The OSPAR Convention
The Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (the "OSPAR Convention") was opened for signature at the Ministerial Meeting of the Oslo and Paris Commissions in Paris on 22 September 1992.
The Convention has been signed and ratified by all of the Contracting Parties to the original Oslo or Paris Conventions (Belgium, Denmark, the European Community, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) and by Luxembourg and Switzerland.
The OSPAR Convention entered into force on 25 March 1998. It replaces the Oslo and Paris Conventions, but Decisions, Recommendations and all other agreements adopted under those Conventions will continue to be applicable, unaltered in their legal nature, unless they are terminated by new measures adopted under the 1992 OSPAR Convention.
The work under the convention is managed by the OSPAR Commission, made up of representatives of the Governments of 15 Contracting Parties and the European Commission, representing the European Community.
The work under the Convention is guided by the Ministerial Declarations and Statements made at the adoption of the Convention and at the Ministerial Meetings of the OSPAR Commission. The work applies the ecosystem approach to the management of human activities. It is organised under six strategies:
- Protection and Conservation of Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystems
- Eutrophication
- Hazardous Substances
- Offshore Oil and Gas Industry
- Radioactive Substances
- Monitoring and Assessment
For more information: http://www.ospar.org/eng/html/welcome.html
The International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI)
The International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) is a unique public-private partnership that brings together governments, international organizations, scientific entities, and non-governmental organizations committed to reversing the global degradation of coral reefs and related ecosystems, such as mangrove forests and seagrass meadows, by promoting the conservation and sustainable use of these resources for future generations.
Since its establishment in 1995, ICRI has been a driving force behind scientific, governmental and civil society efforts to protect coral reefs and related ecosystems. The ICRI approach is to provide a platform for information sharing, as well as mobilize governments and a wide range of other stakeholders in an effort to improve management practices, increase capacity and political support, and share information on the health of these fragile ecosystems. In particular, ICRI aims to catalyze action that will:
- Improve management practices
- Increase capacity and political support; and
- Share information on the health of these ecosystems.
The secretariat of ICRI is currently co-host by the governments of the U.S. and Mexico. Find out more by visiting www.icriforum.org the official website of ICRI
