Mini Symposium: Launch of the ‘WIO Symphony’ tool for regional cumulative impact assessment in the WIO

This mini-symposium will launch ‘WIO Symphony’, a product of 4-year cooperation with contributions from over 50 members of Nairobi Convention member states and international partners. WIO Symphony is a practical tool for environmental assessment in support of ecosystem-based Marine Spatial Planning (MSP).

MSP is a recognized interdisciplinary instrument and process for allocating space and priority to human activities in marine areas while balancing ecological and socio-economic interests. Most of the WIO countries are currently developing MSP. By MSP, thoughtful cross-sectorial strategic and operative plans may spur blue growth while maintaining rather than endangering ecosystem functions. As all MSP covers extensive areas, data from various sources and significant computational power are needed to transparently and effectively integrate
environmental considerations into the marine planning process.

WIO Symphony is a tool based on more than 60 maps (1×1 km) of selected regional-specific ecosystem components and pressures from human activity, parameterized using openly available data sources. That is coupled with a WIO-specific sensitivity matrix developed by a regional expert panel, the tool indicates how vulnerable the considered ecosystems are to different pressures across the WIO. Most importantly, it allows for an analysis of cumulative impact and the expected outcomes from different environmental planning and management options and scenarios.

This mini-symposia will present the main structure, functionalities and current results obtained by the WIO Symphony tool, and then moderate presentations and discussions that will help with the identification of omitted key uncertainties and gaps and additional scenarios and research/data needed for further model improvement.

There will also be an exhibition booth where a demo of the tool and more information will be available.

For more information;

Visit the WIO Symphony page

Visit the SwAM website

12^th WIOMSA Mini Symposia Page