS, especially as the world prepares for the third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, France, where commitments will be made to #SaveOurOcean. Our regional collaboration under the GEF/UNEP/UNOPS SCS SAP Project directly addresses these challenges in the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand LMEs through strong regional collaboration and various activities.

On 14-16 May 2025, the SCS SAP Project, alongside COBSEA joined global leaders and experts managing Large Marine Ecosystems and GEF-funded LME Projects at the 24th Annual LME Meeting in Athens. Organized by GEF IW:LEARN and co-hosted by UNEP/MAP. This 24th annual event provided a vital platform to connect with the broader LME community.

Romy Trono's work with the ocean began early. A key part of Romy's work involves Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs). This work requires navigating different national priorities and ensuring that all countries are working towards common goals. Romy's story is not just one of scientific expertise or political navigation. It is also a story of hope.

Implementing the Strategic Action Programme for the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand (SCS SAP) Project, UNEP/ COBSEA and the Department of Marine and Coastal Conducted a Project Site Visit at Si Chang Island, Chonburi Province

On March 16, 2025, the SCS SAP Project, together with UNEP/COBSEA and the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR), assigned the Marine Resources Conservation Division through the Marine Protected Area Management Section and the Office of Marine and Coastal Resources Region 2 to welcome Ms Susan Gardner, Director of the Ecosystems Division, and representatives from UNEP. The purpose of the visit was to study the implementation areas of the Strategic Action Programme for the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand (SCS SAP) Project at Si Chang Island, Chonburi Province.