Download PPSTI 02 2015S

APEC Concept Note
Project Title:
PPSTI 02 2015S – Building Regional ocean and land observation
systems to safeguard APEC resources and communities
Fund Source (Select one):
Operational Account
TILF Special Account
APEC Support
Fund
For ASF: As per Guidebook Ch. 3, list ASF Sub-fund if appropriate for this project: Self Funded
APEC forum:
PPSTI
Proposing APEC economy:
Australia
Co-sponsoring economies:
China, Philippines
Expected start date:
Expected completion date:
Project summary:
Describe the project
in under 150 words.
Your summary should
include the project topic,
planned activities,
timing and location:
(Summary must be no longer
than the box provided. Cover
sheet must fit on one page)
Total cost of proposal:
(APEC funding + self-funding):
USD 251,247 (319,096 AUD)
1 May 2015
31 December 2016
This project develops the framework for a Pan-Pacific integrated
observation system, building the science and research capacity of the
region – notably south-east Asia and the Pacific – by:
1. regionalising land and marine observation systems and
information to build regional capacity,
2. economic prosperity/development, in particular for blue economy
industries (e.g. fisheries, agriculture)
3. improving regional disaster resilience
4. monitoring Indo-Pacific reef health
Two pathfinder workshops will be held in Australia in 2015 to:
1.
stocktake needs, stakeholders, priorities;
2.
develop an APEC-focussed Action Plan; and
3.
identify funding options, and next steps.
The project encourages collaboration and uses the research excellence
and infrastructure of APEC innovative nations to contribute towards
science capacity building with all APEC economies. The strengths of
APEC’s innovative nations will leverage APECs science capacity overall.
Long term sustainability will be achieved through the development of a
dedicated community closely linked in to the peak international earth
observation fora.
Total amount being sought from APEC (USD): Nil
By category: Travel:
Labor costs:
Hosting:
Publication & distribution:
Other:
(See Guidebook on APEC Projects, Ch. 9 to ensure all proposed costs are allowable.)
Project Overseer Information and Declaration:
Name: Emma Luke
Title: Assistant Manager, International Science Strategy Section
Organization: Australian Government Department of Industry and Science
Postal address:
GPO Box 9839, Canberra City, ACT, 2601
Tel: +61 2 6276 1196
E-mail: [email protected]
As Project Overseer and on behalf of the above said Organization, I declare that this submission was prepared in accordance with the
Guidebook on APEC Projects and any ensuing project will comply with said Guidebook. Failure to do so may result in the BMC
denying or revoking funding and/or project approval. I understand that any funds approved are granted on the basis of the information
in the document’s budget table, in the case of any inconsistencies within the document.
Name of Project Overseer
Date:
Project Synopsis
1. Relevance – Benefits to region: What problem does the project seek to address? What is the
relevance of the project? Does it have sustained benefits to more than one economy?
The Asia-Pacific region has sustained over 60 per cent of global losses from natural disasters over
the past 20 years (World Bank). The UN reports that in 2014 alone, natural disasters cost Asian
and Pacific nations almost 60 billion dollars and claimed 6000 lives. The World Bank warns that the
increasing frequency of natural disasters is will escalate the rate of economic losses experience by
the region, especially given the large investment in major coastal infrastructure in recent years.
Information derived from earth observation systems1 can provide governments with a powerful
climate change, natural resource and emergency management tool. For example, net value to
Australia of improved weather forecasts through Australia’s Integrated Marine Observing System
(IMOS) data was estimated as at least AUD616 million (USD492 million) each year with a benefit to
cost ratio of more than 22 (IMOS 2006). The value of Earth observation systems to Australia alone
is AUD 4.3 billion per annum (ACIL Allen Study, 2010), with Small to Medium Enterprises benefit
estimated at AUD 30-40 million (USD24-32 million) in 2010 (ACIL Allen Study, 2010).
Earth observation data is being collected at an exponential rate as a result of technological
advancements and significant investments in Earth observation infrastructure by individual nations.
Natural resources and disasters are influenced by environmental phenomena operating at regional
levels, for example two of the strongest marine regulators of global climate (El Nino/La Nina, and
the Western Pacific Warm Pool) are Pacific phenomena, both with causing direct impacts on APEC
agricultural and fishery productivity.
However, observation data is usually collected and held at a national level, thus limiting both the
extent and power of application. A regional approach towards observation systems and supporting
data infrastructure would enable nations to pool resources, expertise, infrastructure and information
resulting in superior information quality and timeliness thus improving economies’ capacity to work
effectively together to tackle regional problems.
