The 12th Intergovernmental Meeting of the Northwest Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP) was held on 23-25 October 2007 in Xiamen, the People’s Republic of China. Representatives of the NOWPAP member states (China, Japan, Republic of Korea and Russian Federation), UNEP Regional Seas Programme and NOWPAP partners (COBSEA, IOC/WESTPAC, PEMSEA and YSLME) participated in the meeting. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea attended the meeting as an observer. The meeting adopted the report of the Executive Director of UNEP on the progress in the implementation of NOWPAP during the 2006-2007 biennium and approved the work plan and budget for 2008-2009. The meeting approved also in principle the NOWPAP Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter, as a major outcome of the NOWPAP Marine Litter Activity (MALITA) which has been implemented for the last two years. The meeting reviewed the evaluation report on the four Regional Activity Centres (RACs) aiming at improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the RACs. A Regional Oil and Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) Spill Contingency Plan was also adopted at the meeting.
Implementation of NOWPAP contributes to the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities (GPA) in the Northwest Pacific region.