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United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

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Freshwater is a major priority area of UNEP, and UNEP is also responsible for the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities (GPA/LBA) with a Coordination Office in The Hague, The Netherlands, and the Global International Waters Assessment (GIWA) with a Coordination Office in Kalmar, Sweden, as well as the Regional Seas Programmes, which undertake many relevant activities at the regional level. 

AGENDA 21 CHAPTERS AND PROGRAMME AREAS OF PARTICULAR FOCUS OR INTEREST:
See check list in annex.


BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF AND LINKS TO INFORMATION ACTIVITIES

Data Collection, Observation, Monitoring

Data collection is via field surveys (marine pollution, coastal resources), supplied by Governments in cooperation with other UN system organizations and regional organizations. Data is generally gathered on coastal zone management and marine pollution data, small islands. Coordination of data gathering is done at regional intergovernmental and expert meetings, joint expert groups. 
 

Methodologies, Quality Control, Harmonization
&nbspReference Methods for Marine Pollution Monitoring, GIPME working groups, jointly with IOC, IAEA, WHO etc. 
 

Assessment and Analysis
Areas of assessment and analysis are: Oceans and coastal areas (Agenda 21, Chapter 17); Freshwater (Chapter 18). Global International Waters Assessment (GIWA). These areas are studied in close cooperation with many organizations including UNESCO IOC, FAO, WMO, IMO, IAEA, IUCN, in the context of GESAMP (Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection). The techniques are assessed by expert groups (GESAMP, Climate Change task teams, etc.) 
 

Indicators
 
 

Modelling
 
 

Expert Systems/Decision-support systems
 
 

Early Warning Mechanisms
 
 

Reports/Information dissemination

Dissemination is via printed reports, publications. Regional Seas Reports and Studies, regional meetings. Users are Governments and regional organizations, experts. Coordination of this activity is carried out by joint activities, regional meetings, interagency consultations.Some experts trained within regions serve as filters - more would be useful. 

Meta-information directories consist of regional seas directories and bibliographies. The information within them is promoted via regional intergovernmental meetings and expert meetings. 

Information for ministerial level intergovernmental meetings is produced, using executive summaries and booklets. 

Network Development and Support
Regional Seas programmes, marine mammals action plans are being developed/supported. 
There exists coordination among the networks, as well as interaction with other regional activities and networks of cooperating partners. 
 

Capacity-Building
There is extensive training in marine pollution monitoring, data for coastal areas management and EIA in regional seas programme 

Several data gaps have been identified. Coastal marine data in developing countries - addressed through regional seas activities. Living marine resources: marine turtle and marine mammal surveys. Impact of climate change - monitoring through Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS). 
 

Internet Access

 http://www.unep.org/
 UNEP home page in Nairobi. UNEP background and organization, programme of work and links to associated organizations. Documents and catalogues (not full text). 

Water: http://www.unep.org/unep/program/natres/water/home.htm

Regional Seas Programme: http://www.unep.org/unep/program/natres/water/regseas/regseas.htm
(also see listing below

Global International Waters Assessment Coordination Office, Kalmar: http://www.giwa.net/

Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities, Coordination Office, The Hague: http://www.gpa.unep.org/

Responsible Office/Person (for inquiries or follow-up):
Mr. Walter Rast 
 UNEP 
 P.O. Box 30552 
 Nairobi, Kenya 
 Tel: +254 2 623244 
 Fax: +254 2 622788 
 E-mail: Walter.Rast@unep.org 



UNEP REGIONAL SEAS PROGRAMMES
Black Sea
Caribbean
East Asian Seas
East-Central Pacific
Eastern Africa
Kuwait Action Plan
Mediterranean
North-West Pacific
Red Sea and Gulf of Aden
South Asian Seas
South-East Pacific
South Pacific
South-West Atlantic
West and Central Africa

UNEP has collaborated with groups of governments sharing a common sea area to establish Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans, including data collection, assessment, information and capacity-building components.  For some of these, UNEP has been given responsibility for 
secretariat functions under the Convention, usually with a Regional Coordinating Unit established in the region.  For others, another intergovernmental organization provides the secretariat, with the 
intergovernmental activities continuing to form a part of the Regional Seas Programme.  Other 
Regional Seas Programmes and Action Plans are still under development, or have not adopted an 
international legal instrument, and are directly administered by UNEP with guidance from the 
Governments of the region through intergovernmental meetings.  In all, programme activities are 
determined largely by the Conferences of the Parties or other intergovernmental meetings and funded by regional trust funds or the funds of the responsible regional organization. The Regional Seas Programmes are under the responsibility of the Division of Environmental Conventions. 

