The RCA/UNDP Project Wrap-up Meeting on Post-tsunami Environment Impact Assessment was held in Xiamen, China on 3-7 November 2008 in cooperation with the Government of China through the Third Institute of Oceanography of State Oceanic Administration.

Various key issues were discussed including 1) the extension of the Project and 2) a follow-up work plan for 2009, 3) the review of the outcomes of this project and 4) a combined project progress report for the UNDP office in the Republic of Korea. Participants from the 14 Member States at the Meeting unanimously supported the extension of the project to 2009, and set up a work plan thereon. This action related to extension is based on the decision made by the 37th RCA General Conference held last September in Vienna. The final meeting was decided to be held in the Philippines in 2009 and the final project report which is to be submitted to the UNDP(K) will be worked out before the final meeting.

Following the Meeting, at the invitation of the host organization of China, the participants attended an opening day of the World Ocean Week event held in Xiamen. This was an opportune occasion in that various presentations with topic on “Promoting Marine Ecological Civilization” were presented and some peers from the region and outside could share views on the said topic.