From Gaps to Impactful Action

The First Asian Regional Dialogue on Seagrass and Dugong Conservation seeks to bring together key actors to bridge existing gaps and amplify impactful action.

This meeting will bring together key experts, policymakers, and conservation practitioners to discuss innovative approaches, identify gaps, and develop actionable strategies for the protection and restoration of seagrass ecosystems and associated dugong populations. Through targeted discussions and working group sessions, the aim is to enhance regional cooperation, scale up seagrass conservation initiatives, and mobilize the resources necessary to secure the long-term resilience of these critical ecosystems, and strengthen the momentum needed to safeguard seagrass ecosystems as critical components of sustainable development and climate resilience.

Objectives:

  • Facilitate Knowledge Sharing: Provide a platform for capacity building of the key stakeholders from Dugong MOU, SCS-SAP, and COBSEA. Experts will share the latest data, research, and successful strategies related to seagrass conservation, restoration, ecosystem services and associated dugong populations.
  • Showcase Achievements: Present recent successes and achievements from the Seagrass Ecosystem Service Project, and Strategic Action Programme for the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand.
  • Develop Practical Solutions: Brainstorm and develop actionable strategies to address identified gaps, including the creation of concrete project ideas and initiatives that can be scaled at the regional level.
  • Strengthen Collaboration: Promote international cooperation between governments, NGOs, and local communities to foster integrated approaches for coastal conservation.

Access the Concept Note here.

Agenda

Day 1: February 20, 2025, Thursday
(Focus: Knowledge exchange and sharing of project outcomes)

  • Opening Session and Keynote Presentations
  • Country and Project Updates (IKI SES / GEF SCS-SAP): Progress,
    Challenges, and Opportunities
  • Interactive Discussions on Gaps and Regional Collaboration

Day 2: February 21, 2025, Friday
(Focus: Policy, Monitoring, and Coordinated Strategies)

  • Working Groups: Addressing Policy, Research, and Management Gaps,
    and co-ordinated strategies
  • Reporting Back and Closing Discussions

Access the detailed agenda here.

Speakers

Speaker 1
Speaker 2Speaker 3

Find more about our speakers here.

Information Repository

Dialogue Documents:

Concept Note

Logistical Note

Agenda

Speakers’ and Partner’s Biographies

 

IKI Seagrass Ecosystem Services Project Reports:

Indonesia Country Profile

Malaysia Country Profile

Philippines Country Profile

Thailand Country Profile

Timor-Leste Country Profile

Dugongs and Marine Megafauna Survey Technical Report

IKI SES Project Video Outputs

Please note that the above reports are drafts and have not been finalised.

 

Day 1 Resources

Keynote Speaker Decks:

Day 1 Recap

Government Presentation Decks:

  • Cambodia
    Delivered by: Mr. Than Monomoyith
  • China
    Delivered by: Dr. Xiangbin Pei
  • Indonesia
    Delivered by: Mr. Permana Yudiarso
  • Malaysia
    Delivered by: Mr. Dunstan Anthony
  • Philippines
    Delivered by: Ms. Alexis Ann Alcantara
  • Sri Lanka 
    Delivered by: Ms. Rekha Sanjeewani
  • Thailand
    Delivered by: Mr. Santi Nilawat
  • Viet Nam
    Delivered by: Dr. Nguyen Xuan Vy
  • UAE
    Delivered by: Dr. Noura Al-Mansoori

 

Project Partner Presentation Decks:

Day 2 Resources

Keynote Speaker Decks:

 

Working Group Sessions:

Photos from the First Asian Regional Dialogue on Seagrass and Dugong Conservation:

Opening Ceremony of the First Asian Regional Dialogue for Seagrass and Dugong Conservation SEA04648 SEA04644 DSC08487 DSC08286 DSC07630 DSC07611 DSC07580 DSC07556 DSC07549 DSC07556 DSC07604 DSC08015 DSC08286 DSC08462 DSC08557 DSC08672 DSC08699 DSC08789 DSC08803 DSC08865 DSC08932 DSC09005 DSC09134 SEA04658 SEA04677

Our Partners

This dialogue was organised in partnership with the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Dugongs and their Habitats throughout Their Range (Dugong MoU) under the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), the Seagrass Ecosystem Services Project (IKI SES), the UNEP/GEF South China Sea Strategic Action Programme (SCS-SAP) Project, and the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA).

We are supported through the Seagrass Ecosystem Services Project funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI), which is an important part of the German government’s international climate finance commitment and the South China Sea Strategic Action Programme (SCS-SAP) funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Their contributions play a crucial role in advancing sustainable solutions and fostering international collaboration for seagrass and dugong conservation.

This pioneering event is hosted in Bangkok in collaboration with the H.R.H. Sirivannavari Thai Coral Reef and Marine Life Conservation Foundation and the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR), Thailand. 

Image Credits:

  • Banner Image: © C3, Philippines
  • Objectives: © Benjamin Jones
  • Agenda: © Marla Tomorug
  • Speakers: © Benjamin Jones
  • Information Repository: © David Peart
  • Day 1 Resources (top to bottom):
    © Sagar Rajpurkar
    © Doug Perrine
    © Ruth Hartnup
    © Jürgen Freund
    © Christopher Malili
  • Day 2 Resources: © C3, Philippines
  • Image Credits: © Dan Liu