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Introduction
The coastal and adjacent areas in the East Asian and Pacific region have
seen intense development and growth in the past few decades. The growth in
economy and population is often accompanied by adverse impacts on
environmental quality and living resources in these areas. By focusing on
water and living resources contained therein, collectively termed as Coastal
Hydrosphere, the overall state of the environment can be quantitatively
evaluated. Important lessons relevant to environmental governance can be
learned from monitoring and assessing the Coastal Hydrosphere.
Conceptually, this project draws on the Chapter 17 of Agenda 21, in which an
urgent need for utilizing our coastal and marine resources in a sustainable
manner is strongly emphasized. Thematically, it includes activities on
coastal environment monitoring, protection, restoration and management
in the East Asian and Pacific region. The project activities are also
designed to contribute to the Global Programme of Action (GPA) for the
Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities, an
initiative implemented by UNEP.
Particular importance is given to coastal pollution by persistent
organic pollutants and heavy metals from land-based sources. These issues
are closely linked to sustainable use and conservation of marine and coastal
biodiversity resources, strengthening of international cooperation and
development of human resources. On the whole, outlook of the project is
regional in nature, with an emphasis on developing country-specific
initiatives.
Objectives:
The Project Implementation:
To implement this project, UNU relies on a strong network of research
institutions, laboratories, and individual scholars. Wide dissemination
of policy relevant information and research results comprises the most
basic function of the project. UNU has developed an environmental
monitoring database called LandBase to organize and disseminate the data
and related information via the Internet. This information is anticipated
to become a key element of regional and national environmental governance
and strategic policies.
Our Partners:
UNU collaborates with universities, research institutions, local governments
and private companies to implement this project. Our partners include
Shimadzu Corporation, Kyoto, Japan, UNESCO, International Society for
Mangroves Ecosystems (ISME), Iwate Prefectural Government, Japan, and
the Ocean Research Institute of the University of Tokyo. Please click
here for links to our partner institutions.
In the East Asian region we have selected leading research institutions
to work as our partners in their respective countries:
- China-Japan Friendship Center for Environmental Protection (China)
- Environmental Impact Control Facility - SARPEDAL (Indonesia)
- National Institute of Environmental Studies (Japan)
- Korean Ocean Research and Development Institute (Korea)
- University of Malaya (Malaysia)
- National Sciences Research Institute, University of the Philippines (the Philippines)
- National University of Singapore (Singapore)
- Environmental Research & Training Center (Thailand)
- Center of Environmental Chemistry, Vietnam National University (Vietnam)
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