NAIROBI, March 14 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations on Thursday called for better land management practices in order to safeguard marine and coastal ecosystems.

Peter Thomson, UN secretary-general special envoy for the ocean, said that pollution from land based activities such as agriculture and industrial production ends up in the ocean.

"Better practices on land are required in order to restore our relationship with the ocean to be one of respect and balance," Thomson said during the fourth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly underway in Nairobi.

He said that better management of the marine and coastal ecosystem will also ensure that the global community achieves the sustainable development goals on the ocean.

Thomson noted that stronger environmental regulations can be used to ensure that there is reduction and even elimination of all marine litter.

He said that discharge of raw sewerage from both households and industries into rivers could end up in the oceans with negatives consequences for marine based species.

"The growing problem of marine pollution will only be achieved through collective action by government, academia, civil society and all members of society," he added.

The envoy called for a change of the current model of production and consumption that has negative impacts on the environment.

Thomson revealed that most of the problems of the ocean originate from greenhouse gas emitted from land based activities.