The Geoscience and Digital Earth Centre (INSTeG), Research Institute for Sustainability and Environment (RISE), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in collaboration with IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) had organized the WESTPAC-ORSP for Coastal Habitat Mapping Workshop. The workshop was held at the Faculty of Built Environment and Survey, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor Bahru from February 25th to 27th, 2019. The theme of the workshop was “Meeting for Developing a New Strategy of Coastal Habitat Mapping in the Western Pacific” and it was open to all steering committee members.  Leading scientists in the discipline from various universities and institutes of Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia were invited.

This international event was aimed  at providing  the opportunity for researchers to conserve coastal habitats by using  remote sensing in order to map the spatiotemporal distribution of coastal habitats, with an initial focus on sea-grass beds.  The participants  have discussed  the prospect of ORSP for coastal habitat mapping. They have also planned to establish relationships within the scientific community for more collaborative efforts  to enhance the work of coastal mapping in the near future.

The participants have presented various significant  topics related to sea-grass changes.  The review of progress and consolidated outcome from previous UNESCO/JFiT funded activities became the limelight of this workshop.

Discussion session where participants shared  ideas to  enhance the use of ORSP for coastal habitat mapping