Conference on the Galapagos Islands 27-31 August
UNESCO's third World Heritage Conference for Marine Areas was held in the Galapagos Islands in August. Central themes this year were climate change, sustainable fisheries and cooperation.
Managers and area coordinators from 49 marine areas that are on UNESCO's World Heritage List gathered to discuss solutions regarding the most pressing challenges these vulnerable areas face above. Erling Oppheim participated as a representative of West Norwegian fjord landscape. The main focus was protection/conservation of the area, necessary adaptations to climate change and market-based approaches in order to strengthen a goal of sustainable fisheries. Together with leading experts and representatives for nature conservation, they aimed to find sustainable solutions that could be the way forward to take care of the world's most iconic marine areas.