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.
News:
The ‘plastic waste era’; social perceptions towards single-use plastic consumption and impacts on the marine environment in Durban, South Africa
Single-use plastic is polluting coastal environments the world over, and this study focused on the issue within the context of Durban, South Africa. Advocating for behavioral changes from society remains a daunting task that requires an understanding of consumer perceptions towards single use of plastics. This research paper aimed to gain an understanding of the social perceptions that beachgoers hold towards single-use plastic consumption in the coastal areas of Durban, South Africa…….read more
A Marine Spatial Planning Framework for Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction
Human activities in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) are increasing in the types, scale and intensity, having the potential to impact upon marine biodiversity in this vast area of the marine realm. Area-based planning is one way in which sectors operating in ABNJ can spatially plan their activities, yet such plans are often sector-specific and do not take into account the activities of other sectors. This report showcases a Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) framework for ABNJ, for the purposes of conserving and sustainably using biodiversity. It considers the framework under different governance scenarios, highlighting how an international legally binding instrument would aid undertaking MSP in ABNJ……..read more
WIO Regional Introductory MPA Management Training Course: Call for applications
The Rhodes University Department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science (DIFS) in collaboration with WIOMSA are offering the first University-accredited regional Introductory MPA Management Training Course which will be run from the 30th March to the 3rd April 2020 at the Rhodes University, Eastern Cape, South Africa. The deadline for submission of application is 16h00 (SAST, GMT+2), 31 January 2020……read more
Coastal Cities and The Blue Economy: Your Views on Opportunities and Challenges
WIOMSA in collaboration with UN-Habitat, has contracted Arup to develop a working document on ‘Coastal Cities of the Western Indian Ocean and the Blue Economy’ and a ‘Roadmap for the Development of the Blue Economy’ in Coastal Cities. As part of this assignment, Arup will undertake primary and secondary research on the blue economy and coastal cities over the coming months. In order to help Arup to understand the challenges and opportunities Western Indian Ocean cities with respect to the blue economy, we kindly ask that you complete the following brief survey. Survey results will help us to select cities for primary case study exploration. The questionnaire is available here
Please respond by 10 January 2020.
Special Newsletter on WIOSAP project Demonstration Sites in WIO
We are pleased to present the special edition newsletter on the WIOSAP demonstration projects in WIO. WIOSAP is the Nairobi Convention project on Implementation of the Strategic Action Programme for the Protection of the Western Indian Ocean from Land-Based Sources and Activities. Keep reading to find out how the funded demonstration projects intend to contribute to the reduction of land-based stresses on the marine environment!
Go to the Newsletter (English)
Vacancies
Expert – Updating of the National Marine Ecosystem Diagnostic Analyses (MEDAs) of Comoros and Somalia
The UNEP-Nairobi Convention would like to hire two national consultants (1 Comoros and 1 Somalia national) to conduct a gap analysis on the existing national MEDAs developed by the ASCLME project in close collaboration with different partners. The gap analysis will provide guidance to the process of updating the MEDAs by coordinating the available scientific inputs and outputs to strengthen institutional frameworks at national level, for ecosystem-based natural resource management. Deadline of Application: 29 December 2019
See more details and Apply Now
Nairobi Convention Project Web Pages
Learn more about the Nairobi Convention’s WIOSAP and SAPPHIRE projects here, where you can find project backgrounds, progress, and documents all in one place!
Do you have an event or story you’d like included in the weekly round-up? Write [email protected] to be featured next week!
