ICM training for marine pollution prevention and management

The GEF/UNDP/IMO Regional Programme on Marine Pollution Prevention and Management in the East Asian Seas (MPP-EAS) conducts annually a regional training course on the application of the integrated coastal management (ICM) system for addressing marine pollution problems. The training initiative is unique in that: (a) the training curriculum is tailored for strengthening environmental protection and management capacity in the developing countries; (b) it is conducted in the ICM demonstration sites which provide practical exposure to the problems and their solutions; (c) it is a joint effort of a number of educational and research institutions in the region; and (d) it focuses on providing a broad-base, multidisciplinary training to environmental and natural resource planners, managers and trainers. The training package includes ICM approaches, tools and methodologies particularly concerning institutional arrangements, improving legal regime and enforcement, environmental monitoring, scientific services, sustainable financing and information management. This paper attempts to review the outputs, experiences and lessons learned from the past three years.