MEDITERRANEAN ACTION PLAN

UNEP is responsible for the Secretariat of the Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean 
Sea Against Pollution (Barcelona Convention), and its Action Plan, through the Mediterranean 
Regional Coordination Unit (MEDU) in Athens, Greece. 

The Secretariat is responsible to the Conference of Parties to the Barcelona Convention, comprising Albania, Algeria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, EU, Egypt, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Monaco, Morocco, Slovenia, Spain, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey and Yugoslavia. 

The Secretariat administers the programme for the Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea Against Pollution, including the Protocol for the Prevention of Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea by Dumping from Ships and Aircraft, the Protocol Concerning Cooperation in Combating Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea by Oil and Other Harmful Substances in Cases of Emergency, the Protocol for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea Against Pollution From Land-based Sources, the Protocol Concerning Mediterranean Specially Protected Areas, and the Protocol for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea Against Pollution Resulting From Exploration and Exploitation of the Continental Shelf and the Seabed and its Subsoil.  It supervises a number of Regional Activity Centres around the region.  The Secretariat also is responsible for the regional Sustainable Development activities agreed to by the Governments of the Mediterranean region. 

Responsible Office/Person
Mr. Lucien Chabason 
Coordinator 
Coordinating Unit for the Mediterranean Action Plan 
Vas. Konstantinou 48 
P.O. Box 18019 
11610 Athens, Greece 
Tel: +30 1 727 3100, direct 727 3101 
Fax: +30 1 725 3196-7 
E-mail: unepmedu@unepmap.gr, chabason@unepmap.gr 
 http://www.unepmap.gr/

KUWAIT ACTION PLAN

An independent regional intergovernmental organization, the Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment (ROPME), comprising Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates, was established to implement the Convention and Action Plan. The Secretariat in Kuwait is headed by the Secretary-General of ROPME, who reports to the ROPME Council of Ministers. 

The Kuwait Regional Convention for Cooperation on the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Areas, includes the Protocol Concerning Regional Cooperation in Combating Pollution by Oil and Other Harmful Substances in Case of Emergency, the Protocol Concerning Marine Pollution Resulting From Exploration and Exploitation of the Continental Shelf, and the Protocol for the Protection of the Marine Environment Against Pollution From Land-based Sources. 

Responsible Office/Person
Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment (ROPME) 
P.O. Box 26388 
1324 Safat 
State of Kuwait 
Tel: +965 531 2140/3 
Fax: +965 532 4172 and 531 2144 
 

RED SEA AND GULF OF ADEN ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME

An independent regional intergovernmental organization, the Programme of Environment for the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden (PERSGA), was established to implement the Convention.  The Secretariat in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is headed by the Secretary-General of PERSGA, who reports to the PERSGA Council of Ministers, comprising Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. 

The Regional Convention for the Conservation of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Environment includes the Protocol Concerning Regional Cooperation in Combating Pollution From Oil and Other Harmful Substances in Cases of Emergency. 

Responsible Office/Person
Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Environment Programme (PERSGA) 
P.O. Box 1358 
Jeddah 21431 
Saudi Arabia 
Tel: +966 2 651 4472 and 651 9868 
Fax: +966 2 651 1424 and 651 9868 
 

WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICAN REGION (WACAF)

UNEP serves as the Secretariat of WACAF.  The Secretariat will be established in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, in the near future. 

The Secretariat is responsible to the Conference of the Parties to the Convention for Protection and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the West and Central African Region, which comprises Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Cape-Verde, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, Namibia, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. 

The Convention for Co-operation in the Protection and Development of the Marine and Coastal 
Environment of the West and Central African Region includes the Protocol Concerning Cooperation in Combating Pollution in Cases of Emergency in West and Central African Region. 

Responsible Office/Person
Division of Environmental Conventions 
UNEP 
P.O. Box 30552 
Nairobi 
Kenya 
Tel: +254 2 62 4011 
Fax: +254 2 62 4300 

SOUTH-EAST PACIFIC

An independent regional intergovernmental organization, the Permanent Commission of the South 
Pacific (CPPS), was entrusted with the implemention of the Convention and Action Plan. The 
Secretariat in Quito, Ecuador is headed by a Secretary-General who reports to the Inter-Governmental Meeting of member States of CPPS, comprising Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama and Peru.  The secretariat rotates among the member states every five years. 

