Presented by Dr. Vo Si Tuan, Former Senior Expert, UNEP/DGEF For further information, please visit the project website: www.unepscs.org

1. REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
PARTICIPATION OF LOCAL
GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITIES IN
IMPLEMENTING ACTIVITIES AT THE
DEMONSTRATION SITES OF THE
UNEP/GEF PROJECT ENTITLED
“REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL
DEGRADATION TRENDS IN THE SOUTH
CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND”
Presented by Dr. Vo Si Tuan, Former Senior Expert,
UNEP/DGEF For further information, please visit the

2. REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
3. Serve as
nodes in a
regional
learning
network for the
South China
Sea.
Habitat demonstration sites approved by the
Project Steering Committee
Role of demonstration sites:
1. Implement experiment in
new management models and
methods.
2. Generate knowledge,
experiences, and good
practices.
Kampot

3. REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Land-based Pollution Pilot Activities and Self-funded Projects
LingDingYang – artificial
wetlands for waste treatment
SFP Cu Lao Cham – MPA for
sustainable use of coral reefs &
associated resources
SFP Thi Nai – Ecological
restoration and multiple use
of coastal lagoon
SFP LARCM – Coastal zone
management
SFP CHARM – Coastal habitat
& resource co-management
Batam – Industry & community
Involvement in waste
management

4. REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Cross-sectoral Management to Ensure Coordination
Mechanism for Multiple Use of Coastal Habitats
Concerns:
Sectoral management common in the region – conflicts among sectors and
reduction of total benefits from habitats
Solutions:
Management Boards with participation of
related government utilities, NGOs, private
sector, local communities
Integration of activities under demonstration
projects with other related actions at local
levels
Maintenance of coordination mechanism for
management of habitat and resources
beyond the project

5. REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Cross-sectoral Management to Ensure Coordination
Mechanism for Multiple Use of Coastal Habitats
Good Practice at Hepu
Seagrass Demonstration Site
Hepu
Dugong
Protection
Station
Beihai EPA
CSCIO
Beihai RDC
Beihai
Aquatic
Adm
Beihai
Ocean Adm
Beihai MSA
Hepu Govt
Tieshanggang
Govt
Admin.
Committee
(City Govt.)
• Establishment of the first
State-level Nature Reserve
for Seagrass-Dugong
• Improved infrastructure for
the Zone
• Building of a platform for
scientific research and
education
• Maintaining a favorable
balance between economic
development and
environmental protection

6. REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Involvement of Local Related Stakeholders in Development
of Fisheries Refugia
Concerns:
MPAs/Marine Parks developed not based on sound scientific information for
re-stock of living resources – poor integration with fisheries sectors
Limitation of experts on life-cycle of marine resources
Weak integration among scientists, managers and local communities
Solutions:
• Using knowledge of local fishermen in identifying spawning and
nursery areas – Interpretation between local and scientific language
• Participation of local people in developing and implementation of
management plan and regulation
• Formalisation of local agreements by local governments

7. REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Involvement of Local Related Stakeholders in Development
of Fisheries Refugia
Development of the regional refugia network
Pilot project for development
of pilot refugia at Phu Quoc
(Viet Nam)
Stakeholder Consultations
on Refugia Concept
Review of Fish Egg and
Larvae Data for Refugia
Identification
Local consultation in Phu
Quoc on Mapping Known
Refugia

8. REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Law Enforcement through Supports of Local
Government and Participation of Communities
Concerns:
Many laws but inefficient effectiveness
Lack of human and financial capacity for enforcement
Solutions:
• Appropriate mechanism and legal basis for
local involvement
• Financial supports from local government
• Mobilising fund from other sources
• Training on knowledge on habitats and
enforcement skill
• Public awareness to gain community supports

9. REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Law Enforcement through Supports of Local
Government and Participation of Communities
Good Practice at Bolinao Seagrass Demonstration Site : “Bantay
Daggat” – Local Law Enforcement in Coastal Management
• The “Bantay Dagat” operates with 8 motorized native outriggers (bancas):
1 speedboat (donated by BFAR)
1 from SAGIP Project
1 from BSDS
5 from LGU
Decrease in number of violations (dynamite
and trawl fishing and use of active gear
(1997 - 2007)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
No.ofapprehensions
• 17 law enforcers, 16
volunteers from peoples’
organizations (POs)

10. REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Changes of Awareness and Habits for Encouraging Local
People in Managing Land-based Pollution
Concerns:
Lack of willingness of local people
Costed in waste treatment
Negative habits in discharsing domestic
waste
Solutions:
• Involvement of local people in planning &
implementation
• Clear responsiveness in sustainable
development
• Tools for management (legal basis and
commitments, monitoring)
• Enhancement of public awareness

11. REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Changes of Awareness and Habits for Encouraging Local
People in Managing Land-based Pollution
Good Practice at Batam Pilot Project, Indonesia : Industry and Local
Community Involvement in Land-based Pollution Management
• Local Government : Controlling and evaluating of environmental
management of industries (e.g. documents, sea water quality and
activities) & seminar, socialization, training for industrial sectors / stake
holders
• Industrial sector: Reporting of environmental management of industrial
activities; Compliance to the National and Local government regulations;
and Monitoring Sea Water Quality
• Participation of the local communities started from planning, designing,
construction and maintenance of communal septic tank system.
• The willingness of local community to offer their own land for the
placement of communal septic tank.
• Participation of women (house wives) in solid waste management
particularly for composting activities.
Domestic waste management
Heavy metal discharging management

12. REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Involvement of Private Sector in Habitat Management
Concerns:
Inadequacy of human and financial capacity for management
Priority of private sector in getting profits
Solutions:
• Appropriate policy of the
government for private sector in
habitat management
• Profits for investors through
sustainable use of resources
• Integration of private sector and
local communities
Coordination
Committee
of
FCG Demo Site
Zone 1
(Beilun Mangrove Reserve)
Managed by
Oceanic Administration
of FCG
Zone 2 (Mangrove Park
run by Xindi Co. Ltd
Guangxi Mangrove
Research
Center
Site Manager
（ LIU Jingfa ）
And
Chief Scientist
（ Dr. FAN Hangqing ）

13. REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Involvement of Private Sector in Habitat Management
• Xindi Co. Ltd donates money to support
mangrove conservation activities organized by
local government
• Local government offers policy supports to
mangrove conservation in a multi-sectoral
management attempt
• Army and police help to conduct law and
regulation enforcement for mangrove
conservation
• Schools and local communities engage in
mangrove education
• Invite famous designer (Edew of USA) to
design a mangrove eco park
• Raise construction funds from different
sources
Good Practice at Fangchengang Mangrove Demonstration Site –
Management of the Mangrove Urban by Xindi Co. Ltd

14. REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Integration of Traditional Wisdom into Management Plan
Concerns:
Traditional regulations applied effectively
Weak enforcement of formal laws because of lack capacity
Solutions:
• Possibility to integrate
traditional wisdom to
management at large scale
• Promotion of participation
of local communities in
enforcement

15. REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Integration of Traditional Wisdom into Management Plan
Good Practice at Belitung Coral Reef Demonstration Site – Integration
of Traditional Wisdom in Development of Management Plan
The traditional wisdom:
- Whoever fishes in
Gersik and Suak Gual
waters should use the
same fishing gear as
local people
- Light fishing is forbidden
in Gersik and Suak Gual
village waters
-Whoever goes against
the agreement will be
punished
Experiences and practices of the
traditional wisdom in Gersik and Suak
Gual would be applied into
management plan for coral reefs and
related resources of Selat Nasik Sub-
district

16. REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Supplementary and Alternative Livelihood as a Tool
For Improvement of Habitat and Resources Management
Concerns:
Dependence of local people on resources related to coastal
habitats
Poor practices causing habitat degradation
Low awareness on sustainable useSolutions:
• Finding alternate activities not
harmful directly to habitats
• Training on techniques and
improvement of quality & prices of
products
• Reasonable use of nature living
resources that recovered by effective
management

17. REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Supplementary and Alternative Livelihood as a Tool
For Improvement of Habitat and Resources Management
Good Practice at Batu Ampar Mangrove Demonstration Site –
Livelihood Alternatives
Coconut charcoal
production to reduce
mangrove cutting
Soft-shell crab culture
Leban plantation forLeban plantation for
replaced materialsreplaced materials

18. REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Sustainable Tourism Based on Coastal Habitats
Concerns:
Expanded uncontrolled tourism in the region
Poor planning for tourist development
Tourism as tool for enhancement of habitat management or as impacts for
degradation?
Solutions:
• Planning with participation of local related
stakeholders
• Sound scientific information required for planning
• Enhancement of consensus and awareness on
sustainable management
• Mechanism for enforcement
• Encouraging responsiveness of tourist sectors

19. REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Sustainable Tourism Based on Coastal Habitats
Good Practice at Koh Chang Coral Reef Demonstration Site –
Sustainable Tourism based on Coral Reefs
- Carrying capacity study for tourism in Mu Koh Chang
- Study to determine tourist fee for coral reef management purposes
- Establishment of Local Guide Centre
- Demonstration project of coral reef restoration
- An underwater snorkeling trail
- Installation of additional mooring buoys
- Building awareness and education on
ecological importance and sustainable use of coral reefs
A management plan and guideline for sustainable tourism based on
coastal resources, taking into account functions of local related
stakeholders and linkages in the network

20. REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Replication of Lessons Learnt and Good Practices
What should be done:
• Documentation for dissemination (project website, publications ...)
• Visits to the sites
Feasibility in application:
• Lessons learnt at the regional level could be applied in other regional
projects
• Consideration if any difference in real conditions at the site level
(Municipal rights to sea areas in the Philippines; dependence of
coastal communities on forest resources in Batu Ampar)
• Some sensitivities (serve punishes of Belitung traditional wisdom,
including stoned)