Friday, 10 May 2019
Welcome, Nairobi Convention Member States, partners, and friends, to this installment of the Weekly News Round-up! Please keep reading to find out what’s new in efforts to protect, conserve and develop the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region.
Upcoming Events:
At this workshop, participants will identify key priorities to enhance participating countries’ capacity on utilization, management and ownership of oceanographic data and scientific research findings in the WIO region.
Science-to-Policy Platform, 27-29 May; Mauritius
At the fifth installment of this dialogue between Nairobi Convention Member States and experts, participants will have a chance to explore innovative policy options and management strategies required to inform science-based decision-making. Its policy decisions may be used as a basis for key decisions at the next Conference of Contracting Parties to the Nairobi Convention.
News:
Innovative Approach to Conservation of Coral Reefs and Associated Ecosystems
The International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), in partnership with UN Environment’s coral reef small grants programme, produced videos for select projects. Two of the projects, on mangroves in Kenya and training for regional Marine Protected Area staff, pertain directly to the WIO. These projects have an impactful and innovative approach to conservation of coral reefs and associated ecosystems. They also share the potential for replication and upscaling. Enjoy the videos below and find an overview of the program here.
Carbon credits from Kenyan mangroves: https://youtu.be/Mt8tEYsGLow
Training Marine Protected Area staff in the Western Indian Ocean: https://youtu.be/Qeqvr8I_YAI
Securing a Just Space for Small-Scale Fisheries in the Blue Economy
The researchers argue that Small-Scale Fisheries are being subtly and overtly squeezed for geographic, political and economic space by larger-scale economic and environmental conservation interests. This jeopardizes the substantial benefits Small-Scale Fisheries offer. This paper explores how ocean governance might better account for social dimensions of fisheries……read more
Opportunities and Challenges for Regional Economic Integration in the Indian Ocean
Forecasts suggest that the Indian Ocean economy will likely account for around a fifth of global GDP by 2025, with its GDP per capita expected to almost double. However, realising this outlook will depend on tackling several pressing challenges to regional integration, including improving port quality and logistics, lowering barriers to trade and investment, narrowing development gaps, and strengthening the regional economic governance. Tackling these challenges requires a combination of coherent national and regional policy measures…read more
New Marine Toolkits for Capacity Development
Theis series of IWLearn Marine Toolkits were developed to assist Global Environment Facility (GEF)-funded projects and others working in marine- related areas to improve their capacity to effectively prepare and manage their respective projects. Included are guidelines on Marine Spatial Planning, Large Marine Ecosystems, and Environmental Economics. You may access them here
“Nature’s Dangerous Decline ‘Unprecedented’ Species Extinction Rates ‘Accelerating’”: Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)
Nature is declining globally at rates unprecedented in human history — and the rate of species extinctions is accelerating, with grave impacts on people around the world now likely, warns the IPBES Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. This report, the most comprehensive ever completed…….read more and download report
We look forward to continuing our work with you to create a prosperous WIO region with healthy rivers, coasts, and oceans.
Do you have an event or story you’d like included in the weekly round-up? Write [email protected] to be featured next week!
