Maldives is renowned to have one of the richest marine and coastal ecosystems in the world. Almost the entire Maldivian economy is dependent on marine and coastal resources through the tourism and fisheries sectors. The ecosystem-based sectors contribute to around 89% of the country’s GDP, 98% of exports and
71% of national employment. Any threat to the ecosystem and the natural environment of the Maldives such as through climate change, overexploitation of marine and coastal resources and degradation of the marine habitat, can have adverse impacts on current socio-economic wellbeing and future development of the country and its people.
The Mangroves for the Future (MFF) Programme is a partnership-based initiative promoting investment in coastal ecosystems for sustainable development. MFF promotes healthy coastal ecosystems for a more prosperous and secure future for coastal communities. Within this context, the linkage between coastal ecosystems, climate change, fisheries and human wellbeing are of direct interest and importance to MFF.
In light of this, the MFF National Coordinating Body (NCB) of Maldives have proposed to host a national scientific gathering with the aim of sharing knowledge in these sectors and to build upon the best practices in the Maldives. The Symposium intends to draw out knowledge from scientists in the field working in the tourism sector such as tourist resorts, The Maldives National University, Marine Research
Centre, Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture and Ministry of Environment and Energy to share lessons and practical solutions for tackling these complex issues. MFF together with its NCB is planning to hold this Marine Science Symposium in September 2015 with a focus on private sector contribution to the field and science-based research policy.
The Symposium aims to extract and examine scientific information and knowledge that fills important gaps in understanding, to debate contrasting viewpoints stemming from the diversity of ideas and perceptions from stakeholders and interest groups (scientists/researchers, industries, government, practitioners, civil society groups) and to seek practical and sustainable solutions to the complex problems currently being encountered.
Participants will be invited to share their research, good practices and experience, by submitting papers/abstract, presentations related to topics under the themes and presenting them for discussion at the
Symposium.
Organizational and logistical arrangements
All the papers/abstracts, presentation on good practices and experience will be reviewed and screened as part of the selection process.
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All sessions of the Symposium will be in plenary; there will be no breakout or parallel sessions for separate subthemes. A series of papers/abstracts and presentation will be selected and presented under each sub-theme, followed by structured panel discussions. A limited bursary will provided to nominated participants who are presenting paper to cover travel and accommodation. A price will be given to 1 st
, 2 nd and 3 rd
best paper submitted.
1.
Call for papers/abstracts, presentation on good practices and experience
Papers/abstracts, presentation will be identified through an open call for contribution under the various sub-themes. The abstracts and presentation should contain the following information:

Brief introduction of the research topic

Method of research

Main findings and discussion
An abstracts and presentationt may also be based on a critical review of existing information, supplemented with authors’ scientific analysis of the results.
The abstracts and presentation must be written in English and submitted to the National focal point
( muaz.adnan@undp.org
) 31 August 2015.
2.
Evaluation of Abstracts
3.
The papers/abstracts and presentation will be evaluated by a panel of experts (the Science
Committee), which will decide on the acceptance of the submission.. The Symposium will be held in
September 2015. Symposium Programme
The Scientific Committee will arrange the final programme of the Symposium based on the subject and content of the scientific abstracts and papers submitted.
4.
Science Committee
Roles and functions of the Science Committee are as follows:

Setting the programme

Identifying keynote speakers

Identifying the targeted presenters/papers

Screening abstracts

Providing support to lead of Science Committee
The Science Committee is as follows:

Dr. Charles Anderson (Chair)

Dr. Mohammed Shiham Adam

Dr. Mizna Mohammed
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5.
Hosting of the Event and Organization and Logistical Arrangements
The Maldives Marine Science Symposium will be hosted by UNDP/MFF in Maldives and as such the local logistical and organizational arrangements will be their responsibility.
The NCB will identify the most appropriate location for the Symposium and the Marine Research Centre will act as the lead national agency of the Symposium.
6.
Outputs of the Symposium
The proceedings of the Symposium, which will contain recommendations on good practices and an analysis of region-wide experiences, will be compiled and edited through the Science Committee and published by the MFF Secretariat. Proceedings will be presented to the MFF Regional Steering
Committee meeting in 2015 and will include:
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


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Action statement
Abstract
Presentations on finding
Produced papers
Edited proceedings
Symposium including the collection of scholarly contributions
7.
Budget and Financing for the Symposium
MFF will bear the core costs for the Symposium and lead on the financial management and planning related to the core costs with all partners.
8.
Contacts
Muaz Adnan
National Coordinator
Mangroves for the Future
UNDP Maldives
Falhutherey Magu,
Malé 20396, Maldives
Tel: +960 334-3261
Email: muaz.adnan@undp.org
Fizan Ahmed
Programme Associate – Small Grants Programme
UNDP Maldives
Falhutherey Magu
Malé 201396, Maldives
Tel: +960 334-3263
Email: fizan.ahmed@undp.org
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