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. 

On our Project Day at the Faculty of Fisheries Kasetsart University on 17 January 2025 in Bangkok, we connected with brilliant young minds to share the goals and activities of the SCSSAP Project, and discuss the future of our oceans to get young people actively engaged in these important discussion.

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.

The SCS SAP Project and the UNEP Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) will convene a session on "Strategic Collaboration in Tackling the Triple Planetary Crises in the East Asian Seas Region: Climate Change and Marine Impacts; Nature and Marine Biodiversity Loss; Marine Pollution" on 7 November 2024 at the PEMSEA EAS Congress 2024 in Xiamen, China. The session objective is to encourage collaborative efforts amongst regional marine organizations in the East Asian Seas to address the triple planetary crises.

Aside from SCS SAP Project and COBSEA, key regional organizations like PEMSEA, IUCN, UNESCO/IOC-WESTPAC, NEAMPAN and ACB will share their experiences, thoughts and insights on collaborative efforts and approaches and how these could transform into a strategic partnership. For more details, please visit the EAS Congress 2024.

Reflections from members of the SCS SAP Project Team and COBSEA on the first-ever joint project retreat held in Cambodia in October 2025.

The 2nd Meeting of the Regional Scientific and Technical Committee (RSTC) was held on 23-25 July 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand, with participation from National Technical Focal Points and Technical Staff from Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, together with Regional Working Group (RWG) chairpersons, regional experts, regional partners, and with support by the National Coordinators and Project Coordination Unit. The meeting was also attended by Ms. Isabelle Vanderbeck, UNEP Task Manager, and Mr. Anders Poulsen, Senior Project Manager of the SCS SAP Project. During the meeting, the process for updating of the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) and Strategic Action Programme (SAP) and the potentials for regional data and knowledge management processes for the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand were discussed. The updated TDA and SAP, as well as effective regional knowledge management processes, are considered key outcomes of the SCS-SAP project, and can be used by SCS countries - and the region as a whole - to mobilize future support for multiple national commitments related to climate, biodiversity and the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 and beyond.