BBP in Brief, Issue 1, October 2003

Global Initiatives to Protect the Oceans
by Kate Holmes (AMNH-CBC)

The IUCN World Parks Congress concluded in Durban, South Africa on September 17th. Representatives from over 25 countries discussed the present state of terrestrial and marine protection under the overarching theme of "Benefits Beyond Boundaries." At present, over 70% of the planet's surface is composed of marine and coastal systems but less than 1% of that is officially protected. The
meeting endorsed two main recommendations: (1) a global system of MPA networks and (2) protection of the high seas. For more information, visit http://www.iucn.org/themes/wcpa/wpc2003.

The United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development(WSSD), which took place in Johannesburg, South Africa, in August-September 2002, developed a plan of action which similarly reflected a concern for preserving the world's marine resources. The WSSD Plan of Implementation sets an ambitious marine conservation agenda. Areas of focus include the protection of vulnerable ecosystems such as wetlands and coral reefs, the reduction of marine pollution, the elimination of illegal fishing, and the conservation of marine biodiversity in general (see sections 29-32 of the Plan).