The 4th International Conference, once again financed by the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN), was a continuation of the three international conferences held, likewise in Stralsund, in 2012, 2009 and 2006. The conferences each invite a wide range of participants and organisations such as international conventions and agreements, policy makers, conservation managers, scientists, inter-governmental organisations and NGOs. The 2015 conference attracted some 180 experts from 19 countries.