Many economies have or are now seeking to regionalise national observing systems, with the
Pan-Pacific area of particular interest due to the value of its blue economy and the frequency
disasters. It is important the development of such systems is led by the Pan-Pacific to ensure that
its interests, needs and priorities are met. The development should build on existing national
systems with data freely available for use in a format that is immediately transferable and useable
for governments working together to tackle regional challenges.
For example, the provision of timely, quality data that can be used immediately is critical to
emergency response decision processes, thus supporting the objectives of the new international
framework for disaster risk reduction, Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030,
negotiated at the World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction March 2015. This framework
explicitly supports the role for earth observation in reducing the impact of disasters, in particular
through Sections 24 and 25, which support the development and dissemination of science
methodologies on disaster losses and disaster risk management, and promote and enhance
technology transfer via international cooperation.
Regional datasets also have significant promise for entrepreneurial SMEs seeking to develop
innovative products, a significant area of growth over the next decade, with the full value of earth
observation systems contribution to GDP yet to be recognised (ACIL Allen Study, 2010).
This project will develop an APEC Action Plan to harmonise regionalise earth observation systems
in the Pan-Pacific, providing a mechanism to overcome competing international interests and
conflicting priorities. The focus will be on both earth observation from space, and marine and
costal observation systems. Once implemented, this system will provide for broad, sustained socioeconomic benefit to APEC members through improvements and capacity building for:
1.
marine resource security and sustainability;
2.
monitoring and responding to natural disasters; and
3.
natural resource management (agriculture, forestry, extractive industries).
1 Systems that observe land, marine and atmosphere, either remotely or in-situ. The focus of this proposal is on
Earth observation systems from space (satellite based, land and marine based observations) and ocean observing
systems (floats, moorings, etc).
The Action Plan will provide the framework for an integrated regional approach on observation
systems and data, building the science capacity of the Pan-Pacific region drawing on the region’s
strengths (in particular from Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand and the US). By building a
regional community of expertise and infrastructure, this project enables a long term, “whole is
greater than sum of parts” approach of particular benefit to developing economies with limited
resources to maintain and use observation systems in isolation, with the most to gain from
improved resilience to disasters and threats to natural resources. The development of a regional
system will improve economic prosperity for blue and green economy industries (fisheries,
agriculture, energy sectors) and benefits disaster management and resilience, reef health across
APEC.
Two pathfinder workshops (focussing on earth observations from space and on marine observation
systems respectively) will be held in Australia, facilitated by Australian and regional observation
experts. The workshops will identify opportunities to collaborate in development of regional
systems, the infrastructure required to support the circulation and analysis of resulting data and
identify capacity building needs (training and infrastructure). The result will be development of a
fully costed project plan/proposal to build regional capacity that will monitor and protect
communities and resources of the APEC region for discussion in suitable bilateral and multilateral
fora. An issues paper will be developed as the outcome of the workshops with recommendations
for future collaborative work in these areas and APEC regional cooperation in Earth observation
science will be strengthened. Through the project, a community will be formed that can act as
ambassadors for the observation needs of APEC in major Earth observation fora including CEOS,
GEO and GOOS.
Relevance – Rank: Which Rank in the annual APEC Funding Criteria does this project fall
under? Briefly explain why. Is it also linked to other Ranks? If so, briefly explain which/how.
This project falls under Rank 1 because it relates to a number of APEC objectives:
1.
ocean-related issues for economic growth including blue economy, conservation and
sustainable development of marine and coastal resources;
2.
building an open economy in the Asia-Pacific featuring innovative development,
3.
interconnected growth and shared interests;
4.
building sustainable and resilient communities;
5.
food safety and security;
6.
emergency preparedness and disaster management; and
7.
human capital development including education and capacity building.
The project will encourage collaborative, sustainable development of innovative infrastructure and
policies in earth and marine observation towards the development of an APEC regional observation
system. Ultimately the project will contribute towards improving ocean productivity (including
sustainable, safe and secure food production) and better prediction and management of
environmental risks; all of which contribute to growth and productivity and the development of
mutual interests. The project also helps to promote the liberalisation of services trade across the
region, by promoting scientific knowledge exchange and the establishment of expert networks.
