SUSTAINING SEASCAPES: THE SCIENCE AND POLICY OF MARINE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
IS CO-SPONSORED BY:

American Museum of Natural History's   
Center for Biodiversity and Conservation
In 1993, the American Museum of Natural History created the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation (CBC) to enhance the use of scientific data to mitigate threats to biodiversity. The CBC develops strategic partnerships to expand scientific knowledge about diverse species in critical ecosystems and to apply this knowledge to conservation; to build professional and institutional capacities for biodiversity conservation; and to heighten public understanding and stewardship for biodiversity. Working both locally and around the world, we develop model programs that integrate research, education, and outreach so that people - a key factor in the rapid loss of biodiversity - will become participants in its conservation.

The CBC has developed projects in the Bahamas, Bolivia, Madagascar, the Metropolitan New York region, and Vietnam. The CBC's Marine Program in the Bahamas is analyzing the physical, biological, economic, and cultural processes affecting reef ecosystems across entire seascapes in order to integrate these aspects into recommendations for conservation strategies. Using the Bahamas' new and existing marine reserves as a model system, the CBC is developing an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the function of marine reserve networks. Learn more about the CBC's Biocomplexity Project at:
http://research.amnh.org/biodiversity/programs/marine/bahamas

National Park Service
The National Park Service, a bureau within the U.S. Department of Interior, is charged with the responsibility to preserve, unimpaired, the natural and cultural resources and values of our nation’s National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The National Park Service administers over 375 designated units of the National Park System, oversees a National Trails System and cooperates and assists partners in the management of National Heritage Areas, Wild and Scenic River Systems and other natural and cultural heritage sites. The National Park System includes 39 units with significant marine resources including coral reef, temperate kelp forest, glacial fjord, rocky inter-tidal, estuarine, and arctic marine ecosystems. The Service manages over 7,000 miles of marine coastline in an additional 58 coastal park units.
For more information about the National Park Service and its programs, visit www.nps.gov

NOAA's Marine Protected Areas Center
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
U.S. Department of Commerce
oppp The mission of the NOAA's Marine Protected Area Center (MPA Center) is to work with government and non-governmental partners to provide science, tools and strategies for effective use of marine protected areas as tools in management of marine and coastal resources. The recently established MPA Center is designed to be a partnership among federal and non-federal organizations. The MPA Center's goals include:

• Develop a sound scientific foundation for MPA design and management;
• Increase the effectiveness of MPAs as marine resource management tools;
• Develop a framework for a national system of MPAs;
• Provide access to a broad range of information on U.S. MPAs;
• Provide an open, equitable and meaningful process to engage user groups and the
  American public on the current and potential use of MPAs as management tools.

For more information on the MPA Center please see http://mpa.gov/

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 94-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses more than 535 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 70 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.

Environmental Defense
Environmental Defense, a leading national nonprofit organization based in New York, represents more than 300,000 members. Since 1967 we have linked science, economics, and law to create innovative, equitable, and cost-effective solutions to the most urgent environmental problems.
http://www.environmentaldefense.org

Wildlife Conservation Society
The Wildlife Conservation Society was founded in 1895 as the New York Zoological Society. WCS is dedicated to assuring a future for wildlife and wildlands, and currently helps steward 50 living landscapes and seascapes in Africa, Asia, Latin America and North America, home to species like elephants, tigers, sharks, macaws, and cougars. WCS operates a global international field conservation program of scientific research, training, and education activities in more than 50 countries around the world. The mission of the WCS Marine Program is to generate and apply scientific solutions that lead to the conservation and recovery of key marine wildlife populations and ecosystems. Focusing our efforts on coral reefs, ocean giants, conservation at the sea's edge, and marine mammals, the WCS Marine Program works closely and collaboratively with local communities, government agencies, regional institutions, and local non-governmental agencies, to ensure that our research results are applied to the world’s most pressing marine conservation problems.
http://wcs.org/

World Wildlife Fund
World Wildlife Fund is the world's largest and most experienced conservation organization. We have 4.7 million supporters and a global network active in 96 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by: conserving the world's biological diversity; ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable; and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.
Please link to www.worldwildlife.org/oceans
http://wwf.org/

U.S. Agency for International Development
WWF’s sponsorship was made possible through support provided by the Office of Environment, Bureau for Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade, U.S. Agency for International Development, under the terms of Cooperative Agreement No. LAG-A-00-99-00048-00. The opinions expressed herein are those of the organizer(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Agency for International Development.

© 2002, American Museum of Natural History