The Earth’s marine systems provide multiple ecosystem goods and services essential for human well-being and socio-economic development. Undeniable trends, however, indicate that the health and productivity of these systems are being degraded by multiple and complex anthropogenic and natural stressors.

The GEF-funded Transboundary Waters Assessment Programme (TWAP) is assessing transboundary aquifers, reservoirs and lakes, river basins, Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) and the open ocean to guide interventions to improve the environment and provide benefits for human well-being.

• The Open Ocean is the largest of the planet’s transboundary water spaces and is the medium for many global issues with local impacts
• The 66 Large Marine Ecosystems encompass the Earth’s coastal areas where many ecosystem services and human stressors are concentrated