The project also relates to the Rank 2 priority innovative growth, specifically: science, technology
and ICT approaches in disaster preparedness and risk reduction; innovation policy and research
cooperation, including harnessing new technologies for the future, and for green jobs and
industries that promote green growth; and agricultural biotechnologies, including promotion of
sustainable agricultural development
2. Objectives: Describe the 2-3 key objectives of the project. (e.g. ensure workshop
participants will be able to...; to create a framework...; to develop recommendations...; to
build support...; to revise strategies...; to create an action plan;...to increase knowledge in;
to build capacity in… etc.)
Through two path finder workshops, this project will explore opportunities for marine and land
observation research capacity-building activities (including addressing gender equity), using APEC
expertise and world-class research infrastructure with the following objectives in mind:
1.
Conduct a Stocktake of APEC economies’ current land and marine observation systems,
current needs (training, infrastructure, opportunities to share, combine and analyse data, other) and
future uses (including identifying opportunities for end users such as industry, government, nongovernment organisations (NGOs) and community groups to be involved in the development of an
APEC regional land and marine observation system and to obtain benefits from developed
systems).
2.
Develop an Action Plan with recommendations for the development of an APEC regional
observation system based on the interests, needs and opportunities of these economies and
sectoral groups (government, industry, community, research). The Action Plan will include funding
proposals for submission to major research funding programmes (e.g. the European Union’s
Horizon 2020) and proposed arrangements for combining and managing data sets at a regional
level.
3.
Establish an APEC Marine and Land Observation Community (AMLOC) group that is able
to promote the needs of APEC in subsequent observation fora (including CEOS, GEO and GOOS)
considering options for building a Pan-Pacific regional system.
3. Alignment – APEC: Describe specific APEC priorities, goals, strategies, workplans and
statements that the project supports, and explain how the project will contribute to their
achievement.
This project strongly aligns a number of APEC’s interests from high level goals articulated in
leader, ministerial statements and 2015 APEC priorities, through to host economy, various
working group and policy partnerships priorities.
APEC 2015 theme: Inclusive growth — Building Inclusive Economies, Building a Better World:
http://apec2015.ph/
In support of the Xiamen Declaration (http://www.apec.org/Meeting-Papers/MinisterialStatements/Ocean-related/2014_ocean.aspx), agreed in 2014 at the fourth APEC Ocean-Related
Ministerial Meeting (AOMM4), this project strengthens APEC ocean cooperation in the Asia-Pacific
region. Collaboration on marine observations builds integrated, sustainable, inclusive and mutually
beneficial partnerships among APEC members through information sharing and regional capacity
building. This project has benefits for the four priority areas of the Xiamen Declaration: by building
regional information and data infrastructure this project supports coastal and marine ecosystem
conservation and disaster resilience; the role of the ocean on food security and food-related trade.
This project furthers marine science, technology and innovation; and promotes the Blue Economy
throughout the region.
This project leverages the regions’ existing observation and data capabilities for regional
benefit, relevant to the APEC Accord on Innovative Development, Economic Reform and Growth
Annex C Five Pillars (http://www.apec.org/Meeting-Papers/LeadersDeclarations/2014/2014_aelm/2014_aelm_annexc.aspx) for promoting experience sharing, policy
dialogue, capacity building and practical cooperation (economic reform, new economy, innovative
growth, inclusive support and urbanization).
Other: This project supports exploration of new and promising economic growth areas such
as the blue economy, further cooperation of member economies in disaster preparedness,
strengthens physical, institutional and people-to-people connectivity, develops capacity for
environmentally-friendly ocean-related economic activity as an approach to sustainable
management of marine resources through innovation, and promotes regional S&T collaboration
through PPSTI
Host economy priorities (see http://apec2015.ph/apec-2015/):
This project aligns with the Philippines host year priority to build sustainable and resilient
communities through disaster resilience, risk reduction and management. It also builds core
infrastructure and capacity needed to enhance food security and the Blue Economy and to promote
coastal management and marine conservation
Gender objectives
Increasing women’s involvement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) is a
global issue and one of the Australian science policy issues highlighted in Australian Chief
Scientist’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics: Australia’s Future (2014).
This project encourages gender balance in APEC on two levels. First, consistent with other APEC
projects, gender balance will be encouraged through the inclusion of women as both participants
and speakers in the pathfinding workshops and subsequent activities. In particular, the supports at
least two of the five APEC’s Policy Partnership on Women and the Economy Pillars of Women’s
Economic Empowerment: Innovation & Technology and Skills & Capacity Building.
