In 2002 the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), as the Secretariat of the GPA, published a Handbook on the Development and Implementation of National Programs of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities (the NPA Handbook). It provides guidance for environmental managers and policy makers on how to implement the GPA in their own countries. Since its release many lessons have been learned and related policy developments gained importance; reason for this updated and expanded version. In this revision it is stressed that, to be successful, institutional, financial, legislative, social, and technical barriers should be taken very serious while planning concrete action. The handbook calls for realistic, step-by-step implementation of priorities within a cross-sectoral, participatory framework, through a flexible and iterative process.--Publisher's description.