The Fourth Global Conference on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands will review progress achieved (or lack thereof) in advancing ecosystem management and integrated coastal and ocean management by 2010 at national and regional levels, and in areas beyond national jurisdiction, and on the goals of reducing marine biodiversity loss by 2010 and of establishing networks of marine protected areas by 2012. These goals were adopted at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development and will be considered in the context of climate change, which, as indicated in the 2007 report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, will have profound effects on ecosystems and coastal populations around the world.  

dates: 7-11 April 2008  
location: Hanoi, Viet Nam  
contact: Miriam Balgos, University of Delaware  
phone: 1-302-831-8086  
fax: 1-302-831-3668  
e-mail: mbalgos@udel.edu  
www: http://www.globaloceans.org/globalconferences/2008/index.html