When and how did coastal management get its start? What has been accomplished since then? What challenges do coastal managers continue to face? These are just a few of the questions the Coastal Zone 03 (CZ03) conference will explore as it takes participants on a journey through the past, present, and future of coastal zone management. From July 13 to 17, 2003, more than 1,000 speakers, exhibitors, and attendees from around the world will come together at the Baltimore Convention Center in Maryland for the 13th gathering of this biennial international symposium.
Charting the Past, Present, and Future
In keeping with this year's conference theme, "Coastal Zone Management through Time," sessions are organized to chronicle the evolution of coastal management, as well as forecast what may be to come. Daily discussions will focus on the past, present, or future of coastal management in the conference's four major theme areas: port and harbor management, regional land management, management responses to coastal hazards, and management of aquatic resources.
Past: The first day of the conference opens with a keynote address about the development of coastal zone management. The rest of the day consists of a number of plenary panels covering such topics as historical port and harbor management and women's role in the mid-Atlantic maritime community.
Present: The next two days of the conference feature over 70 concurrent sessions that focus on contemporary issues and events in coastal management. The content of these sessions offers a range of topics, from brownfield redevelopment and marine protected areas to on-line technology and public outreach.
Future: The final day of the conference highlights the challenges coastal managers will face in the near future and how to best approach them. A member of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy will begin the day by discussing the commission's preliminary findings for a comprehensive national ocean policy. Next, a number of roundtable discussions focused on the conference's four theme areas will allow participants to discuss the future of coastal management.
Showcasing the Coast
The conference will also feature hundreds of exhibits, including a special section to showcase projects that exemplify excellence in coastal management in the Chesapeake Bay region. Participants are invited to a number of social events at such locations as the Inner Harbor, Camden Yards, and the National Aquarium. A fun run and a wide array of field trips, including such activities as boating, kayaking, and biking, will provide opportunities to get moving and explore the area.
For more information, visit www.csc.noaa.gov/cz2003/, or contact Lynn Sellers at (843) 740-1284 or Lynn.Sellers@noaa.gov. You may also contact Gale Peek at (843) 740-1231 or Gale.Peek@noaa.gov.