The Secretariat administers the Action Plan for the Protection of the Marine Environment and Coastal Areas of the South-East Pacific, and carries out the provisions of the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and Coastal Areas of the South East Pacific (Lima Convention), including the Agreement on Regional Cooperation in Combating Pollution of the South-East Pacific by Hydrocarbons or Other Harmful Substances in Case of Emergency, the Supplementary Protocol to the Agreement on Regional Cooperation in Combating Pollution of the South-East Pacific by Hydrocarbons or Other Harmful Substances, the Protocol for the Protection of the South-East Pacific Against Pollution From Land-Based Activities, the Protocol for the Conservation and Management of Protected Marine and Coastal Areas of the South-East Pacific,  and the Protocol for the Protection of the South-East Pacific Against Radioactive Contamination. 

Responsible Office/Person
Dr. Ulises Munaylla Alarcon 
Adviser of the Plan of Action of the South East Pacific 
Comisión Permanente del Pacífico Sur (CPPS) 
(UCR del Plan de Acción del Pacífico Sudeste) 
Coruña N31-83 y Whymper 
P.O. Box 17-21-720 
Quito, Ecuador 
Tel: +593 2  234331/234335/234336/234357/234358 
Fax: +593 2  234374 
E-mail: cpps@ecuanex.net.ec 
 http://www.cpps.org.ec/

CARIBBEAN ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME

UNEP has been designated as the Secretariat for the Convention and Action Plan, through the 
Caribbean Regional Coordinating Unit (CAR/RCU) in Kingston, Jamaica, which is headed by a 
Coordinator. 

The Secretariat is responsible to the Conference of the Parties, comprising Antigua & Barbuda, 
Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, EU, 
France, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Surinam, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States of America and Venezuela. 

The Secretariat administers the Action Plan of the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region, including the Protocol Concerning Cooperation in Combating Oil Spills in the Wider Caribbean Region, and the Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife to the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Area. 

Responsible Office/Person
Mr. Nelson Andrade 
Coordinator 
Regional Coordinating Unit for the Caribbean Environment Programme 
UNEP 
14-20 Port Royal Street 
Kingston, Jamaica, W.I. 
Tel: +1 (876) 92 292 67/8/9 
Fax: +1 (876) 92 292 92 
E-mail: uneprcuja@toj.com 
http://www.cep.unep.org/
 

EASTERN AFRICAN REGION (EAF)

UNEP has been designated as the Secretariat under the Convention, through the Regional Coordination Unit (EAF/RCU) in Seychelles, headed by a Coordinator. 

The Secretariat is responsible to the Conference of the Parties and intergovernmental meetings, 
comprising Comoros, EU, France, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Somalia and United Republic of Tanzania. 

The Secretariat administers the Action Plan of the Convention for the Protection, Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Eastern African Region (Nairobi 
Convention), including the Protocol Concerning Protected Areas and Wild Fauna and Flora in the 
Eastern African Region; and the Protocol Concerning Cooperation in Combating Marine Pollution in Cases of Emergency in the Eastern African Region. 

Responsible Office/Person
 Coordinator 
 EAF/RCU 
 P.O. Box 487 
 Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles 
 Tel: +248 32 45 25 
 Fax: +248 32 45 73 
 E-mail: uneprcu@seychelles.net 
 

SOUTH PACIFIC REGIONAL ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME (SPREP)

An independent regional intergovernmental organization, the South Pacific Regional Environment 
Programme (SPREP), implements the SPREP Convention and other relevant conventions and action plans.  The Secretariat in Apia, Western Samoa is headed by a Director who reports to the 
Intergovernmental Meeting of the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) member States, comprising Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, France, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, United Kingdom, United States of America, Vanuatu and Western Samoa. 

The Secretariat administers the SPREP Action Plan and the Convention for the Protection of the 
Natural Resources and Environment of the South Pacific Region (SPREP Convention), including the Protocol Concerning Cooperation in Combating Pollution Emergencies in the South Pacific Region, and the Protocol for the Prevention of Pollution of the South Pacific Region by Dumping. It is also responsible for the Convention on Conservation of Nature in the South Pacific (Apia Convention) and other agreements. 

Responsible Office/Person
Mr. Tamarii Tutangata 
Director 
South Pacific Regional Environment Programme 
P.O. Box 240 
Apia, Western Samoa 
Tel: +685 21929 
Fax: +685 20231 
E-mail: sprep@sprep.org.ws or sprep@samoa.net 
 http://www.sprep.org.ws/
 

BLACK SEA ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMME

An independent secretariat, the Black Sea Environmental Programme, was established to implement the Convention.   The Secretariat in Istanbul, Turkey, is headed by a Coordinator who reports to the Intergovernmental Meeting of the member States, comprising Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine. 

