2019
Without drastic efforts to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate globalized stressors, tropical coral reefs are in jeopardy. Strategic conservation and management requires identification of the environmental and socioeconomic factors driving the persistence of scleractinian coral assemblages—the foundation species of coral reef ecosystems. Here, we compiled coral abundance data from 2,584 Indo-Pacific reefs to evaluate the influence of 21 climate, social and environmental drivers on the ecology of reef coral assemblages.
Pollution from land-based run-off threatens coastal ecosystems and the services they provide, detrimentally affecting the livelihoods of millions people on the world's coasts. Planning for linkages among terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems can help managers mitigate the impacts of land-use change on water quality and coastal ecosystem services.
In August, the Ninth Conference of Parties to the Nairobi Convention adopted Decision CP.9/6 on Ocean Governance, urging parties to work with regional bodies to implement AMCEN’s Cairo Declaration, the 2050 Africa Integrated Maritime Strategy, and the provisions of Agenda 2063 on ecosystem-based management approaches. The decision also requested the Secretariat to contribute to the development of an African strategy on ocean governance.
World Oceans day was 8 June, 2019. This year, the Nairobi Convention celebrated by releasing information on major issues facing the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region and how the Contracting Parties are working to sustainably protect, manage, and use their marine and coastal resources.
The Nairobi Convention, Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) and Institute of Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS- Potsdam) organized a Session on Ocean governance for the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region held on 05 July 2019 at the 11th WIOMSA Symposium in Mauritius. The aim of this session was to discuss and identify the governance needs and priorities for safe, secure, clean and sustainably managed Western Indian Ocean and provide a basis and context for policy discussion on ocean governance.
Report of the Working Group 40 of the Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (GESAMP) on Guidelines or the monitoring and assessment of plastic litter and microplastics in the ocean
Revved up climate action’ needed to counter ‘prolonged’ and deadly storms like Cyclone Idai: UN
