The document titled “Guidelines for the Preparation of National Report on the State of the Marine Environment” (ROPME, 2007) provides a structured framework for Member States to prepare national reports that contribute to the regional State of the Marine Environment Report (SOMER). Developed in collaboration with UNEP and aligned with the GEO (Global Environment Outlook) methodology, the guidelines aim to standardize data collection, analysis, and reporting across the ROPME Sea Area (RSA). The primary purpose of the guidelines is to enable a scientifically credible and policy-relevant assessment of the marine environment. Key objectives include assessing and documenting the current state and trends of the marine and coastal environment, identifying major environmental challenges and emerging issues, supporting decision-makers with policy options and strategic recommendations, and promoting sustainable development through informed environmental management. SOMER is designed as a comprehensive reference for stakeholders ranging from policymakers to researchers, with outputs including a detailed report and an executive summary in printed and digital formats, dissemination via CD and the ROPME website, and supplementary materials such as case studies, success stories, and awareness publications.
The guidelines adopt the DPSIR framework (Drivers, Pressures, State, Impacts, Responses), which is central to integrated environmental assessment. Drivers refer to underlying socio-economic forces influencing environmental change, pressures are direct human activities causing environmental stress such as pollution, state describes the current condition and trends of the environment, impacts are the effects on ecosystems and human well-being, and responses are policy actions and management interventions. This framework facilitates understanding of cause-effect relationships and supports comprehensive analysis of environmental trends and policy effectiveness. Member States are required to use integrated environmental assessment methods, establish national working groups and coordinate data collection, follow standardized formats for data reporting, incorporate DPSIR analysis including interlinkages, future scenarios, and policy options, and include case studies and success stories where possible. The preparation process involves identifying relevant institutions and experts, training contributors on guidelines and methodologies, collecting and compiling data, drafting, reviewing, and finalizing national reports, and submitting reports to ROPME for integration into SOMER. At the regional level, SOMER is developed through expert analysis, consultative meetings, and consensus-based review to ensure accuracy and credibility.
The guidelines provide extensive templates covering physical and environmental data such as geomorphology, bathymetry, meteorology, and oceanography; socio-economic data such as population, urbanization, and industrial activities; pollution sources including industrial, domestic, agricultural, offshore, and transport-related; biodiversity and ecosystems such as habitats like mangroves and coral reefs, species distribution, and invasive species; environmental quality indicators such as contaminants in water, sediment, and biota; and major events including oil spills, conflicts, marine mortality, and accidents. All data must be quality-assured and supported by references. The document emphasizes identifying emerging issues that may significantly impact the environment in the future, including new or escalating environmental threats, issues arising from technological, economic, or policy changes, and problems lacking sufficient policy response or awareness. A structured questionnaire is provided to assess these issues in terms of scale, urgency, uncertainty, and potential impacts.
Countries are required to report on national environmental legislation and strategies, participation in regional and international agreements, institutional capacity for environmental management, and effectiveness of policies and action plans. The GEO methodology guides the analysis through five key questions: what is happening to the environment and why, what are the consequences, what actions are being taken, what are future projections, and what policy options are available. This approach ensures a holistic understanding of environmental dynamics and supports sustainable decision-making.
