Representatives from NOAA will be traveling to Beijing this October to participate in the Second Intergovernmental Review of The Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities (GPA).  The GPA aims at preventing the degradation of the marine environment from land-based activities by facilitating State action to preserve and protect the marine environment.  NOAA works to protect the marine environment from pollution through integrated coastal zone management, large marine ecosystems, and non-point source pollution programs.  For more information, see http://www.gpa.unep.org/bin/php/igr/igr2/home.php.