We are excited to announce the call for proposals for SEA Grants (Innovation and Management Efforts for Marine and Coastal Ecosystems in the Seas of East Asia)! This is for a 12-18 months, valued at US$ 5-50,000 focused on community-based conservation initiatives and research. 

For more information, please visit https://www.ungm.org/Public/Notice/261657 and this flyer. Please spread the call for proposals in your network and identify possible sites in the project that would benefit from this. The submission deadline has been extended to 15 May 2025, 23:59 UTC+7.

For FAQs, please visit via this google link for real-time questions and responses: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SFW-sVrzwdrf4aBHX6JduVV9XYSP-JQaz8Guw_E3NS0/edit?tab=t.0

The SCS SAP Project is proud to be a collaborating partner in the First Asian Regional Dialogue on Seagrass and Dugong Conservation, taking place in Bangkok from 20-21 February 2025. The SCS-SAP Project Seagrass Regional Working Group will showcase recent achievements from the Seagrass Ecosystem Service Project and the Strategic Action Programme for the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand.  

We hosted a special Project Day at Kasetsart University's Faculty of Fisheries on 17 January 2025, welcoming the next generation of marine scientists and conservationists. The event brought together over 70 participants, including undergraduate and PhD students, faculty members, and professionals from key environmental organizations. 

Following the 26th Intergovernmental Meeting of COBSEA in Siem Reap, members of the South China Sea Strategic Action Programme (SCS SAP) participated in a two-day strategic retreat aimed at strengthening cross-border collaboration for marine conservation.

The retreat focused on developing practical solutions for regional environmental challenges, particularly important given the program's operation across multiple Southeast Asian nations. Through collaborative exercises, participants explored how to better align individual country priorities with regional conservation goals while building stronger inter-team relationships.

The 26th Intergovernmental Meeting of the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) convened in Siem Reap, Cambodia on 23-25 October 2024. The meeting brought together delegates from all nine COBSEA participating countries: Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Siem Reap, Cambodia – The Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) convened its Working Group on Marine and Coastal Ecosystems in Siem Reap, Cambodia, on 21-22 October 2024.  Representatives from the nine COBSEA member countries – Cambodia, China, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam – gathered to address pressing challenges facing the region's vital marine environments. The meeting facilitated the sharing of national updates and progress, aiming to advance collaborative solutions outlined in the Marine and Coastal Ecosystems (MCE) Framework adopted by COBSEA in 2023.

A central theme of the meeting was the importance of adopting an integrated approach to coastal management. Recognizing the interconnectedness of marine habitats, participants emphasized the need to manage mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs as a cohesive whole, maximizing the benefits of ecological synergies.