Environmental Governance
The Regional Ocean Governance Strategy (ROGS) support team formed a task force of 24 experts to enhance the development of the ROGS. Representatives from organizations such as the Nairobi Convention, African Union, and Indian Ocean Commission are included in the task force. The team has conducted participatory technical dialogues and information sessions to co-develop the strategy. The four main clusters of focus are maritime security, blue economy, environment and natural resources, and knowledge management and capacity building.
A leadership workshop took place in Mombasa, Kenya, for senior leaders, officials, and policymakers in marine policy and ocean governance. The workshop, held from 27 to 29 May 2024, included 40 participants from ten countries in the region and staff from the Nairobi Convention Secretariat. The unique challenges of having a diverse mix of participants turned out to be a major benefit for building practical skills. The emphasis was on learning through repeated practice and receiving feedback.
The Nairobi Convention parties in the Western Indian Ocean are developing a Regional Ocean Governance Strategy (ROGS) to address maritime security, the blue economy, environment, and knowledge management. A Task Force of 24 members has been working on this since May 2022, engaging in technical dialogues to improve social, economic, and environmental challenges. The draft Strategy will be presented at COP 11 in August 2024 for possible adoption, with implementation planned from 2025 to 2028.
This workshop aims to strengthen Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) across the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region, specifically focusing on Tanzania, Kenya, Mozambique, Mauritius, Madagascar and Comoros. The goal is to integrate national-level data and the WIO Symphony planning tool into the management of marine resources and human activities, emphasizing conflict resolution, sustainability, and conservation for the blue economy.
During the Eleventh Conference of Parties (COP 11) to the Nairobi Convention held in Madagascar in August 2024, the Contracting Parties approved a 10-year Integrated Programme, a Programme of Work (2025-2028), and several
Marine industries face a number of risks that necessitate careful analysis prior to making decisions on the siting of operations and facilities. An important emerging regulatory framework on environmental sustainability for business operations is the International Finance Corporation’s Performance Standard 6 (IFC PS6). Within PS6, identification of biodiversity significance is articulated through the concept of “Critical Habitat”, a definition developed by the IFC and detailed through criteria aligned with those that support internationally accepted biodiversity designations.
This dataset displays the extent of our knowledge regarding the distribution of saltmarshes globally, drawing from occurrence data (surveyed and/or remotely sensed). The dataset was developed to provide a baseline inventory of the extent of our knowledge regarding the global distribution of saltmarshes, which are ecosystems located in the intertidal zone of sheltered marine and estuarine coastlines.