Join us for Source-to-Sea synergies at the Ocean Decade Conference

The ocean faces significant risks from upstream and land-based actions; addressing the interlinked impacts is hindered by fragmented governance and isolated actions. Source-to-sea management bridges gaps in governance of various environments by fostering collaboration among stakeholders from land to the ocean. By working together, we can effectively manage ecosystems’ health and enhance societal resilience.

SIWI is excited to join the Ocean Decade Conference, where our team will work closely with both ocean and freshwater communities to close the gap, cultivate knowledge, and move from science to action for a healthy ocean. By focusing on our scientific understanding of source-to-sea linkages, we put the spotlight on barriers hindering knowledge development, cross-sectoral policymaking, and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“A healthy ocean depends on healthy rivers – the ocean is suffering from the impact of land-based activities,” says Gustav Thungren, Programme Manager, Water Cooperation & Diplomacy, SIWI. “Nutrients, plastic, and chemical pollution from terrestrial areas lead to degraded ecosystems, affecting the blue economy. Greenhouse gases lead to acidification and undermine the ability for the ocean to mitigate climate change through carbon sequestration. To receive all the benefits of a healthy ocean we need to generate interlinked knowledge and build bridges across scientific and practitioner communities to tackle the challenges holistically.”