GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The overall goals of this project are: to create an environment at the regional level, in which collaboration and partnership in addressing environmental problems of the South China Sea, between all stakeholders, and at all levels is fostered and encouraged; and to enhance the capacity of the participating governments to integrate environmental considerations into national development planning.

The medium term objective of the project is to elaborate and agree at an intergovernmental level, the Strategic Action Programme (SAP) encompassing specific targeted and costed actions for the longer-term, to address the priority issues and concerns. More specifically the proposed activities are designed to assist countries in meeting the environmental targets specified in the framework SAP that was developed over the period 1996-1998 .

Major outcomes will include a Strategic Action Programme including a targeted and costed programme of action and framework for regional co-operation in the management of the environment of the South China Sea; national and regional management plans for specific habitats and issues; a regional management plan for maintenance of transboundary fish stocks in the Gulf of Thailand; pilot activities relating to alternative remedial actions to address priority transboundary pollutants and adopted water quality objectives and standards; and demonstration management activities at sites of regional and global significance.