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The 6th Asia-Pacific NGOs' Environmental Conference

Kaohsiung Declaration

We, more than 300 specialists in the field of environmental science, environmental law, environmental management and the representatives of various NGOs congregating from 14 countries in the Asia-Pacific region, have participated in the sixth Asia-Pacific NGOs' Environmental Conference (APNEC-6) held from November 1-4, 2002 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

Through these two days of discussion, we noted the following:

1. The evidence throughout the region indicates a rapid diminution in biodiversity. NGOs and local communities in this region are playing an active role in identifying and responding to this threat.

2. Wetlands, including inter-tidal areas, are one of the most important and productive ecosystems in the region, but they are under severe threat from reclamation and unregulated development. Urgent measures are needed to preserve natural wetlands and restore damaged wetlands.

3. The rehabilitation of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems is being managed in a fragmented manner. There is urgency for an holistic approach to improve the effectiveness of rehabilitation and avoid further damage to the natural environment.

4. In many countries of the region, despite significant progress made during the past decade on the development of legislation, technology and institutions for environmental management, conventional industrial pollution problems persist. One reason for this is lack of enforcement of existing laws and regulations as well as lack of resources and resolve.

5. There is increasing concern about hazards created by recycling and reusing wastes, particularly the internationally and regionally traded wastes.

6. Energy consumption in the region is dramatically increasing and this is contributing to the growth in greenhouse gas emissions and acid precipitations. The problem is aggravated due to a lack of commitment to developing and utilizing green energy.

7. Military bases and armed conflicts have contributed to environmental destruction.

8. The problems noted in items 5, 6 and 7 above, are increasingly transborder in character and should be dealt with accordingly.

9. NGOs continue to play a leading and crucial role in environmental education and public awareness, and in promoting and mobilizing public participation in conservation efforts. New initiatives are being launched in a number of countries, including community-based colleges in Taiwan, that will enhance environmental awareness.

And, we have agreed that:

1. Biodiversity conservation and sustainable development should be firmly integrated into national land use planning, consistent with the provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity. NGOs should continue their involvement in the implementation of the national biodiversity conservation strategies and relevant land use plans.

2. Strategic environmental assessment should be promoted, while the existing systems of environmental project-based EIA need to be further strengthened and made more effective, for example, by requiring post-development monitoring and follow-up as well as increased opportunities for public participation.

3. Countries in the region should develop adequate national wetlands conservation laws and policies, designate clear authority and take actions to preserve and make wise use of wetlands.

4. Integrated ocean and coastal management should be accorded priority on the national agenda to strengthen the performance of marine affairs, for example, by reviewing the existing institutional arrangements and/or establishing a lead agency (such as ministry) on the management of ocean and coastal environment.

5. All coastal reclamation projects should be subject to thorough environmental impact assessment.

6. All marine protected areas, natural coastlines, tidal flats and estuaries should be preserved and restored using measures that take into account ecological constraints.

7. The control of water pollution, stabilization of land and soil, as well as the provision of habitats for wildlife, deserve the priority, and should be essential elements on every country's environmental agenda in relation to the rehabilitation of the natural environment. The application of new information, information technology and the concept of "Total Maximum Daily Loading (TMDL)" can provide a means for better river and watershed management.

8. Support should be provided for the development of water management policies, encompassing regulatory and market-based instruments (such as, water pricing policies) that ensure communities have equitable access to safe-drinking water and promote more economical water usage by municipalities and irrigators. Such policies should also be aimed at maintaining the integrity of aquatic as well as terrestrial ecosystems.

9. All private and public industries must adopt best occupational and environmental health and safety management practices in order to avoid environmental disasters and health hazards to humans.

10. Both domestic and international control over movements and disposal of hazardous waste should be strengthened. This should be based on the identification and establishment of an inventory of hazardous wastes and a 'cradle-to-grave' tracking strategy. NGOs and local communities will contribute to this effort by providing information, the 'right to know' as well as by monitoring. The establishment of NGO networks will facilitate this task.

11. Governments which have not done so yet should establish procedures, both legal and administrative, to facilitate and expedite dispute settlement, and provide support for litigation, insurance and compensation for victims suffering from occupational and environmental hazards. NGOs are encouraged to provide support for assisting the victims, especially in the settlement of cross-national disputes by means of networking amongst NGOs in the Asia-Pacific region.

12. NGOs should become more proactively involved in ensuring authorities implement and enforce environmental laws.

13. NGOs should lead efforts to promote environmental education at the community level and through formal education system in each country. Networking amongst environmental educational centers is strongly encouraged to achieve this goal.

14. Greater cooperation between the private and public sectors should be encouraged to address existing and emerging environmental challenges, and NGOs should play an active role in facilitating this partnership to build a sustainable society.

Adopted on November 3, 2002, in Kaohsiung, Taiwan by the participants of the 6th Asia-Pacific NGOs' Environmental Conference (APNEC-6).

We, the participants in the Conference, wish to express our gratitude to the organizers of APNEC-6 (Foundation of Ocean Taiwan, Taiwan Research Fund, Wetlands Taiwan, National Sun Yat-sen University, Asia-Pacific Environmental Council, Japan Environmental Council, Ramsar Center Japan, International Research Foundation for Development - East Asia Network) for their hospitality.

We welcome the offer of Nepal to host the 7th Asia-Pacific NGOs' Environmental Conference.