The South China Sea: Sustaining Ocean Productivities, Maritime Communities and The Climate (SCS 2008)

The South China Sea plays a significant role in the economic and environmental well-being of Malaysia, a maritime nation located in one of the world's mega diversity region. More than 50% of the world's maritime trading utilizes the waterways in the region while the coastal and marine resources support more than 50% of the GDP. The South China Sea is a common natural heritage shared by all the littoral states, providing transportation, food, oil, minerals, building materials, livelihood, medicine, energy and recreation. These resources are vital for the sustained development of the littoral states including Malaysia.

While information on the coastal ecosystems bordering the South China Sea is available, data on the open ocean and the deep sea-floor is greatly lacking. The bioproductivities of the South China Sea are as yet undetermined. Ocean processes are now linked to global climate change. How do ocean-earth-air interactions affect climate? How are the monsoons related to global climate change? The answers to these scientific questions have relevance to the human populations, especially the marine communities, as environmental changes affect their livelihoods, quality of life as well as the geopolitical interactions amongst the neighboring nations.

This Conference on the South China Sea will provide the opportunity to gather current information on the state of research in the South China Sea, for the formulation of research priorities in this region.

Important Dates