This issue of Tropical Coasts focuses on "biodiversity", a term that was introduced in the 1980s and has since become popularly used in documents relating to environment and development. In short, it refers to the variety of natural habitats, the variety of plants and animals, and the variety of genetic material among living organisms. Development has caused the loss of habitats while pollution has degraded what remains of it. To address the problem of biodiversity reduction, international agreements such as the 1992 Rio Declaration and the Convention on Biological Diversity have been introduced. These global protocols demonstrate the growing concern on habitat loss and degradation and call for action to protect biological diversity. In many instances, such loss could have been minimized or prevented if accompanied by careful planning and proper management.

This issue of Tropical Coasts highlights economic opportunities that galvanize stakeholders in the prevention and management of marine pollution, especially the conference theme on public sector-private sector partnerships. Such partnerships take advantage of the private sector's dynamism, technical expertise, financial resources and entrepreneurial spirit. This issue also explores case studies such as the cleaning of rivers in Singapore, tourism development in Thailand and the management of subregional seas such as the Malacca Straits. It also covers case studies in the Philippines on the Built-Operate-Transfer (BOT) scheme and participation of NGOs, market-based instruments such as reducing tariff and fee system, as well as infrastructure and capacity that enhance marine pollution prevention and management like the marine electronic highway and the manpower resource from the seafaring industry.

This issue of Tropical Coasts focuses on ICM and related initiatives in Africa, especially in Eastern Africa. Renewable and nonrenewable resources in the coastal zone of the African States have been heavily exploited, resulting in myriad economic, social, and environmental problems. While biological conservation activities have been undertaken for many years (both coastal and terrestrial), an integrated approach to managing the resources is relatively new.

This issue of Tropical Coasts contains articles dealing with market opportunities in waste management and pollution prevention, which the government and private sector can consider. International conventions, for example, contain venues for investment that governments can take advantage of upon ratification and implementation. Such opportunities include waste reception and processing facilities; recycling and waste recovery; technical, scientific and legal support; and training and certification.

This issue of the Tropical Coasts discusses the Malacca and Singapore Straits, collectively known as the Malacca Straits. Under the UNCLOS, the straits are designated as international sea lanes. Being the shortest and most economical trade route between the high seas of the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea, it has become the busiest in maritime traffic. Since the end of the Second World War, numerous scientific studies have been conducted on the straits by the bordering littoral and user states as well as under the auspices of international agencies. Such studies covered coastal ecosystems, hydrodynamics, mineral resources, marine pollution, fisheries, and socioeconomic activities. In addition, legal and institutional studies have been conducted on the use of the straits for navigation and trade including the issues on oil pollution from ships backed by numerous local, regional, and international workshops and conferences. There is a need now for concrete actions to put into effect the many findings and strategies that are deemed of paramount importance for the best use and protection of the straits. Certainly, the implementation of the Malacca Straits demonstration project under the GEF/UNDP/IMO Regional Programme for the Prevention and Management of Marine Pollution in the East Asian Seas (MPP-EAS) is timely. The project not only deals with issues on the straits' use as international sea lanes but also the management of its resources and environment within an integrated, multi-users, and holistic framework as promoted under Chapter 17 of Agenda 21 as well as in the provisions of the UNCLOS and relevant international conventions.

This issue discusses the inception of the Regional Programme for the Prevention and Management of Marine Pollution in the East Asian Seas (MPP-EAS) by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and to be executed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The MPP-EAS framework is built upon innovative and effective schemes for marine pollution management, technical assistance in the most strategic marine sector of the region, and provision of opportunities to attract other agencies and the private sector for funding and investment. The MPP-EAS is designed to control and manage marine pollution using a multidisciplinary and participatory approach that targets appropriate policy, institutional and technical interventions. This is also the first issue of Tropical Coasts which started as a newsletter of MPP-EAS. It aims to serve as a vehicle to widely disseminate news and information on ICM, marine pollution prevention and management and related topics, particularly relevant to the tropical and subtropical coastal developing countries; reaching out not only to scientists and managers but also to politicians; policymakers; the private sector, especially the industries; and the general public.