Progress report for
Development and strengthening of the regional research and monitoring network, as part of global efforts, on the ecological impacts of ocean acidification on coral reef ecosystems in the Western Pacific and its adjacent regions in support of the SDG 14.3
Achievement at a glance
The UNESCO/IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) has been advancing the regional research and monitoring network through the development of its SEAGOOS programme Monitoring and research the ecological impacts of ocean acidification on coral reef ecosystems. The Programme is part of the Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network (GOA-ON), with technical assistance received from of USs National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and financial support from UN member states and institutions in the region.Until the December 2017, four regional workshops were conducted ( 19-21 January&26-28 August 2015, 29-31 August 2016, 14-15 December 2017) with a set of Standard Operating Procedures finalized for monitoring the OAs impacts on coral reef ecosystems, more than 20 pilot sites selected for the SOP application. Meanwhile, tailored hands-on trainings were organized at both regional and national level on carbonate chemistry and biological measurements. Furthermore, a OA session was also established at the 10th WESTPAC International Scientific Conference (17-20 April 2017, Qingdao, China), the largest gathering for marine scientists in the region.
The latest workshop in December 2017 saw a steady progress over the last year. In addition to key Standard Operating Procedures being finalized and to be published online, most of participating countries have been taking a great step forward in developing OA monitoring systems at the selected OA pilot sites. Some countries such as China, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand have already implementing the SOPs, while others including Bangladesh, Indonesia and Vietnam just secured budgets and are ready to start the monitoring programme. Moreover, the Workshop featured the latest development of the Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network (GOA-ON), the indicator development for SDG 14.3; and the OA monitoring programme in the subpolar coastal region.
All participants finally elaborated on a workplan for 2018. Proposed activities, including national SOPs training workshop, mutual learning and study visits among OA pilot sites, inter-comparisons between labs, will be a focus for WESTPAC to take actions in 2018.