EARTH SUMMIT+5 Special Session of the General Assembly to Review and Appraise the Implementation of Agenda 21 New York, 23-27 June 1997 PROGRAMME FACT SHEETS

	Global Programme of Action (GPA) for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities
	Responsible Organization(s)	In the name of the United Nations Environment Programme, the Water Branch serves as Secretariat for the Global Programme of Action.
	Description	The major threats to the health, productivity and biodiversity of the marine environment result from pollutant loads generated by human activities on land, including municipal, industrial and agricultural wastes and run-off, as well as atmospheric deposition. Physical alteration of the coastal environment also destroys habitats of vital important for ecosystem health. Accordingly the overriding goal of the Global Programme of Action is to prevent degradation of the marine environment from land-based activities by facilitating the realization of the duty of states to preserve and protect the marine environment, as well as assisting states to take actions within their respective policies, priorities and resources, which will lead to prevention, reduction, control and/or elimination of the degradation of the marine environment as well as its recovery from the impacts of land-based activities.
	Issues addressed	Integrated management and use of coastal, marine and associated fresh water resources, including facilitation of international and inter-agency cooperation, scientific/technical assessments, capacity building, development of institutions and legal frameworks, use of economic instruments, technology transfer and public awareness. The identification and assessment of land-based sources of pollution, as recommended by GPA in order to maintain and improve life support and productive capacities of states, must combine, amongst others, environmental, economic and social elements to identify the gravity of pollution problems in relation with: (i) food security and poverty alleviation; (ii) public health; (iii) coastal and marine resources and ecosystems health including biological diversity; and (iv) economic and social benefits and uses including cultural values.
	Objectives	Protection, conservation, restoration and sustainable management and use of coastal, marine and associated fresh water resources. Provide decision-makers with information related to land-based sources and activities affecting marine, coastal and fresh water environment and the necessary support and assistance to develop and implement strategies at the national level to deal with impacts of land-based sources of pollution.
	Results achieved	To date: Finalization of Implementation Plan for GPA, including consultations with Governments, international organizations and non-government organizations; Initiation of assessment activities of the state of the coastal and marine environment, and on land-based activities. Development and initiation of regional workshops on implementation of GPA, within the structure of UNEP's Regional Seas Programmes. To be achieved: Development of clearing-house mechanism; Completion of regional workshops; Selection of site for Coordination Office; Assistance in development and initiation of remedial programmes to address pollution of marine environment form land-based activities.
	Lessons learned	Need to involve all relevant organizations, agencies and individuals early in planning process, including NGOs and the private sector, as well as the value of consulting the general public; Important of accurate data and information on problems to be addressed; Appreciation of fundamental role of decision-makers and development of remedia programmes to address problems; Need to ensure competent scientific/technical expertise in assessing magnitude of the programme, as well as transmitting resulting information to decision-makers in a form suitable for management purposes.
	Financing	UNEP provides financial support within existing resources of Water Branch, as well as in-house expertise in fields of water resources, law, economics, land degradation, assessment, technology, chemicals, industrial production and public awareness; UN and other international agencies to provide in-kind support within their areas of expertise; Funds to be sought from International Waters Focal Area of Global Environment Facility (GEF).
	Contact	Dr. Walter Rast, Deputy Director, Water Branch United Nations Environment Programme P.O. Box 30552 Nairobi KENYA Tel: (245-2) 623244; Fax: (265-2) 622788/9 Dr. Omar Vidal, Programme Office, Water Branch United Nations Environment Programme, P.O. Box 30552 Nairobi, KENYA Tel: (254-2) 622015; Fax: (254-2) 624249