Chonburi, Thailand, 22–24 June 2026

Background

Marine and coastal ecosystems, including coral reefs, seagrass meadows, mangroves, and coastal wetlands, harbor exceptionally high levels of species richness and endemism, providing significant resources and services for both wildlife and people. However, marine biodiversity and ecosystem health are increasingly threatened by intensifying human pressures and climate change. To design and implement effective conservation and management measures and to ensure their long-term effectiveness, our ability to monitor marine biodiversity and measure its change over a range of spatial and temporal scales is essential. Yet conventional approaches to marine biodiversity monitoring are labor-intensive, and difficult to scale across the extensive and often remote coastline of many countries.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) has emerged as an innovative approach for detecting species from genetic material shed into the environment, providing a cost-effective and scalable complement to conventional monitoring methods. Despite some limitations of eDNA methods, such as gaps in regional barcode libraries, eDNA-based biodiversity monitoring is developing rapidly and progressively being applied to support evidence-based marine ecosystem management and conservation decision-making.

In response to the increasing needs of Member States in the region, the IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) convened its first ever eDNA workshop in the region, 27-29 November 2023, which stimulated strong interest and initiated pilot applications in several countries in the region.

Building on its positive outcomes, and with the generous support of the Thai National Commission for UNESCO and Ministry of Education (Thailand), the IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC), in partnership with the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (Thailand), Mahidol University (Thailand), Kasetsart University (Thailand), Yunnan University (China), and Nanjing University (China) will organize the second eDNA training workshop in Chonburi Province, Thailand, from 22 to 24 June 2026, to further enhance technical capacity and the application of environmental DNA (eDNA) for marine biodiversity monitoring and assessment.

Objectives

The workshop aims to:

  1. Develop a common understanding among Member States of the current status, opportunities, and challenges of eDNA monitoring, analysis, and applications.
  2. Enhance the research and technical capacity to apply eDNA methods for marine biodiversity monitoring, analysis, and assessment.
  3. Facilitate knowledge transfer and the exchange of practical experience on eDNA methods.
  4. Strengthen partnerships and networks and explore opportunities for co-developing collaborative initiatives using eDNA monitoring to support marine ecosystem management in the region.

Contents of the training workshop

This technical training workshop will consist of keynotes, theoretical lectures, professional field-based sampling exercises, practical laboratory demonstrations, and plenary discussions, covering:

  1. Background concepts, developments, and applications of environmental DNA (eDNA) methods, including associated technical and operational challenges.
  2. eDNA sampling design, field collection, sample processing, DNA extraction, and PCR-based workflows.
  3. Considerations for eDNA laboratory setup, contamination control, and quality assurance.
  4. DNA barcode reference databases for marine organisms, including national and international initiatives and approaches to reference library development.
  5. Interpretation, reporting, and application of eDNA results for marine biodiversity monitoring and analysis

Expected outputs

  1. Improved understanding of eDNA monitoring principles and workflows, including sampling design, sample processing, laboratory setup, DNA extraction, PCR amplification, sequencing, bioinformatics analysis, data archiving, and interpretation to support marine ecosystem management.
  2. Enhanced technical capacity and institutional partnerships among participating institutions with concrete joint initiative(s) co-developed to advance eDNA monitoring in the region.

Venue

The training workshop will take place in Sri Racha, Chonburi Province, Thailand.

The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) will provide the necessary meeting and lab facilities for the training workshop, including a lecture room, labs equipped for the primary preparation and preservation of samples prior to further processing.

Tentative programme

The three-day workshop will include, but will not be limited to, the following sessions, with the detailed programme to be finalized in due course.

Session 1:Setting the context and workshop objectives

Session 2:Introduction to eDNA and its applications in marine biodiversity monitoring and analysis, including opportunities and limitations

Session 3:eDNA sampling design, field collection, and sample processing

Session 4:eDNA laboratory workflow and contamination control: from sample to amplified DNA ready for sequencing

Session 5:eDNA data analysis and interpretation: from sequences to species

Session 6:eDNA reference databases for marine organisms

Session 7:National status, experience, and capacity needs

Session 8:Hands-on demonstration, including field sampling, filtration and preservation, contamination control, laboratory preparation, DNA extraction and amplification

Session 9:Brainstorming session: the way forward

Session 10:Wrap-up and closing

Qualifications of participants

The training workshop is intended for government agencies and researcher institutions in WESTPAC Member States that are responsible for marine biodiversity monitoring and conservation, including those for MPA management.

Participants should:

  • Have a background in marine science, biology, ecology, molecular biology, MPAs management, or a related discipline.
  • Possess basic knowledge of marine ecosystems and biodiversity concepts.
  • Be currently engaged in marine biodiversity monitoring or biological laboratory work.
  • Be nominated by relevant government agencies, research institutes, universities, or conservation organizations.
  • Demonstrate a strong willingness to collaborate and the capacity to apply and disseminate the knowledge and skills acquired;
  • Have a good command of English.

Application

Interested applicants are required to complete the Online Registration/Application Form as early as possible, preferably by 5 April 2026.

For applicants requesting travel support, each applicant is also required to submit (i) a CV and (ii) a nomination letter from his/her institution. These documents should be sent by email to iocwestpac@unesco.org with the subject line: “CV and Nomination Letter – Training Workshop on Marine eDNA Applications”, by 5 April 2026.

As funding for international travel is limited, priority will be given to selected participants from developing countries. Selection will be based primarily on the following criteria:

  • Relevance of the applicant’s professional background and current work to marine biodiversity monitoring and conservation;
  • Research experience or technical engagement related to marine science, ecology, molecular biology, or environmental monitoring;
  • Potential to apply the acquired knowledge and skills in national or institutional programmes;
  • Institutional support, as indicated by the nomination letter;
  • Previous engagement with WESTPAC or other related international programmes, where applicable.

Updated information about the training workshop will be made available in due course on the WESTPAC website.

Contact points

Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Thailand

Ms Vararin Vongpanich

Email: khunvara@yahoo,com

Praderm Unthayanmanee

Email: auppree@hotmail.com

IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) &

UN Ocean Decade Coordination Office for the Western Pacific

Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO

Ms Nachapa Saransuth

Email: iocwestpac@unesco.org

Important Links

1. Concept note (pdf)