Webinars

Thursday, May 14, at 10 am US EDT/2 pm UTC. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS WEBINAR WILL HAVE LIVE INTERPRETATION IN ENGLISH, FRENCH, AND SPANISH. Presented by: Colonel Momar Sow, Director of Senegal’s Directorate of Community-Based Marine Protected Areas, and Dr. Arthur Tuda, Executive Director of WIOMSA (Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association). Description: The International Marine Protected Areas Congress is one of the most important global events for marine conservation. Hosted every four years, this event brings together professionals, practitioners, communities, Indigenous people, and decision-makers to share experiences and inspire future actions for marine protected areas and ocean conservation. The 6th International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC6) will take place in Dakar, Senegal, from March 22–27, 2027. As the first IMPAC held in Africa—and the final congress before 2030—it comes at a critical moment to assess the ocean-related 2030 targets of the Global Biodiversity Framework and advance “MPAs for a fair and resilient global ocean.” In this webinar, Col. Momar Sow, Director of Senegal’s Directorate of Community-Based Marine Protected Areas, will introduce the key themes and practical details of IMPAC6. Dr. Arthur Tuda, Executive Director of the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA), will explore the current state of marine conservation and the challenges ahead. Join us to learn how IMPAC6 will help shape the future of ocean conservation—and how you can be part of the conversation. Live interpretation in English, French, and Spanish will be provided.

Tuesday, May 19 at 1 pm EDT/10 am US PDT/5 pm UTC. Presented by: Jasmine Fournier of Ocean Sewage Alliance and Jenny Myton of Coral Reef Alliance. Description: Nearly half of the world’s wastewater flows untreated into our rivers and oceans, fueling biodiversity loss, threatening human health, and costing the global economy over $4 trillion annually. But here’s the good news: it’s solvable. Eliminating sewage pollution isn’t just good for the ocean; it’s good for business. Clean water supports healthier ecosystems, more resilient reefs, and sustainable coastal economies. It’s a win-win-win. This webinar brings together the vision for a Global Sewage Treaty with real-world experience from Coral Reef Alliance, an organization working at the intersection of marine conservation, wastewater management, and international policy. Jasmine Fournier, Executive Director of the Ocean Sewage Alliance, will lead the discussion on the Global Sewage Treaty, outlining the vision for a United Nations framework and the growing movement behind it. Joining the conversation is Jenny Myton, Global Lead, Protected Areas and Clean Water Solutions at Coral Reef Alliance. Drawing on her experience engaging with United Nations frameworks, including the Cartagena Convention, Jenny will share how global agreements can translate into local action. She will highlight Coral’s work in West End, Roatán, Honduras, where improved wastewater management has led to measurable gains in reef health and community resilience. Explore how a United Nations treaty could establish international standards, unlock financing, and support locally led solutions to end sewage pollution.

Tuesday, June 2, 12 pm US EDT/9 am US PDT/4 pm UTC. Presented by: Wave Moretto of Oregon State University, Yudmila Chunguane of Love the Oceans, and Andrea de Moura Milanelli of The Thünen Institute. Description: Join us to hear from the winners of the 2026 Ocean Innovator Award opportunity, which recognizes and promotes innovative ocean-related research and applied solutions. Early career professionals from around the globe submitted creative presentations about their innovative projects related to coastal, ocean, and estuarine environments. The three winners were selected by a team of expert reviewers across several dimensions of the ocean and coastal career field. Winners include: 1st Place: Wave Moretto, “Fish, Kelp, and Habitat Health: Redefining how we monitor Oregon’s nearshore kelp forests”; 2nd Place: Yudmila Chunguane, “BEAM – Biodiversity Enhancement and Algal Management: Youth lead coral restoration in Jangamo Bay”; and 3rd Place: Andrea de Moura Milanelli, “PearlNet: An innovative gillnet modification to reduce bycatch of toothed whales in set net fisheries”.

Thursday, June 4, at Noon US EDT/9 am US PDT/4 pm UTC. Presented by: Nik Strong-Cvetich and Diego Sancho-Gallegos of the Save The Waves Coalition. Description: Surf ecosystems – the land-to-sea interface that creates the conditions for breaking, rideable waves for surfing, and the flora, fauna, and human communities that depend on them – generate enormous economic and cultural value for coastal communities, yet they remain largely unrecognized as natural assets in coastal policy and planning. This webinar introduces Surfonomics – a methodology that quantifies the economic value derived from surfing in coastal communities – and illustrates how reframing a surf break as a natural asset can support coastal conservation. Drawing on Save The Waves Coalition’s work around the world, presenters will trace the evolution from economic valuation of surf breaks to include climate vulnerability assessments and the design of financial tools that can sustain surf-dependent economies under a changing climate. The featured case study focuses on Oriente Salvaje World Surfing Reserve in El Salvador, where the Save The Waves Coalition and partners are developing a parametric insurance pilot to protect surf ecosystems and the coastal communities that depend on them – the first of its kind. Attendees will come away with an understanding of natural resource valuation and its role in supporting conservation and the livelihoods that rely on the sustainable use of these resources.

Tuesday, June 9, 8 am US EDT/5 am US PDT/Noon UTC/1 pm BST/2 pm CEST/5 pm MVT/5:30 pm IST. Presented by: Helen Klimmek and Heather Bingham of UNEP-WCMC; Aishath Amal and Muhusina Abdul Rahman of the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy, Maldives; Uthpala Karunadipathi of the Department of Wildlife Conservation, Sri Lanka; and Jamie Small, Holly Baigent, Beth Flavell, and Hannah Lawson of JNCC. Description: The Protected Planet Initiative plays a central role in tracking global progress towards Target 3 of the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The World Database on Protected and Conserved Areas (WDPCA) provides the official global indicator of progress towards the 30% coverage target… but how is the effectiveness of these areas tracked? This session spotlights the Global Database on Protected Area Management Effectiveness (GD-PAME), which is hosted on protectedplanet.net alongside the WDPCA. The webinar will begin with a presentation from UNEP-WCMC summarizing the origins and evolution of the database and its role in collating data from diverse assessment tools and approaches. Then speakers from the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy, Maldives; Department of Wildlife Conservation, Sri Lanka; and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), UK, will share firsthand their experiences of assessing the effectiveness of marine protected areas, including the process of reporting their findings to the global database. The webinar will conclude with a live Q&A session.