I had the opportunity to attend the 13th Meeting of the Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, held in Cancun, Mexico in December 2016. Here I will look back on the conference, which resolved that efforts be strengthened towards the "mainstreaming" of biodiversity. I will also consider bridge-building activities between science and policy with regards to the international rule making process, as it concerns the conservation and use of our oceans.

Originating with a request for cooperation from the Environment Bureau of the Minato Ward Government in Tokyo, the environmental recovery and education activities of Odaiba Seaside Park, beginning with the cultivation of seaweed, have developed into a sustainable framework based on public-private partnerships and the local community. Under the mayor's slogan of "Odaiba! An ocean where you can swim," we believe the activities will widen the existing framework, and help to send a message to the world about the functions and appeal of urban shore environments.

Things we can do to improve the ocean environment in the water are limited, so we must also look at the land that lies behind it. By creating surfboards from locally harvested trees and riding them on waves at the end of the rivers that flow down from the mountains, we can feel connections between the forest, rivers, and ocean, and appreciate being part them. I believe that spreading this sprit with others could be a step forward towards the conservation and restoration of coastal environments.