The Regional Scientific and Technical Capacity Building Workshop on the World Ocean Assessment (WOA), contributing to the UN Regular Process, was held on 17-19 September 2012 in Bangkok, Thailand. Workshop was co-organized by COBSEA, NOWPAP, IOC WESTPAC and GRID Arendal with financial support provided by UNEP, IOC WESTPAC and Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN). 55 experts from 12 East and South-east Asian countries, including four NOWPAP member states, participated in the workshop, together with the 4 members of the UN Regular Process Group of Experts and representatives of co-organizers.
Workshop methodology was based on Australian experience and focused on the integrated assessment of the South China Sea. The trial assessment carried out at the workshop (along with pre-workshop assignments) confirmed that the Australian methodology could apply for integrated assessments in other countries/regions (with appropriate modifications in parameter matrices for habitats, species/groups of species, pressures, etc.)
Implementation of NOWPAP contributes to the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities (GPA) in the Northwest Pacific region.