PEMSEA

Rivers are the lifeblood of our Earth, providing water, food, and transportation for millions of people while sustaining ecosystems and economies. In Southeast Asia, rivers are essential to daily life, yet they face growing threats from pollution, overuse, and climate change as a consequence of inadequate planning and management. The Source-to-Sea approach recognizes that activities upstream impact everything downstream, including coasts and oceans. Protecting rivers is not just about safeguarding freshwater—it is about preserving the entire ecosystems along the Source-to-Sea continuum. The Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) Project is essential as a starting point for effective river basin planning and management. This five-year regional initiative, implemented in priority river basins across Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, aims to improve river basin governance and management responsiveness and capacities to reduce pollution, sustain freshwater flows, and enhance climate resilience. The project is supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and executed by the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of Asia (PEMSEA) Resource Facility in collaboration with ASEAN. Learn more about the IRBM Project here: https://bit.ly/4hAKMwa Global Environment Facility UNDP in Asia and the Pacific The ASEAN Secretariat #IRBMProject #InternationalDayofActionforRivers

𝐓𝐨 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬: 𝐁𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐥𝐝, 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 For Laudato Si’ Movement Timor-Leste co-founder and PEMSEA youth delegate, Isaura Baptista Barros, working with youth- and women-led organizations proved that when women are empowered, they are able to drive meaningful change by educating communities, implementing conservation projects that involve women and girls, and advocating for stronger environmental policies. A staunch and passionate advocate for climate action and sustainable development, Isaura emphasizes the need to ensure equal access to education, training, and leadership in marine-related industries. For her, policies must break down barriers that prevent women from participating fully in fisheries, marine conservation, and coastal management. She also champions community-based solutions that value traditional knowledge, often held by women, to create more inclusive decision-making. In celebration of #IWD2025 tune in to PEMSEA’s social media pages and e-bulletin this month as we showcase messages from women shaping the future of the East Asian Seas! #ForAllWomenAndGirls #InternationalWomensDay

PEMSEA celebrates International Women’s Day 2025! PEMSEA believes that women are the driving force behind a sustainable future for our ocean. This International Women’s Day, we’re not just celebrating, we are taking action. We stand for women’s rights, equality, and empowerment, and we’re committed to bridging the gender gap to build a sustainable and resilient ocean. Guided by the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA) Implementation Plan 2023-2027, gender equality and social inclusion is at the heart of our efforts. We recognize that the participation of women, minorities, and other disadvantaged sectors is vital to ensure inclusive and equitable decisions and solutions. From championing the incredible women shaping the future of our seas to fostering blue synergistic actions, we’re dedicated to creating a more inclusive and equitable ocean sector. This month, PEMSEA is releasing a series of stories featuring women champions across the East Asian Seas region who are leading the charge in ocean sustainability. These stories serve more than just to inspire and emulate, it is a call to action for the ocean community to embrace diversity, break stereotypes, challenge cultural perceptions of gender roles, and strengthen the region’s commitment to create equal opportunities for all women and girls. This year’s theme is a bold call to action: uphold equal rights, power and opportunities for all, and drive empowerment across all sectors. Together, we create a future where women and girls have the opportunity to thrive and contribute to a healthier, resilient, more sustainable ocean! #ForAllWomenAndGirls #IWD2025 #InternationalWomensDay

📢 Happening Now! 🔍 The GEF/UNDP/ASEAN Integrated River Basin Management Project is conducting a stakeholder validation workshop for the State of the River Basin Report (SORB) of the Pasac-Guagua Watershed in Pampanga, Philippines. Facilitated by UPLB Foundation, Inc., the workshop gathers representatives from national, provincial, and municipal governments in Pampanga to review and validate the findings based on 32 SORB indicators, ensuring the report accurately reflects on-the-ground conditions. The SORB, an indicator-based reporting system within the Source-to-Sea management framework, serves as a key tool for reporting, monitoring, and evaluating the overall condition of the Pasac-Guagua Watershed. It aims to support data-driven decision-making and strengthen stakeholder engagement in advancing sustainable river basin governance and management. #IRBMProject #WaterResources #EnvironmentalSustainability #StakeholderEngagement Global Environment Facility UNDP in Asia and the Pacific The ASEAN Secretariat

