World Conference on Marine Biodiversity an Enormous Success

At the November 11-15, 2008, World Conference on Marine Biodiversity in Valencia, Spain, a large number of Census of Marine Life projects and scientists presented their latest research results in a five-day meeting that clearly demonstrated the enormous progress in the field over the last few years. The Census was one of more than two dozen supporting organizations for the Conference which was organized by the European Union Network of Excellence, MarBEF. Nearly 600 scientists from 42 countries were present at the Conference organized at a most impressive venue, the City of Arts and Sciences. Besides giving 200 oral presentations and nearly as many posters, the participants discussed and agreed upon a Valencia Declaration for the Protection of Marine Biodiversity. The Scientific Steering Committee of the Census of Marine Life is pleased to support this declaration.

Photo of the City of Arts and Sciences (Valencia, Spain) courtesy of World Ocean Biodiversity Conference Co-Chair Carlos M. Duarte, IMEDEA (CSIC- University of the Balearic Islands), Mallorca, Spain