Thailand and the Maldives are strengthening efforts towards nutrient pollution under the Clean and Healthy Oceans Integrated Program (CHO-IP), a global initiative advancing ocean protection by addressing marine hypoxia and land-based ocean pollution.
Through fourteen country projects, the USD 109 million Global Environment Facility (GEF)-funded global initiative led by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) brings together governments, research institutions and regional partners to strengthen ocean governance, improve water quality management, reduce pollutants entering coastal and marine ecosystems and help prevent the emergence of new marine hypoxic zones.
Marine hypoxia, a condition which results in too little oxygen in water for survival of marine organisms, is a rapidly expanding threat towards livelihoods, food security, and climate resilience. The condition, caused by land-based nutrient pollution, requires a coordinated source-to-sea approach across sectors and ecosystems to strengthen coastal and marine ecosystem management.
Thailand advances nutrient reduction efforts
In line with the goals of the CHO-IP, Thailand launched an initiative focused on addressing marine hypoxia in coastal waters by reducing nutrient emissions from key sectors including tourism, agriculture, fishing ports and seafood processing.
Formally titled the Clean and Healthy Ocean Thailand (Thai NuRA) project, the USD 3.5 million GEF-funded initiative is led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), with the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) serving as the executing partner, in collaboration with national and regional partners.
“Nutrient pollution causing algal blooms (red tide) is a 'silent threat' that directly impacts ecosystems, fisheries, food security, and Thailand’s tourism industry. The Clean and Healthy Ocean Thailand (Thai NuRA) project is a significant step in utilizing the source-to-sea strategy to address hypoxic conditions in a targeted and sustainable manner,” said Mr. Prasert Sirinaphaporn, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Thailand’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
Maldives tackles nutrient pollution for healthier oceans
In the Maldives, the recently launched Clean and Healthy Maldives project brings together project partners and key national stakeholders to combat marine hypoxia and land-based nutrient pollution through sustainable nitrogen management and stronger ocean governance. The project, led by UNEP and jointly executed by The Maldives National University (MNU) and UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) will strengthen national Nitrogen Action plan policies, establish an operational sewage recycling system for enriched fertilizer for agriculture, build private sector and local community partnerships for nutrient recovery, mainstream nutrient education and public awareness, and strengthen capacity for assessment and monitoring of nutrient pollution in marine ecosystems.
Supported through USD 4 million in GEF financing and more than USD 49 million in co-financing, the project reflects recognition of the links between land-based pollution, wastewater management and the health of fragile marine ecosystems in small island developing states such as the Maldives, where communities, livelihoods and the economy are closely connected to the ocean.
Building momentum for clean and healthy oceans
Thailand and the Maldives are part of fourteen countries representing nine Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs). As participants in the global CHO-IP, the country initiatives support a concerted effort under the global program towards achieving long term ocean resilience and healthier marine ecosystems through science and source-to-sea solutions.
Further reading
- Original Thailand blogpost from by COBSEA
- Original Maldives launch by the Maldives National University
