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.
We look forward to continuing our work with you to create a prosperous WIO region with healthy rivers, coasts, and oceans.
Upcoming Events:
Mozambique’s Growing Blue Conference, 23-24 May: Mozambique is holding its first “Growing Blue: Sustainable and Shared Exploitation of Oceans” conference to promote the integration of Blue Economy developments in the region. Read the concept note here and watch a video about the conference here.
At this workshop, participants will identify key priorities to enhance participating countries’ capacity on utilization, management and ownership of oceanographic data and scientific research 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. For those unable to join, the Nairobi Convention will be providing live Twitter updates under the hashtag #SciPol19.
News:
187 Countries, including those in Western Indian Ocean region, Amend Basel Convention to Include Plastic Waste in Legally-Binding Framework: The framework will make the global trade in plastic waste more transparent and better regulated. A new Partnership on Plastic Waste was also established to mobilise business, government, academic, and civil society resources to assist in implementing the new measures. Read more.
Impact of climate change on food security of small islands: The case of Mauritius: This paper studies the implications of high food prices resulting from climate change on food security in small islands, using Mauritius as a case‐study. Climate change may adversely impact prices of agricultural commodities. Read more.
Mozambique Looks Beyond Cyclone Idai to Better Protection in the Future: Last year, to reduce the threat of flooding, Beira finished dredging and rehabilitating a storm water drainage system; constructed almost seven miles of drainage canals in flood-prone areas; and built a large basin to retain water that would normally inundate dense settlements. A few days after Cyclone Idai, the World Bank approved a $90 million grant to support Mozambique’s second disaster risk management plan… read more.
11 May: World Migratory Bird Day Highlights Plastic Threat to Birds: Plastic pollution poses dangers to birds, who can get caught up in fishing gear and other plastic debris; confuse plastic waste with food and eat it; or use debris as material for nest-building, which can harm their chicks. The Convention on Migratory Species, and the African Eurasian Waterbird Agreement (AEWA), which are backed by UNEP, work with countries to prevent plastic items from entering the marine environment. A recent resolution on seabird conservation, adopted by AEWA member countries in December 2018, includes a series of actions that countries can take to reduce the risk caused by plastic waste on migratory birds. Read more.
Do you have an event or story you’d like included in the weekly round-up? Write [email protected] to be featured next week!
