International Waters learning Exchange & Resource Network

Large Marine Ecosystem Results Supporting Ocean Sustainability

21 April 2021
An Online Launch Event for the LME Definitive Volume

What is this event about?

The aim of this event was to raise awareness and dissemination information on the Large Marine Ecosystem Definitive Volume, known as the “eBook”. In support of mitigating stressors on Large Marine Ecosystems, the Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE), with support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) via IW:LEARN, will be releasing a 649 page eBook and Portfolio of scientific applications for sustainable development of the world’s LMEs in April 2021. The LME eBook and Portfolio provide examples of science-based best practices for advancing towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal and Targets (SDG-14) for the oceans endorsed by the UN General Assembly in 2015 as well as the objectives expressed by the General Assembly in 2019, proclaiming 2021-2030 as the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.

Agenda

Setting the Scene:

  • How the UN Ocean Decade advanced ecosystem-based science and management - Vladimir Ryabinin, Executive Secretary, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO
  • SCOPE perspective on the LME approach - Jon Samseth, President, Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE)
  • LME global assessment and management movement - Kenneth Sherman, Coastal Resource Center, Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island
  • United Nations Development Program and LME approach - Andrew Hudson, Head of Water and Ocean Governance, UNDP

LME Science in Action - Expert Panel 

  • The Yellow Sea LME application of ecosystem based assessment and management - Yinfeng Guo, Former Project Manager, GEF-UNDP-UNOPS Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem project
  • Benguela Current LME Convention - Viviane Kinyaga, Project Manager, Benguela Current Commission, Benguela Current LME Project
  • LME global fisheries production and potential - Michael Fogarty, U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – Northeast Fisheries Center
  • GEF support of LME assessment and management- Christian Severin, Lead, International Waters Focal Area, Global Environment Facility
  • Crosscutting scales of the LME approach from local to international - J.P Walsh, Director, Coastal Resources Center, Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island

Audience Question and Answer Session

Registration

To join this event, please register using the following link: LME Definitive Launch Zoom Registration

Background Materials

How do I receive a copy of the LME Definitive Volume after the launch?

Fill out this form to register and be able to download a copy of the LME Definitive Volume - "Ocean Sustainability: Assessing and Managing the World’s Large Marine Ecosystems."

About GEF IW:LEARN

Back in 1998, the GEF and its agencies recognised that many of the challenges facing the world’s transboundary marine and freshwater systems, such as overfishing, conflicting water uses, pollution and habitat loss, were common across many of the shared waters systems the GEF was targeting for support in the International Waters focal area, as were the kinds of strategic approaches needed to address such issues. This led the GEF and its agencies to establish the GEF’s first focal area-wide portfolio learning initiative, the International Waters Learning Exchange and Resources Network (IW:LEARN).

From 2000, IW:LEARN has piloted and refined a series of portfolio learning tools including technical support services, biennial GEF International Waters Conferences, project learning exchanges, targeted training and facilitating regional dialogues. By promoting knowledge and experience sharing across the entire GEF International Waters portfolio over the last 21 years, IW:LEARN has made an important contribution to overall global efforts to improve the management of transboundary systems, including GEF supported Large Marine Ecosystem projects. 

The GEF IW:LEARN project is funded by the Global Environment Facility, implemented jointly by the United Nations Development Programme and United Nations Environment Programme and executed by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO.