Another step forward on knowledge sharing for the seas of East Asia —— GEF-UNDP/UNOPS Yellow Sea LME Phase II Project and PEMSEA

Article reposted from www.IWlearn.net.

UNDP, PEMSEA sign Memorandum of Understanding for knowledge sharing

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that aims to facilitate cooperation and strengthen collaboration between the two parties via the free access and use of mutually agreed knowledge products, experience and good practices in relation to their respective regional ocean governance programs.

UNDP, represented by its China office, is implementing the regional project called Restoring Ecosystem Goods and Services of YSLME (Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem), funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). PEMSEA is currently executing its Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA) 2018-2022 Implementation Plan, with funding from GEF and UNDP through the SDS-SEA Scaling Up project.

The MOU, which will run until 2022, seeks to facilitate mutual access to knowledge products for knowledge transfer and replication of integrated management solutions as identified under the strategic action programme (SAP) for YSLME and the implementation plan of the SDS-SEA for PEMSEA.

A photo in this story

Under the terms of the agreement, PEMSEA will have free, open and immediate access to YSLME’s training modules on micro plastic monitoring, marine protected areas (MPA) networking and integrated multi-tropic aquaculture (IMTA) to advance the implementation of the SDS-SEA.

Knowledge products generated by PEMSEA will also be available for use by UNDP. PEMSEA’s SDS-SEA project has produced case studies and integrated coastal management (ICM) solutions that document the good practices and lessons learned in coastal governance and management. The case studies, which cover topics such as MPA management and networking, biodiversity conservation, climate change adaptation, sustainable livelihood, and blue economy practices, can enhance the implementation of YSLME’s SAP.

Photo: Jiguang Tian

Photo: Jiguang Tian

Photo: China PEMSEA Sustainable Coastal Management Cooperation Center

Photo: China PEMSEA Sustainable Coastal Management Cooperation Center

PEMSEA will incorporate the learnings from the YSLME project in the PEMSEA Network of Local Governments (PNLG)- PEMSEA Network of Learning Centers (PNLC) Joint Training Programme that aims to further support capacity building in the EAS region in collaboration with the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources; the Coastal and Ocean Management Institute of Xiamen University; the China PEMSEA Centre and the PNLG Secretariat. The PNLG-PNLC Joint Training Programme will take shape in the form of a science-policy forum, or an ICM executive training course combined with a study tour or technical workshop focusing on specific topics that local governments or ICM practitioners identify as priority concerns.

For more information, please contact the YSLME II Project Manager, Yinfeng Guo (yinfengg@unops.org) or PEMSEA Executive Director Aimee T. Gonzales (agonzales@pemsea.org).