The second stage: China-ASEAN Ocean Park Ecological Service Online Platform
The China-ASEAN Ocean Park Ecological Service Online Platform was supported by the second stage of China-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation Fund -- and it was developed by the Third Institute of Oceanography at the Ministry of Natural Resources between 2016 and 2019.
A distribution map of Malaysia's ocean parks. [Photo provided to xmicc.org.cn]
The aims of the project include enhancing joint research in the China-ASEAN Ocean Park Demonstrative Zone. The goal is to enrich the baseline data on ocean parks, building a China-ASEAN ocean park service network to strengthen contacts and exchanges between ocean park personnel in the two regions. The other goals are building an ocean park ecological environment information sharing system to support the management of the parks, as well as summarizing their experiences in ecological system management, to improve management levels.
The project team visits Thailand's Chumphon and Trat to conduct joint investigations. [Photo provided to xmicc.org.cn]
Several editions of the project's Project News magazine. [Photo provided to xmicc.org.cn]
The project reportedly analyzes the development and management of China-ASEAN regional marine conservation areas. It promotes the country's cooperation with Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia via ecological investigations, the construction of networks and information systems and improvements to management.
More than 10 joint ecological investigations have been conducted in four ocean parks or marine conservation areas on Malaysia's Perhenttan, Indonesia's Lombok, and Thailand's Chumphon and Trat and considerable primary data has been collected. The project brings together administrations and scientific institutes at the marine conservation areas of major Southeast Asian countries and a working team has been established. In addition, a China-Southeast Asia ocean park management information system have been built.