This issue contains a number of articles summarizing experience and lessons learned from the first five years of the Sustainable Coastal Communities and Ecosystems (SUCCESS) Program. The SUCCESS Program is implemented by the Coastal Resources Center at the University of Rhode Island in partnership with the University of Hawaii Hilo and several regional and local partners. It is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) with matching contributions from implementing partners. The goal is to provide global leadership in integrated coastal management (ICM) in biologically significant areas through a participatory, issue-driven and results-oriented process.