The Secretariat administers the Strategic Action Plan for the Rehabilitation and Protection of the Black Sea (October 1996) and the programme of the Convention for the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution, including the Protocol on Protection of the Black Sea Marine Environment Against Pollution From Land-Based Sources, Protocol on Cooperation in Combating Pollution of the Black Sea Marine Environment by Oil and Other Harmful Substances in Emergency Situations, and the Protocol on the Protection of the Black Sea Marine Environment Against Pollution by Dumping. 

Responsible Office/Person
Black Sea Environmental Programme 
Dolmabahce Sarayi 
II. Harekat Kosku 
80680 Besiktas 
Istanbul, Turkey 
Tel: +90 212 227-9927/8/9 
Fax: +90 212 227-9933 
E-mail: blacksea@dominet.in.com.tr 
http://www.dominet.com.tr/blacksea/index.htm (Coordinating Unit) 
http://www.grid.unep.ch:80/bsein/ (Black Sea Environmental Internet Node) 
http://www.grid.unep.ch:80/bsein (mirror site with faster connection) 
http://www.wldelft.nl/black-sis/blacksis.html (Black Sea Information System). This program seems to have been discontinued at the moment.
 

EAST ASIAN SEAS (EAS)

UNEP is responsible for the East Asian Seas Action Plan, which does not have a Convention, but is guided by a regular intergovernmental meeting, the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia 
(COBSEA), comprising Australia, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, 
Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.  The Regional Coordinating Unit (EAS/RCU) in Bangkok, 
Thailand, is headed by a Coordinator. 

The Secretariat administers the Action Plan for the Protection and Development of the Marine 
Environment and Coastal Areas of the East Asian Seas Region, organising the meetings of COBSEA. 

Responsible Office/Person
Regional Coordinating Unit for the East Asian Seas Action Plan 
UNEP 
10th Floor 
United Nations Building 
Rajdamnern Avenue 
Bangkok 10200, Thailand 
Tel: +66 2 281 2428 and 267 8007 
Fax: +66 2 267 8008 
 

SOUTH ASIAN SEAS

An independent regional intergovernmental organization, the South Asian Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP), was given the responsibility to implement the Action Plan.   The Secretariat in Colombo, Sri Lanka, is headed by a Director who reports to the Intergovernmental Meetings of the South Asian Cooperative Environment Programme, comprising Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. 

The Secretariat administers the Action Plan for the Protection and Management of the Marine and 
Coastal Environment of the South Asian Seas Region, organising its intergovernmental meetings. 

Responsible Office/Person
South Asian Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP) 
P.O. Box 1070 
Colombo, Sri Lanka 
Tel: +94 1 589 787 and 500 544 
Fax: +94 1 589 369 
 

NORTHWEST PACIFIC REGION (NOWPAP)

UNEP serves as the Secretariat for NOWPAP. 

The Secretariat is responsible to the Intergovernmental Meetings on the Action Plan for the Protection, Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Northwest Pacific Region, which currently comprise the People's Republic of China, Japan, Republic of Korea and Russian Federation. 

Responsible Office/Person
Division of Environmental Conventions 
UNEP 
P.O. Box 30552 
Nairobi 
Kenya 
Tel: +254 2 62 4011 
Fax: +254 2 62 4300 
 

SOUTHWEST ATLANTIC REGION

UNEP is providing initial secretariat services in support of the development of this cooperative programme for the protection and management of the marine and coastal environment in the Southwest Atlantic region (SWAT),  cooperating with the Governments of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, and with the coordinators of the Upper Southwest Atlantic Programme (ASOS). 

Responsible Office/Person
Division of Environmental Conventions 
UNEP 
P.O. Box 30552 
Nairobi 
Kenya 
Tel: +254 2 62 4011 
Fax: +254 2 62 4300 
 

EAST-CENTRAL PACIFIC

UNEP is providing initial secretariat services, cooperating with the Governments of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama for the further development of this regional seas programme for the protection and management of the marine and coastal environment of the East-Central Pacific, in response to the mandate given to UNEP at the 19th session of its Governing Council (1997). 

Responsible Office/Person
Division of Environmental Conventions 
UNEP 
P.O. Box 30552 
Nairobi 
Kenya 
Tel: +254 2 62 4011 
Fax: +254 2 62 4300 
 

[The Baltic Marine Environment Protection (Helsinki) Commission (http://www.helcom.fi), and the OSPAR Commission (http://www.ospar.org) for the North Atlantic and North Sea, are not formally part of the Regional Seas Programme, but cover complementary regions] 


Date of preparation:  June 1997, updated August 1999 
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  ANNEX
COVERAGE OF AGENDA 21 PROGRAMME AREAS
Check list - mark (X) areas of major or minor focus. 

ORGANIZATION: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP): Water and Oceans

No specific information given.


 
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