Like Sydney, many of the world’s great cities such as New York, Rio de Janeiro and Shanghai are located on the coast, with working harbours that are part of the fundamental fabric of those communities. The relationship between the city’s residents and the marine environment is an ongoing challenge.
The WHP aims to tackle issues surrounding the multiple uses of harbours and ports through targeted workshops, exchange programs of students and researchers and specific collaborative projects on a global scale. The vision is to facilitate and link programs across major international harbours, with a focus on investigating and restoring ecosystem functioning and the consequent development of management best-practices that can be applied by all partner cities.
Investigations of the socio-economic aspects of harbour development, environmental degradation and ecosystem restoration will form an important component of the WHP. As will educational outreach and dialogue and collaboration with industry and governments.

PROJECT LAUNCH

A highly successful launch was held at the IUCN World Parks Congress 2014, in Sydney in November. Professor Peter Steinberg, WHP Director, gave the main address followed by short talks by two representatives from our international partners – Professor He of Shanghai and Dr Coutinho of Brazil. The WHP was officially launched by The Hon. Robert Stokes, MP, Minister for the Environment, NSW. A number of VIPs were in attendance, including the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer and the CEOs of the Australian Museum and the Office of Environment & Heritage, NSW Government.