GPA Outreach Online Debate: Mon 8 – Wed 17 March 2004
Stakeholder Forum and GPA are pleased to launch an interactive online debate as part of GPA Outreach. This debate provides an opportunity for a variety of stakeholders (you!) to discuss, debate, share views, experiences on the role and contribution of the GPA towards the issues being addressed across upcoming UN meetings such as the 8th Special Session of the Governing Council (GC) / Global Ministerial Environmental Forum (GMEF).
The debate will focus on the following themes Water Management and Governance and Wastewater and Sanitation as a reflection of the issues being debated.
The debate will be located on Stakeholder Forum’s website along with relevant background documents. This will be launched in the coming days! You can subscribe by emailing Stakeholder Forum. Expert practitioners will also be lending their views, and all stakeholders are encouraged to participate in this exciting event. Please put the dates in your diary and we look forward to hearing from you!

Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants to enter into force on 17 May 2004
The 2001 Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) will become legally binding on 17 May 2004, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) announced last week. The 90-day countdown to the treaty's entry into force was triggered on 17 February 2004 when France became the 50th State to ratify the agreement. Canada was the first country to ratify the treaty, on 23 May 2001.
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To view GPAs work on POPs click here
To view GPA POPs Node click here

Indonesia to Protect Top Nesting Site for Critically Endangered Turtles
The most important nesting site in the Pacific for the critically endangered leatherback marine turtle will be protected, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) said last week. A pledge to create a crucial marine protected area in the north coast of Papua to include this site was announced by the Government of Indonesia during the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity.
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UN Agrees on Laws Against 'Alien' Marine Invaders
The United Nations has agreed tough laws against harmful microscopic organisms and other marine creatures that invade delicate ecosystems by stowing away in ships' ballast water, the agency's maritime arm said last week. "They're signing the final act now. We do have a convention," said a spokesman for the International Maritime Organization (IMO) at the close of a five-day diplomatic meeting at its headquarters in London.
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South Africa's Precious Coastline to be Protected
Five new marine protected areas are to be established along South Africa's shoreline. This will increase the total area of the country's coastline under protection to 19 percent. Speaking at parliament on Monday, Marine and Coastal Management head Horst Kleinschmidt said that once the new marine protected areas (MPAs) were proclaimed, South Africa would almost have hit the international coastal protection target of 20 percent.
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