Prof. Salif Diop is a water specialist with extensive experience in various aspects of coastal oceanography, fresh water assessment, aquatic and marine issues, sustainable management and development. Since 1996 he has worked in close co-operation with the IOC, in particular in the UNEP/IOC led project of an assessment of assessments of the marine environment which was the start-up phase of a Regular process for global reporting and assessment of the State of the marine environment including socio-economic aspects. Prof. Diop is a member of various expert and working groups and is now the Head of ecosystem section in UNEP’s division of early warning and assessment. More