This sheet describes the main international conventions or treaties relating to MCPAs and conservation of marine biodiversity in South Asia, as well as some of the more relevant international programmes and initiatives.
LEGALLY BINDING CONVENTIONS
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Jakarta Mandate on Marine and Coastal Biological Diversity — Lays out measures to be taken by Parties for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, including the establishment of a system of protected areas, or areas where special measures need to be taken to conserve biodiversity. The Jakarta Mandate, an associated instrument, lays out specific requirements for marine biodiversity conservation and identifies five key areas: integrated marine and coastal area management; the sustainable use of living resources; Marine and Coastal Protected Areas; and mariculture and alien species. COP7 of the CBD adopted the target of developing networks of MCPAs by the year 2012. The CBD is supported by a number of different funding mechanisms, including the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and National Environment Funds. http://www.cbd.int/
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands — Addresses conservation and wise use of wetlands and covers freshwater and marine (to 6m depth at low tide) wetlands. Allows for designation of sites of ‘international importance’ that meet criteria covering representative, rare, unique wetland types or those especially important for conserving biodiversity. Sites must be managed but may be subject to ‘wise’ use and do not require formal protected area legal status. The Ramsar Convention is not a regulatory regime and has no punitive sanctions for violations of or defaulting upon treaty commitments – nevertheless, its terms do constitute a solemn treaty and are binding in international law in that sense. The Ramsar Small Grants Fund provides resources for projects that contribute to the implementation of the Convention’s Strategic Plan. http://www.ramsar.org
World Heritage Convention — Provides for the protection of outstanding examples of the world’s cultural and natural heritage. Parties may nominate protected areas that have outstanding values and that meet the specified criteria as World Heritage Sites. Funding under the International Assistance facility can be accessed under the Convention. http://whc.unesco.org
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) — Gives coastal states jurisdiction over their inland waters, territorial seas (out to 12 nm from the coast) and exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) (200 nm or 370 km from the coast) provided they do not infringe the right of innocent passage by foreign ships. UNCLOS has a number of funding opportunities as well as a fellowship programme for government employees and academics involved in ocean law or maritime affairs. http://www.un.org/depts/los/index.htm
International Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) — Covers pollution of the marine environment by ships from operational or accidental causes (e.g. oil spills, ballast water discharge, sewage, solid waste). Allows for the establishment of Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSAs) in which shipping is regulated. http://www.imo.org
Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO) — Mandated to enhance cooperation among member countries, other countries and organisations in the region and provide technical and management advisory services for sustainable coastal fisheries development and management in the Bay of Bengal region. The BOBP-IGO agreement has been formally signed by the governments of Bangladesh, India, Maldives and Sri Lanka.
http://www.bobpigo.org/
NON-BINDING PROGRAMMES AND INITIATIVES
World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) Plan of Implementation — The Plan promotes sustainable development in relation to conservation and the environment, and sets several targets including the establishment of representative networks of MCPAs worldwide by 2012. http://www.un.org/jsummit/
UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) — Promotes sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity by improving the relationship between people and their environment. Central to the programme is an initiative to develop a global network of ‘biosphere reserves’. The South and Central Asia MAB Network encourages the establishment of regional and thematic sub-networks, and includes Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. MAB provides small grants for young scientists and UNESCO can provide advice and occasionally seed funds to initiate local efforts; these can help broker projects or to set up durable financial mechanisms. www.unesco.org/mab and http://www.unesco.org/mab/doc/statutes_sacam.pdf
UN-OCEANS (UN Oceans and Coastal Areas Network) — An inter-agency coordination mechanism on ocean and coastal issues within the United Nations system, its goals are to promote the coherence of United Nations system activities on oceans and coastal areas with the mandates of the General Assembly, and the priorities contained in the Millennium Development Goals, the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation and governing bodies of all members of UN-OCEANS. http://www.oceansatlas.org/www.un-oceans.org/index.htm
FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries — Provides guidance on sustainable fisheries management, and recommends that all critical fisheries habitats be protected. http://www.fao.org
The South Asian Seas Action Plan (SASAP) — One of the UNEP Regional Seas Conventions, covering protection of the marine and coastal environment in the South Asian region. SASAP focuses on Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM), oil-spill contingency planning, human resource development and the environmental effects of land-based activities. Although there is no regional convention yet, SASAP follows existing global environmental and maritime conventions and considers the Law of the Sea as its umbrella Convention. http://unep.org/regionalseas/programmes/nonunep/southasian/default.asp
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) — Provides a platform for the peoples of South Asia to work together in a spirit of friendship, trust and understanding. It aims to accelerate the process of economic and social development in Member States. The SAARC Coastal Zone Management Centre (SCZMC) seeks to promote cooperation in planning, management and sustainable development of the coastal zones. http://www.saarc-sec.org/main.php and http://www.sczmc.org/
International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) — A partnership of nations and organisations aimed at stopping the global degradation of coral reefs and related ecosystems. The Call for Action and the Indian Ocean Regional Strategy both specifically recommend the establishment of MCPAs. http://www.icriforum.org
International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN) — A global network of the world’s leading coral reef management, science, and conservation organisations, working together, and with local communities, to halt and reverse the decline in health of the world’s coral reefs. http://www.icran.org
South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP) — Aims to promote regional cooperation in South Asia in the field of environment, both natural and human, in the context of sustainable development and on issues of economic and social development that also impinge on the environment and vice versa; to support conservation and management of natural resources of the region and to work closely with all national, regional, and international institutions, governmental and non-governmental, as well as experts and groups engaged in such cooperation and conservation efforts. http://www.sacep.org/
South Asia Coral Reef Task Force (SACRTF) — Established in 2007 to actively participate in, and support, the effective implementation of existing national regulations, action plans and strategies for the management of coral reefs and associated ecosystems; and to promote the development of strategic linkages for enhanced regional cooperation, and the establishment of an effective, networked system of marine and coastal protected areas in the South Asian region.
Mangroves for the Future (MFF) — A partner-led initiative to promote investment in coastal ecosystem conservation for sustainable development. It provides a collaborative platform among the many different agencies, sectors and countries who are addressing challenges to coastal ecosystem management and livelihood issues, to work towards a common goal. http://www.mangrovesforthefuture.org/
Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMA) Network — A network of practitioners focusing on the management of LMMAs (which are defined as areas of nearshore waters actively being managed by local communities or resource-owning groups, or being collaboratively managed by resident communities with local government and/or partner organisations). The network does not include sites in South Asia yet, but is active in Southeast Asia, Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia and the Americas. http://www.lmmanetwork.org/
Other useful conventions and programmes
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). http://www.cites.org
• Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS or Bonn Convention) Includes Indian Ocean marine turtle conservation agreement. http://www.cms.int
• FAO International Plan of Action (IPOA) for Sharks and IPOA for Seabirds. http://www.fao.org
• Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities (GPA). http://www.gpa.unep.org
• International Convention for the Control and Management of Ship Ballast Water and Sediments. http://globallast.imo.org
• UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) - aims to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. http://unfccc.int
• Small Island Developing States (SIDS). http://www.sidsnet.org
• International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling. http://www.iwcoffice.org/commission/convention.htm
• Asian Important Bird Areas (IBA). http://www.birdlife.org/action/science/sites/asian_ibas/
• Large Marine Ecosystems (LME). http://www.lme.noaa.gov/Portal/
• Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN). http://www.gcrmn.org/
