05 Feb 2021 Story Oceans & seas

NOWPAP attends the Subregional Parallel Sessions for South Asia and Temperate East Asia of the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research

The Northwest Pacific Action Plan Regional Coordinating Unit (NOWPAP RCU) was invited to present its activities in the Subregional Parallel Sessions for South Asia and Temperate East Asia of the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) on 5 February 2021.

 NOWPAP introduced its Medium-Term Strategy for 2018-2023 and ongoing environmental assessment activities, biodiversity conservation, and pollution monitoring in this virtual meeting.  One participant inquired NOWPAP about its work on invasive species.  NOWPAP highlighted its ongoing development of the Regional Action Plan on Marine and Coastal Biodiversity Conservation, which would lay a roadmap for biodiversity conservation in the region.

The Jeju National University prepared the International Workshop on Key Indicator Species and Habitats for Marine Biodiversity Change in East Asia in the meeting. NOWPAP has worked closely with Jeju National University on this project which APN sponsors. The project aims to strengthen research capabilities on global change and sustainability and provide recommendations for policymakers in the region regarding key indicator species, ecosystem types, and major pathways resulting in marine biodiversity changes in the Northwest Pacific.

The International Workshop on Key Indicator Species and Habitats for Marine Biodiversity Change in East Asia was postponed due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Jeju National University and NOWPAP will explore ways to achieve the project goals.

APN has been proactively enhancing communication and collaboration among governments, research institutions, scientists, and practitioners in the Asia-Pacific region to address the challenges of global change and sustainability.  NOWPAP has received financial support from APN in the past years for several projects.