The Nairobi Convention recently facilitated the participation of Madagascar at the One Ocean Summit held in Brest, Paris between 9 and 11 February 2022. Madagascar, through the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Developmen,t was elected as the Chair of the Nairobi Convention Bureau November 2021 to lead the implementation of the 2022 – 2024 work…
In September – December 2021, the SAPPHIRE project supported the facilitation of a women’s leadership workshop with WIOMSA. This was the third in a series of leadership workshops and built up on lessons learned during the previous iterations in 2019 and 2020. The participant-focused workshop sought to empower leaders and promote networking to influence marine policy formulation, decision making and implementation.
A version of this article originally appeared on GEF:IWlearn. From Zanzibar to Kilwa Masoko to Mafia Island, Tanzania is famous for its beautiful beaches and rich biodiversity, including coral reefs, sea turtles, dugongs and more. Yet, as elsewhere, these coastal idylls are under threat from the effects of climate change, illegal fishing, and other dangers. …
The Nairobi Convention for the Protection, Management, and Development of the Coastal and Marine Environment of the Eastern Africa region held its 10th Conference of Parties from 23-25 November 2021, where states agreed on bold new action to maintain a healthy and prosperous Western Indian Ocean region. Hosted by Madagascar, the 10th Conference of Parties (COP10) brought together Comoros, Kenya, France, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique,…
The ocean has a profound impact on human life. Directly or indirectly, oceans feed us, keep us healthy, provide us with jobs, and serve as the engine for much of our economy. The governance of a resource that so greatly benefits humankind is therefore a critical task. Millions of people–from fishermen to port operators to beachgoers,…
For years, it was believed that environmental degradation – destroyed habitats, extinction of species, pollution, etc. – were an inevitable consequence of economic growth. But a newer concept, known as the Blue Economy – or the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic livelihoods and jobs, and ecosystem health – challenges the notion that socio-economic…
Sustainable Oceans, Livelihoods and Food Security through Increased Capacity in Ecosystem research in the Western Indian Ocean (SOLSTICE-WIO) is a four-year project, funded by the UK Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF). The project is active in three WIO countries (Tanzania, Kenya and South Africa), with the objective of undertaking novel and collaborative research to understand…
The journey has started: Towards a Regional Ocean Governance Strategy for the Western Indian Ocean “The African ocean territories are of strategic importance on the continent, as they provide opportunities to fisheries, aquaculture, and blue economy activities,” Ms. Olushola Olayide, from the African Union proclaimed in her opening remarks at the virtual meeting of Regional…
The risk of major oil spills, while significantly reduced over the last number of decades, continues to pose a significant threat to the fragile ecosystems and coastlines of states around the world. Such incidents, whether caused by offshore oil rigs, pipelines, damaged tankers or transport ship, often result in environmental damage that can last for…
The Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region ranks as one of the most biodiverse marine areas in the world, boasting an array of marine and coastal ecosystems. Madagascar, a party to the Nairobi Convention, is no exception in this regard. One of the largest islands in the world, Madagascar is home to 5,000 km of coastline…