International Ocean Institute Training Programme

UNEP(OCA)/LBA/IG.2/7
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ii. Consolidation of secretariats, including reliance on existing institutional arrangements,
where cost-effective;
iii. Cooperation between secretariats;
iv. Close integration of regional and subregional programmes of action and the relevant
legal agreements that apply to the region and subregion.
33. In the development and implementation of the regional programmes of action, consideration
should also be given to the following;
a) Steps towards harmonization of environmental and control standards for emissions and
discharges of pollutants, and agreement on data-quality assurance standards, data validation,
comparative analysis, reference methods and training that are required for reliable monitoring
and assessment carried out for the protection of the marine environment from land-based
activities;
b) Steps to protect critical habitats and endangered species;
c) Exploring the use of innovative financing mechanisms that will assist the implementation of
national and regional programmes of action;
d) Building capacity and, where appropriate, identifying regional centres of excellence for
research, management tools and concepts, training and capacity-building as well as
contingency-planning, monitoring and assessment, including environmentally sound technology
assessment;
e) Arrangements to ensure that decision-making at the regional level is based in an integrated
planning and management approach adopted at the national level;
f) Establishment of linkages with regional or subregional fisheries arrangements, as well as other
mechanisms dealing with conservation of marine species, to promote collaboration in the
exchange of data and information and mutual reinforcement in the achievement of respective
objectives.
34. Land-locked States whose river systems and drainage basins are linked to a particular marine
region or subregion should be encouraged to participate in the relevant regional and
subregional arrangements for:
a) Identification and characterization of drainage basins that are closely linked to degradation of
the coastal areas and the marine environment.
b) of scale and monitoring of national activities and practices that are associated with degradation
of the marine environment;
c) Establishment or strengthening of national environmental management and surveillance
mechanisms and networks that are consistent with regional seas agreements or other
arrangements.
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