Second, as part of the development of the regional system stocktake, the workshop will explore
barriers to women participating in scientific and technical roles within existing national systems
which will inform the development of Action Plan recommendations regional system that promote
gender equality. Ultimately, the development of a regional system will lead to the creation of higher
paid jobs in skilled technical fields. Further, the action plan developed through this project will
acknowledge the economic benefits that flow from female participation in the workforce. Given
this, the inclusion of recommendations that promote women’s economic empowerment within the
action plan will position women to take full advantage of opportunities realised through the
development of such systems.
Alignment – Forum: Briefly explain how the project is aligned with your forum’s workplan /
strategic plan.
This project supports core PPSTI objectives to strengthen collaboration and enhance member
economies’ innovative capacity, to develop science, research and technology cooperation, to
develop innovation policy frameworks and to foster an enabling environment for innovation. It
aligns with the PPSTI Strategic Plan by promoting an enabling environment for innovation and
enhancing regional science and technology connectivity, and supports PPSTI 2015 priorities to
cultivate STI talent, give full play to S&T’s bolstering role in promoting Asia-pacific region to share
the development dividend, and to build an enabling environment for SMEs to adopt STI
achievement. Land and marine observation is a good example of the cross-border importance of
science collaboration.
A cohesive regional approach to observations and disaster resilience, building regional capacity
and deliver baseline information for stronger marine economies are the key regional benefits.
Given strong, competing international interests in the development of observation systems and
access to regional data sets in the Pan-Pacific area, a harmonised marine and land observation
regional system can meet the needs and priorities of the region rather than just the stronger
economies. By APEC leading and coordinating such efforts, a focus on advancing goods, science
based trade services and investment liberalisation for our region will be ensured, with a strong
emphasis on regional science collaboration driving economic development and growth as well as
regional trade. A regional approach provides a template for building an Asian Research Area,
following the same approach as that of the European Research Area. The marine component will
also dovetail with the objectives of the Indian Ocean Rim Association, with the potential for
connectivity between the two initiatives to be built in the future.
4. Methodology: How do you plan to implement the project? In this section, briefly address the
following:
 Workplan: Project timelines, dates of key activities and deliverable outputs.
Date
Activity
Deliverable output
July 2015
Project initiation
Project plan refined and endorsed.
Key APEC stakeholders identified.
Project timeframes refined and confirmed.
September
2015
Consultation
Scope and content of workshops discussed
and agreed with stakeholders.
Opportunities for preliminary capacity building
training identified.
October 2015
Workshop logistics
Workshop participants and speakers identified
and invited.
Workshop arrangements organised.
Travel arrangements organised.
November
2015
Workshops and
science capacity
building side forum
Stocktake of existing national systems, current
needs and opportunities.
Draft Action Plan with recommendations
towards the development of a regional system
that will address the needs and interests of
APEC economies.
Establishment of an APEC marine and earth
observation user community (APEC Marine
and Land Observation Community).
Science capacity building and gender equity
needs identified, preliminary training sessions
held.
February August 2016
Post workshop follow
up
Workshop reports (including stocktake and
action plan) drafted and circulated to AMLOC
for comment.
Workshop reports finalised.
Date
Activity
Deliverable output
Funding proposals drafted and circulated to
AMLOC for comment.
Finalised funding proposals submitted to
international funding programmes (e.g.
Horizon 2020, Government Partnerships For
Development).
Late 2016
APEC endorsement
Action plan and report presented at PPSTI 8.
Action plan endorsed at SOM.
Action plan circulated to peak international
earth and marine observation system
organisations for information and action.
The key outputs for this project are designed to ensure the sustainability of this endeavour after the
completion of the project. The stocktake of training and infrastructure needs will support
beneficiaries to progress their priorities for earth and marine observation development. The Action
Plan will provide all beneficiaries with the guidance needed to ensure efficient use of resources in
pursuing improvements to current systems and the development of new systems. Funding
proposals developed during the course of the project will provide financial support in the short term
and will also provide participants with the tools to develop high quality proposals well after the
completion of the project. AMLOC will support economies well beyond the completion of the project
by promoting the benefits of marine and earth observation as well as related opportunities (such as
funding). AMLOC will also drive revision of the action plan as required. Through the partnerships
being formed in this project, AMLOC will develop and strengthen direct links with the peak earth
observation bodies CEOS, GOOS and GEO, and will work closely with these fora towards
implementation of regional systems in the Pan-Pacific.
As earth observation systems innovation will produce new techniques and equipment, additional
training and infrastructure will be required. Additionally, as the Action Plan nears completion, a new
Action Plan will likely be required. AMLOC will be well placed to produce a new plan and to conduct
periodic stocktakes of training and infrastructure needs. During the workshops, a communications
strategy will be developed to help ensure the plan is implemented and to keep a track of progress.
