Dr Rolph Payet is to represent President James Michel at the 4th Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts and Islands

Global Conference on Oceans, coasts and islands - 01.04.2008 (Seychelles Nation) 
Dr Payet to represent President Michel in Hanoi

The special adviser to the President is expected to deliver a special keynote address from President Michel at the conference, which will go on until April 12.

It will focus on three major themes related to achieving ecosystem management and integrated coastal and ocean management at national and regional levels, and in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

The adviser, who also chairs the Working Group on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Implementation of the Mauritius Strategy, will be involved in coordinating the “SIDS Ocean Strategy Workshop.”
He will also chair the high-level panel on “Oceans, Climate and Small Island Developing States.”

The Hanoi conference will mobilize high-level policy attention, advance discussions on key ocean and island issues to provide a review of progress achieved or not realised in advancing ecosystem management and integrated coastal and ocean management by 2010 at national and regional levels.

It will also address the goal of reducing marine biodiversity loss by 2010 and of establishing networks of marine protected areas by 2012.

These targets were adopted by the world's political leaders at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development and are considered in the context of climate change, which, as indicated in the 2007 report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), will have profound effects on ecosystems and coastal populations around the world.