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To celebrate the 1972 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, a conference was held on the evolution of the Ecosystem Approach during the past half-century to learn how to enhance successful implementation of ecosystem-based approaches for resource management, conservation, and societal problems worldwide. Among several conference workshops, one focused on the origins and history of ecosystem approaches, which was attended by 14 researchers with global expertise in conservation biology, ecology, economics, ecosystem modeling, limnology, resource and ecosystem management, policymaking, political science, and social science. This paper presents insights gleaned from this workshop on key needs for and challenges to effective implementation of these approaches. We identified six categories of needs and challenges, spanning from the initial phases of Ecosystem Approach development (e.g. setting clear goals; fostering stakeholder buy-in) to the final ones (e.g. adapting to change; maintaining program support). Setting clear goals aligned with a shared vision was identified as most critical to successful implementation and offered the fewest barriers. By contrast, 1) accounting for poorly understood governance structures and navigating administrative constraints, 2) sustaining support, and 3) gaining stakeholder buy-in were viewed as the biggest three challenges. Overcoming these challenges was viewed as critical to success, thus helping us understand why effective implementation of ecosystem approaches has remained difficult globally. Sound science (and overcoming associated hurdles; e.g. breaking down disciplinary silos) and effective communication were also mentioned by some. Using these findings, we assess the state of ecosystem approaches in the Laurentian Great Lakes Basin, concluding with recommendations on how to promote their successful implementation inside and outside of the Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historically, international environmental agreements on shared transboundary waters have dealt with exploitation of natural resources like oil, minerals, forests, fisheries, shipping and trade. Presently the focus is on environmental issues relevant to conservation, restoration, protection, sustainability over-fishing, pollution, invasive species and climate change. Global assessment indicates a lack of international agreements between multiple users. A brief review of major conventions and agreements is offered with emphasis on the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement on the North American Great Lakes and the European Water Framework Directive, since they appear to be ecologically sound and predominantly ecosystem-based. This article exemplifies the history behind these agreements with examples of environmental threats and consequences (eutrophication, pollution, invasive species and loss of biodiversity). It is concluded that such ecosystem-based agreements are essential for all large aquatic ecosystems shared by multiple users or countries for holistic and integrated management of aquatic resources. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The Arabian Gulf (also known as Persian Gulf and ROPME Sea) represents an extremely important economic, political and strategic aquatic resource. Although the Gulf region is known world wide for its oil-gas deposits and production, very little is known about its ecosystem health, food web dynamics, fisheries, biodiversity and sustainability. The present study reviews and highlights the major anthropogenic stressors which threaten the marine and coastal ecosystems of the Gulf. The Arabian Gulf environment lacks the holistic, ecosystem-based research and monitoring that have been conducted in other marine ecosystems. There is a need for multi-disciplinary, multi-trophic and multi-agency international investigations including the application of emerging technology. Such an integrated strategy is urgently needed to save the rapidly changing marine ecosystems from the impact of rapid and vigorous coastal development across the entire Gulf region. The necessity of developing and implementing ecosystem health agreements between the various riparian countries is emphasized for expeditious protection, conservation and management of this precious but threatened natural heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Editorial. Focuses on the compilation of manuscripts dealing with the subject of resilience and integrity of aquatic ecosystems. Workshops on aquatic ecosystems; Presentations on diverse aspects of resilience; Articles by various researchers on the resilience of aquatic ecosystems.