SUPPORTING NUCLEAR AND ISOTOPIC TECHNIQUES TO ASSESS CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT FOR SUSTAINABLE MARINE ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT (RAS/7/024)

The Asia-Pacific is a unique region rich in biodiversity accounting for 2/3 of the world's biological resources and more coastline than any other region of the world. The protection and sustainable management of the region's marine resources is a compelling issue. The region supports 50% of the world's population, with rapid population growth especially in the coastal zone and rapidly increasing industrial expansion. Growth in trade and fisheries resources, expansion of aquaculture production, intensified land-based activities, including deforestation, mining and agriculture all impact the health and sustainability of coastal resource. Climate change, biodiversity losses and marine resources degradation have impacted on the coastal environment in the regional context, not to mention the global impact of these issues.