STRATEGIC OCEANS PLANNING, 2006 - 2016

In late 2006, the Global Forum began a strategic planning effort to chart strategic activities which could be undertaken together with governments, the United Nations, NGOs, industry, and scientific groups to advance the global oceans agenda over the next ten-year period, to 2016. The first step was the development of a draft calendar of major events and opportunities for policy decisions (by the United Nations and other parties) related to oceans, coasts, small island developing States, and freshwater taking place over the next decade, as well as tentative Global Forum policy analyses and multistakeholder workshops/global conferences in response to and/or in anticipation of such opportunities. The next steps in the strategic planning are to be carried out through 17 working groups, as explained below.

Strategic Planning to Advance the Oceans Agenda, 2006-2016, Working Groups. 

Draft calendar of major oceans events and opportunities for policy decisions. 


ORGANIZATION OF GLOBAL FORUM WORKING GROUPS

Working Groups have or are being organized on the following major themes, which are based on the WSSD targets on oceans, coasts, and small island developing States. Working Groups are also to consider the overarching, cross-cutting issues, as explained below.

Theme 1. Achieving Ecosystem Management and Integrated Coastal and Ocean Management by 2010

1. Coordinating Group on Theme 1: Cross-Cutting Issues
2. Large Marine Ecosystems
3. Marine Biodiversity and MPAs
4. Freshwater, Oceans, and Coasts
5. Fisheries and Aquaculture
6. Ocean Use Access Agreements in EEZs of Developing Nations
7. Tourism
8. Maritime Transportation

Theme 2. Climate, Oceans, and Security

1. Coordinating Group on Theme 2: Cross-Cutting Issues
   • Vulnerable Communities
   • Adaptation
   • Environmental Refugees
   • Public Health
   • Vulnerable Ecosystems
   • Natural Disasters
   • Sea Level Rise
   • Ocean Acidification
   • Ocean Warming
2. SIDS and the Mauritius Strategy

Theme 3. Governance of Marine Ecosystems and Uses in Areas Beyond the Limits of National Jurisdiction

1. Coordinating Group on Theme 3: Cross-Cutting Issues
• Overall Governance Issues
• Ecosystems and Uses
• Marine Biodiversity
• Fisheries
• Bioprospecting
• Deep Seabed Mining
• Tourism
• Maritime Transportation

Working Groups on Overarching, Cross-Cutting Issues

1. Poverty Reduction
2. Capacity Development
3. Marine Ecosystem Productivity/ Services
4. Indicators for Progress
5. Compliance and Enforcement
6. Public Education / Outreach / Media

The themes and overarching, cross-cutting issues are shown in the Working Group Matrix. 

The results of Working Group deliberations and a draft Global Oceans Agenda for 2006-2016 will be presented at:

--The 4th Global Conference on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands, to be held in Hanoi, Vietnam, on April 7-11, 2008

--The World Ocean Conference, Manado, Indonesia, May 11-15, 2009

--Other appropriate international venues