𝐏𝐄𝐌𝐒𝐄𝐀 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐲! Seagrasses, flowering plants that form underwater meadows in shallow coastal waters, are widespread across the East Asian Seas (EAS) region. Countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines host significant seagrass meadows along their coastlines, alongside China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea. Southeast Asia alone hosts 18 of the world’s 60 seagrass species and 33 percent of all seagrass areas on earth. The Philippines, Malaysia, and Viet Nam have the most diverse numbers of species, with 16, 15 and 14 kinds of seagrass, respectively. Despite their ecological and economic importance—supporting fisheries, tourism, aquaculture, and biodiversity—they face severe threats from pollution, coastal development, climate change, and other human activities.  As a part of blue carbon ecosystems, seagrasses play a critical role in carbon sequestration, climate regulation, and coastal resilience. They sequester and store substantial amounts of CO2, helping to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and protect shorelines from erosion and extreme weather events. Protecting and restoring these vital ecosystems is essential not only for maintaining biodiversity but also for supporting local communities and combating climate change. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gxJj53s4 #WorldSeagrassDay2025 #WorldSeagrassDay

Our February e-bulletin is out! 📢 Don't miss out on the latest PEMSEA updates and key milestones! This month, PEMSEA was recognized by DENR-EMB for the Marine Plastics Project in the Philippines. Learn more about the issue of "ghost nets" in the Arafura and Timor Seas, and discover how the IRBM Project’s new Grievance Redress Mechanism is promoting transparency and accountability. Beach monitoring efforts in the Philippines and Timor-Leste are promoting evidence-based strategies to tackle marine plastics, and see the updates from PEMSEA’s first Blue Carbon Technical Working Group meeting! Read our February e-bulletin now: https://lnkd.in/dwDNQ75C

📢 Happening Now! The GEF/UNDP/ASEAN Integrated River Basin Management Project is conducting a stakeholder validation workshop for the State of the River Basin Report (SORB) of Imus Ylang-Ylang and Rio Grande Rivers in Cavite, Philippines. This workshop convenes national, provincial, and municipal government representatives from Cavite Province to review and validate the results of analyses based on the available data for the 32 SORB indicators. UPLB Foundation, Inc. is facilitating the workshop discussions. As an indicator-based reporting system, the SORB will serve as a critical tool for monitoring, evaluating, and reporting on the health of these rivers. The validation process has highlighted the urgent need for stronger governance to address challenges confronting the river system. #IRBMProject #WaterResources #EnvironmentalSustainability #StakeholderEngagement Global Environment Facility UNDP in Asia and the Pacific The ASEAN Secretariat

The Ciliwung River in Indonesia is a lifeline for over 3.8 million people, supporting agriculture, livelihoods, and transportation. It irrigates 333 hectares of rice fields and plays a key role in the country’s renowned tea plantations. However, pollution from domestic and industrial waste poses a growing threat to this vital waterway. Tackling these challenges requires strong governance, collaborative community engagement, and sustainable waste management solutions. Through the Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) Project, we are working to implement sustainable solutions that will help protect and restore the health and vitality of the Ciliwung River. 📖 Learn more: https://bit.ly/435Awsi #IRBMProject #CiliwungRiver #SustainableDevelopment #WaterGovernance Global Environment Facility UNDP in Asia and the Pacific The ASEAN Secretariat

𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐎𝐃𝐀 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭! The MOF/PEMSEA ODA Project Reducing Marine Plastics in the East Asian Seas Region is inviting qualified Timorese nationals to apply for two critical roles: National Project Coordinator and National Consultant for Developing Pilot Project Concepts for Timor-Leste Project Sites. The Marine Plastics ODA Project, funded by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) of the Republic of Korea and implemented by PEMSEA, aims to combat marine plastic pollution in the East Asian Seas Region. The project focuses on enhancing local governance, demonstrating innovative solutions, strengthening capacities, and fostering partnerships among stakeholders. 🌐 Visit our website for the full details: https://lnkd.in/gghNm4G #TimorLeste #Hiring #Consultancy

On 6 February 2025, PEMSEA held a meeting with Dr. Brian Szuster from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and the PEMSEA Network of Learning Centers (PNLC) secretariat to discuss the upcoming Training Program on Blue Carbon. This program, co-hosted by the University of Hawaiʻi and Burapha University, is tailored for PNLC members and key stakeholders from Chonburi Province who are actively engaged in coastal and marine management initiatives. #PNLC #Partnerships #Collaboration