In March 2005, a conference on Environment and Livelihoods in Coastal Zones: Managing Agriculture-Fishery-Aquaculture Conflicts was held in Bac Lieu, Vietnam. The conference supported the Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture that is being prepared by the Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). Participants from 19 countries recognized that this type of conference provided a very useful forum for exchanging knowledge on delta management and creating a bridge between researchers and decision makers. Therefore, a biennial conference series that focuses on natural resource management issues specific to coastal deltas in tropical regions was proposed. Delta 2007 will examine the state of tropical coastal deltas with a particular focus on agriculture-fishery-aquaculture-environment conflicts and coastal hazards experienced in developing countries. The conference is forward-looking and will identify both research priorities and planning, management and governance strategies that promote environmental sustainability and improve the socio-economic conditions of marginalized rural communities. Delta 2007 will be of interest to a wide range of individuals such as land and water resource researchers, coastal resource managers, and decision-makers involved in coastal planning initiatives. Selected papers presented at the conference will be published as refereed proceedings. |
