South Asian Seas

Dramatic seasonal monsoons proclaim the exceptionally dynamic nature of our region's climate, geology and ocean currents. Our seas are rich in shallow tropical marine species, our estuaries are lined with extensive mangroves, and our islands are sheltered by magnificent coral reefs.

But if our environment is remarkable, our environmental problems are all too mundane; expanding human populations, oil transport across the Arabian Sea, heavy use of agricultural and industrial chemicals, harmful fishing practices, and ill-planned land use. These pressures have destroyed important habitat, driven many wildlife species near to extinction, and altogether compromised our people's future.

We do have one unusual problem for which our region is known: we risk losing an entire island nation to changing climate and rising seas. The Maldives, a vulnerable nation of coral islands that barely rises over two metres above sea level, could become uninhabitable within 50 years.

To address these critical problems, the South Asian Seas Action Plan was adopted in March 1995 and today enjoys the unqualified support of the region's five countries. The South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP) has been privileged to participate in this work, and is now serving as the Action Plan secretariat. The plan focuses on integrated coastal zone management, development and implementation of national and regional oil-spill contingency planning, human resource development through strengthening regional centres of excellence, and land-based sources of pollution. We have just begun a two-year programme on the development and implementation of integrated management of the Environmentally Sensitive Coastal and Marine Ecosystems. And although we do not yet have our own regional convention, we are working diligently to apply existing global environmental and maritime conventions to our region.

Like our counterparts in the other Regional Seas, we know we must learn to control the impact of development if we are to keep our fisheries sustainable, our environment healthy and our people thriving.

Prasantha Dias Abeyegunaeardene, Deputy Director, Programmes
South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP)