UNDP/GEF is providing assistance through UNOPS to countries bordering
Yellow Sea in support of their efforts to address among others the increasing
trends of depleting fishery stocks, loss of coastal wetland, land and sea-based
pollution and implementation of the Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem Strategic
Action Programme (YSLME SAP) adopted in 2009 by China and RO Korea and supported
by DPR Korea. One of the assistance programs to implement the SAP is the
UNDP/GEF/UNOPS project entitled Implementing
the Strategic Action Programme (SAP) for the Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem:
Restoring Ecosystem Goods and Services and Consolidation of a Long-term
Regional Environmental Governance Framework, or the UNDP/GEF YSLME Phase II Project.
The project was launched in July 2017.
The
objective of this regional project is to achieve adaptive ecosystem-based
management of the Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem bordered by China, RO Korea
and DPR Korea by fostering long-term sustainable institutional, policy and
financial arrangements for effective ecosystem-based management of the Yellow
Sea. The YSLME SAP proposes eleven regional management targets to sustain the
ECC. These targets primarily address a
particular ecosystem service, with the understanding that achievement of a
target will also benefit other ecosystem services. These targets are set using current
scientific understanding and most are quantitatively measurable. Under ecosystem-based management, scientific
monitoring is essential to assess the impact of the management actions and
management must be adaptive to respond to new knowledge.
Several
characteristics make the YSLME SAP unique compared to other SAPs. Firstly, the YSLME SAP employs the
ecosystem-based approach rather than the traditional sector approach. Secondly, the SAP provides the concrete and
measurable targets and the comprehensive management actions to achieve
them. Lastly, the SAP proposes
mechanisms for regional co-ordination and co-operation, including the YSLME
Commission.
The Yellow Sea (YS) ecosystem and its ECC will change in the future, for better or worse. If all
the pressures exerted on the ecosystem continue, the YS will degrade and its
ECC will decline. However, if all the management actions proposed in this SAP are
implemented and regional management targets met, the YS will improve its
capacity to supply its provisioning, regulating, cultural and supporting
services and the YS would remain a living, vital, productive and healthy sea.
At the 1st meeting of the MSTP and ICC, the meeting
approved to evaluate NSAP implementation and update of NSAP 2018-2020. The 1st meeting of the RWG on
Governance endorsed the terms of reference for the review of implementation of
the NSAP 2009-2016. At the 2nd
meeting of the MSTP and ICC, the meeting approved to implement NSAP by the two
countries as a contribution to the TDA update process by taking consideration
of practical need for participating countries to focus on the development of
SAP 2020-2030 as a subsidiary document. In Outcome 1.1 of Component 1, “TDA and
SAP revised and adopted as a subsidiary document of the MOU or joint
declaration” is addressed as one of targets end of Project in 2019. Review of the NSAP implementation in PR China is completed
and is ongoing in the RO Korea. It is expected that the two review reports will
be consolidated into a single document to present to stakeholders in particular
the two governments an overall picture of the status of implementation of the
actions, achievements and the environmental status and institutional
developments as contained in YSLME SAP.
Updating the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis and Startegic Action Program (TDA and SAP) is integral to
efforts of the project to establish the long-term regional environmental
governance framework, which is the YSLME Commission. The process of TDA and SAP
updates will go in parallel with the development of legal documents and trust
fund to institutionalize the YSLME Commission currently supported by the Ocean
Governance Specialist and the Sustainable Financing Specialist under the
guidance of the Task Forces of Rules of Governance and Sustainable Financing.
The process of TDA and SAP updates will
go in close consultation with six regional working groups on assessment and
monitoring, habitat conservation, fish stocks, governance, pollution reduction
and sustainable mariculture. The Chairs and Vice Chairs of the RWGs will also
help facilitate national consultation under the respective NWGs at national
level. The updated TDA and SAP will be approved by the YSLME Commission
formally established through a signed political declaration. It is expected
that the whole process will take about 12 months. Current project will terminate on 31 December
2019 and a second extension is anticipated in order for the SAP to be developed
to serve as the mission of the YSLME Partnership.