NOWPAP at IGR-3 and GLOC

Joining more than 400 delegates from about 65 governments and European Commission as well as Intergovernmental Organizations, representatives of NOWPAP attended the Global Conference on Land-Ocean Connections (GLOC) and the third Intergovernmental Review (IGR-3) Meeting of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities (GPA) held on 23 -27 January 2012 in Manila, the Philippines.  While attending the plenary and thematic sessions on marine litter, coastal ecosystems, nutrient cycle and UN Regular Process, NOWPAP representatives learned about ocean-coastal emerging issues that are related to NOWPAP activities, such as nutrient inputs from land-based activities leading to eutrophication and coastal hypoxia, input of pollutants from land (such as marine litter, DDT, PCB, etc.) and loss of coastal ecosystem services.  The conference and the review meeting provided a good opportunity for NOWPAP representatives to learn also about the progress of other Regional Seas Programmes and share information about the implementation of NOWPAP activities (several NOWPAP publications were distributed at Manila events). The IGR-3 was completed successfully with the adoption of Manila Declaration on Furthering the Implementation of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities.