Six years after the Samos Symposium, we decided that the time has come to organize an international conference on the issue. The first international Conference on the Ecological Importance of Solar Saltworks (1st CEISSA) organized under the authority of Global NEST, on the uniquely beautiful Greek Island of Santorini, on October 20-22, 2006.
Experts from 16 countries including U.S.A., Brazil, Mexico, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, India, China, Australia, Tunisia, Ghana, Egypt, Israel and Greece gathered at Santorini Conference Center P. Nomikos, to discuss the importance of Solar Saltworks as coastal ecosystems. Prominent participations at the conference were that of the president of China National Salt Industry Corporation Mr. Mao Qinqquo and the Salt Commissioner of India Dr. S. Sundaresan.
Leading researchers and saltworks executives participated including Prof. Steve Davis, Prof. Tom Crisman, Prof. Carol Litchfield, Prof. Renato Rocha, Mr. Vladimir Sedivy, Prof. Mario Giordano, Prof. Gilbert Van Stappen, Mrs. Katia Hueso Kortekaas, Mr. Ciro Zeno, Mr. M. Matrat, Dr. D. S. Jhala, Mr. Sergio Ortiz and Mr. Roly Mottershead.
We were surprised to find that new investments in Solar Saltworks face environmental problems without documentation, almost worldwide! The substantial and thorough discussion that took place in conference closing session (included in the Conferences Documents that follows), resulted in important proposals and actually laid the foundations and determined the objectives of our movement. Τhe will of all participants was established to claim the recognition of Solar Saltworks as constructed coastal wetlands!
