Since the first conference organised in Antalya, Turkey during 2-5 November 1993, seven events in the “Mediterranean Coastal Environment” conference series of MEDCOAST have made this series a major international scientific and environmental meeting focusing on the management of the coastal and sea areas with particular emphasis to the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. The past seven conferences produced 18 volumes of proceedings, adding up to 13000 pages, and four special issues of two leading coastal management journals. These meetings, together with three thematic workshops and two specialty conferences, organised over a period of thirteen years, have created a steadily growing group of MEDCOAST people, among which various significant collaboration initiatives have developed.

When MEDCOAST was initiated 16 years ago, the goal was to enhance collaboration among various actors at the regional scale of the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, which would lead to products and instruments contributing to better management of the coastal and sea areas. More or less at the same time in the Mediterranean, and a few years later in the Black Sea, similar efforts were started at the governmental levels. In this very suitable environment, MEDCOAST’s initial goal was highly achieved by the establishment of very productive international links under the umbrella offered by the MEDCOAST network. Furthermore, the collaboration extended across two basins. MEDCOAST was one of the first channels through which Mediterranean and Black Sea problems and experiences flow through for addressing them collaboratively.

MEDCOAST conferences always aim to achieve very high levels of scientific and professional qualities. At the same time, they are relaxed and enjoyable events carried out in a casual, friendly atmosphere and attractive environment. Together with the fourth conference, the poster sessions have achieved a great importance and became an important event of the conference program. This provides greater opportunities for mutual interaction of the participants. Another welcomed change was the inclusion of thematic presentation and discussion sessions, organised jointly by other institutions.

With MEDCOAST 2007, the conference moves for the second time to the southern shores of the Mediterranean, .to an attractive historical town. We expect to have another successful event in the magnificent setting offered by Alexandria, enhanced by the Egyptian hospitality and rich marine culture. Scientists, experts, managers, planners, policy makers, resource developers, users and conservationists from both the Mediterranean and the Black Sea countries, or from outside the basins, are cordially invited to participate!

07.- Patrimoine Naturel