 Beneficiaries: The proposed selection criteria for participants, beneficiary profiles (e.g.
workshop participants, end users, policy makers, researchers/analysts, gender) and how
they will be engaged.

The project will engage world leading experts in marine and earth observation systems,
including end-users (e.g. sustainable resource policy makers, disaster management
practitioners, industry including innovative SMEs, non-government organisations).
Workshop participants will be those from economies with an interest in the development
of a regional system, and are potential beneficiaries of such a system, including
developing economies. End-users invited to participate to ensure a system that will be
developed that will facilitate useful information with direct, immediate benefits to
government, industry and research. Where appropriate (and noting that this initial set of
activities is pathfinding workshops, pooling of existing information), this project will seek
to balance in speakers and participants contributions from developing economies and
women.

A regional observation system including data infrastructure arrangments will ultimately
help marine and agricultural SMEs overcome bottlenecks that hinder international
cooperation and business expansion, with benefits to flow for trade and investment
across APEC economies. Trade and investment also benefits from enhanced ability to
manage, predict and prepare for natural disasters across the region, by reducing
economic and human losses caused by these events. Observations data opens up new
resource opportunities and lowers the barrier to entry for APEC economies to resource
exploration in the region, securing APEC interests.

This project encourages gender balance in APEC on two levels. First, consistent with
other APEC projects, gender balance will be encouraged through the inclusion of
women as both participants and speakers in the pathfinding workshops and subsequent
activities. In particular, the supports at least two of the five APEC’s Policy Partnership
on Women and the Economy Pillars of Women’s Economic Empowerment: Innovation
& Technology and Skills & Capacity Building.
Second, as part of the development of the regional system stocktake, the workshop will
explore barriers to women participating in scientific and technical roles within existing
national systems which will inform the development of Action Plan recommendations
regional system that promote gender equality. Ultimately, the development of a regional
system will lead to the creation of higher paid jobs in skilled technical fields. Further, the
action plan developed through this project must acknowledge the economic benefits that
flow from female participation in the workforce. Given this, the inclusion of
recommendations that promote women’s economic empowerment within the action plan will
position women to take full advantage of opportunities realised through the development of
such a system.
 Evaluation: Potential indicators developed to measure progress, project outcomes and
impacts/successes. Where possible provide indicators which could assess impacts on
women.
The project will be evaluated based on the logical framework below. Data on female participation will
also be collected.
Outcomes
Goal
Project Description
Indicators of
Achievement
Means of
Verification
Support the development
of regional earth and
marine observation
systems that meet the
needs of APEC in
safeguarding APEC
resources and
communities
Earth and marine
Reports
observation systems are
Media
developed in the AsiaPacific region and these
systems contribute to key
objectives such as
disaster mitigation and
security (including food,
people, business and
environment)
Participants understand
end use opportunities for
earth and marine
observation systems and
have the tools they need
to enhance existing
domestic observation
systems and to build
regional systems
Participants/ economies
start to extend earth and
marine observation
systems in the AsiaPacific
Assumptions
and Risks
APEC economies
can obtain the
required funds
A survey 18
APEC economies
months after
have the drive to
the workshops progress the
earth and marine
Reports
observation
presented at
agenda
PPSTI
meetings
The APEC earth and
marine observation
agenda is discussed at a
Ministers’/
variety of APEC meetings
leaders’
Participants are able to
statements
represent APEC priorities
and/or minutes
for the development of a
of meetings
regional observation
(eg. PPSTI)
system in international
fora (e.g. GEO, GOOS,
CEOS and IORA)
Project Description
Indicators of
Achievement
Means of
Verification
Assumptions
and Risks
Outputs
Stocktake
The stocktake and Action A survey 12
Changing needs
Plan (including
months after
of economies
Articulated 10 year Action
recommendations and
dissemination may require
Plan
communication strategy) of the summary changes to the
summary/plan
Recommendations for the are endorsed by APEC and plan
leaders and international
development of an
Ministers’/
Funding
fora and are used to
observation system
leaders’
programmes may
inform decisions and
statements
be so competitive
Forward communication
actions
that even a high
strategy
Formal
At least one funding
quality proposal
endorsement
One or more funding
proposal is approved
does not get
from
proposals
approved
AMLOC actively
international
AMLOC
promotes marine and
fora
earth observation
Written
advantages and
approval for
opportunities
each proposal
Activities
AMLOC report
Two workshops attended At least 20 people attend Registration will Assumes each
by 20 participants
the workshops
be recorded at economy is
events
interested in the
The first meeting of
At least 10 economies
topic and has
AMLOC
nominate a
A short survey
appropriate
representative for
will be provided
experts
AMLOC and 70% attend to attendees to
the first meeting either in gauge
person or via phone
satisfaction
Attendees found the
workshops and meeting
productive and useful
 Linkages: Information on other APEC and non-APEC stakeholders and how they will be
engaged. If and how this proposal builds on (but does not duplicate) the work of other
projects. How will this activity promote cross fora collaboration?
