Integrated coastal management: Lessons learned to address new challenges.

The aim of the Congress: Since the need for coastal management was accepted four decades ago, significant efforts have been devoted globally with accelerations after the Rio Conference. Over this lengthy period, significant experiences have accumulated. Tools and instruments, simple and sophisticated, practical and scientific, have been designed and refined for effective implementation of Integrated Coastal Management. This Global Congress aims to review the global ICM approaches and experiences and to address emerging issues and new challenges from various perspectives with the purpose of developing a wisdom that would lead us effectively and efficiently into the future in our pursue for sustainability over precious coastal areas of the world.