NEASPEC has implemented the project, “Strengthening the Subregional Cooperation through Knowledge Sharing on Sustainable Management of Marine Protected Areas”, which is the first study project of the North-East Asia Marine Protected Areas Network (NEAMPAN).

Launched in 2013 with aim to build a social or human network among Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) as well as to share the experiences and challenges in managing MPAs in the subregion, North-East Asia Marine Protected Areas Network (NEAMPAN) started its first project, “Strengthening the subregional cooperation through knowledge sharing on sustainable management of MPAs” focusing on management strategies and monitoring/assessment of the designated NEAMPAN sites.

Located in one of the tidal flats of the Han River estuary in Yellow Sea, Gangwha Island has one of the major wetlands of the Republic of Korea (ROK), including Gangwha Maehwamareum habitat designated as Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites). Given the importance of tidal flats, ROK government and Gangwha County are considering to register the critical areas of Gangwha Island as Marine Protected Areas (MPA). 

UNESCAP East and North-East Asia Office, the Secretariat of North-East Asian Marine Protected Areas Network (NEAMPAN), in collaboration with Suncheon City, will organize the NEAMPAN workshop “Sharing Experiences in MPA management” and its 2nd Steering Committee Meeting on 15-16 June 2015 in Suncheon, Republic of Korea (ROK). As the first gathering of the 11 target MPAs of NEAMPAN, the workshop will exchange experiences of the overall MPA management with a particular focus on (i) sharing experiences of MPA management and (ii) sharing experiences in partnership and networking among MPAs.