This project promotes cross-fora collaboration as it aligns with the OFWG’s commitment to
ensure the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources as well as protection of
marine ecosystems needed to support fisheries and aquaculture. It also aligns with the
Agricultural Technical Cooperation Working Group’s objective of enhancing agriculture's
contribution to the region's economic growth and social well-being by promoting agricultural
technical cooperation between APEC members. The project contributes to strengthening
public-private cooperation to address food security issues in the region and thus it aligns
with the goals of the PPFS. It also enables the region to better prepare for and respond to
emergencies and disasters by helping to reduce the risk of disasters and by building
business and community resilience and thus it aligns with the goals of the Emergency
Preparedness Working Group. By supporting each of these goals, this project also
contributes to the APEC Food System.
Importantly, this project advances the economic integration of women in the APEC region
for the benefit of all members and so supports the goals of the Policy Partnership on
Women and the Economy.
Each of these other relevant fora will be engaged during the consultation phase of the
project. Members of these other fora will be provided with the opportunity to participate in
the pathfinding workshops at their own expense. They will also have the opportunity to
review and comment on the draft Action Plan.
This initial project focusses on the needs of APEC stakeholders, however in the longer term
and subject to funding, future activities would be expanded to non-APEC stakeholders.
Ultimately the expansion of the system will increase the quality and quantity of data
available to the region, thereby progressively strengthening the value of the system to endusers.
While the initial focus is on APEC fora and economies, the project is relevant to a range of
non-APEC fora (and other stakeholders) as the information generated by the observation
system will have wide utility in a much broader locale. As such, the data produced by PanPacific marine and earth observation systems developed as a result of this project will be
freely available to anyone, not just APEC economies. Oher interested fora will be consulted
throughout the project. In particular, existing bodies of work (produced by projects such as
BLUELink) will be used to inform the project and non-APEC expert bodies (such as GEO,
CEOS and GOOS) will be engaged, supported and partnered with to ensure the highest
quality outputs.
The project takes a holistic approach to marine and land observation and so builds on the
work undertaken in a number of independent, small scale projects focussed on specific
aspects of observation systems including:









APEC Workshop on Community Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM)
(Vietnam, 2014)
Application of Big Data and Open Data to Emergency Preparedness - Phase 1
(Taiwan, 2014)
8th Senior Disaster Management Officials Forum – 2014 (China, 2013)
Regional Cooperation on Drought Prediction Science to Support Disaster
Preparedness and Management (Korea, 2013)
Training Course on the Application of Remote Sensing and GIS Technologies in
Crop Production (China, 2012) and Workshop on the Application of Remote
Sensing and GIS Technology on Crops Productivity among APEC Economies
(China, 2011)
Seminar on Satellite Data Application for Sustainable Fishery Support in APEC
(Russia, 2011)
Fish and Biodiversity Cross Boundaries: Enabling Collaborative Capacity
Building to Improve the Protection of Marine Resources & Strengthen Future
Economic Security and Ocean Wealth in the Asia-Pacific Region (Australia,
2009)
Marine Ecosystem Identification and Mapping in the Asia-Pacific Region (United
States, 2007)
Capacity Building Workshops on Marine Environmental Conservation and
Sustainability for developing economies of APEC (Korea, 2007 and 2006)
APEC is the best forum for this project because it is focussed on the pan-Pacific region. The
voluntary nature of APEC also provides the flexibility to accommodate the changing
priorities of individual member economies.
Through the partnerships being formed in this project, direct links will be sought to the Indian
Ocean Rim Association which also has a growing blue economy agenda and the Indian Ocean
Observing Community as part of the Global Ocean Observing System. In particular, the existence
and maturity of IMOS and its extensive international links as well as Bureau of Meteorology
observing initiatives throughout the Pacific. (e.g. their Climate and Oceans Support Program in the
Pacific - http://cosppac.bom.gov.au/)