© Mario Santana
Galapagos Islands

Following successful precedents in Hawaii (2010) and Scandola (2013), the third World Heritage marine site managers conference will be held in the Galápagos Islands (Ecuador) from 27-31 August 2016. The conference will convene the 47 marine World Heritage site managers from 36 countries. The overall goal is to share management successes and best practices and position these flagship MPAs as models for others around the world.
Adaptation to climate change impacts effects and market-based solutions to strengthen sustainable fisheries will be core focuses of the 2016 conference. Managers will share their experience working on these challenges and exchange solutions that work and could be replicated elsewhere, thereby helping to chart the future course of marine World Heritage. The Galápagos Islands were the first site to be inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List and recently designated nearly a third of its waters off-limits for fisheries.