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.
Upcoming Events:
The Nairobi Convention, in executing the SAPPHIRE project, is organizing a Regional Ocean Governance workshop for the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region from 04 – 05 September 2019.
The Nairobi Convention, Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) and Birdlife International are organizing a meeting of the Consortium for the Conservation of the Coastal and Marine Ecosystems in the Western Indian Ocean region (WIO-C) to be held on 06 September 2019 in Seychelles.
The Nairobi Convention, in executing the WIOSAP project, is organizing a workshop for managers and policy-makers on Mainstreaming of Environmental Flows into Integrated Water Resources Management to be held on 6 – 8 November 2019 in Cape Town, South Africa.
Indian Ocean Regional Ocean Acidification workshop: Call for Applications by 31 August 2019
The Nairobi Convention, in collaboration with the IUCN-chaired Ocean Acidification International Reference User Group and the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA), is organizing the Western Indian Ocean Regional Ocean Acidification workshop to be held in Zanzibar, Tanzania on 28th and 29th October, 2019.
Regional scientists, representatives from sectors likely to be affected by Ocean Acidification, leaders in environmental protection and management agencies, and representatives from national and regional NGOs are invited to submit applications to attend.
If you would like to apply for this workshop, please submit your CV (2 pages maximum) and a short justification clearly indicating why you wish to attend and how ocean acidification is relevant to your work/research (maximum 1 page). These should be sent by 31st August 2019 via email to WIOMSA ([email protected]) and Marlyn Omondi ([email protected]), copied to Dan Laffoley ([email protected]) and James Oliver ([email protected]).
News:
Marine and Coastal Ecosystem-based Adaptation for enhanced resilience in Southern Africa
While the importance of marine and coastal ecosystems is increasingly recognised globally, Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) has not gained widespread traction among all stakeholder groupings and in climate change policies, and is yet to be fully integrated. Some key recommendations in this report include: improving understanding of the role and value of marine and coastal EbA in enhancing climate resilience among regional institutions and national policy audiences; providing a stronger evidence base to support the inclusion of marine and coastal EbA in national climate policies and strategies…read more
Related Policy Paper: Ecosystem-based adaptation in South African coastal cities: Challenges and opportunities
Enhancing Resilience through Marine and Coastal Ecosystem-based Adaptation
African countries safeguard many of the world’s planetary boundaries and healthy ecosystems. However, despite the recognition of their value, the modification and degradation of crucial habitats such as coral reefs, mangrove forests and coastal wetlands continue unabated. Some of the recommendations in this policy brief include: promoting peer learning and sharing national and regional EbA best practices;
equipping community-based organisations with the skills and information to actively participate in EbA policy and project design and implementation…….read more
Sharks and Rays to Be Given New International Protections
Countries have agreed to strengthen protections for 18 threatened species of sharks and rays, including those hunted for their meat and fins. Makos, the fastest shark species, have almost disappeared completely from the Mediterranean and numbers are diminishing rapidly in the Atlantic, Northern Pacific and Indian oceans……..read more
A Practical Guide to the Effective Design and Management of MPAs For Sharks and Rays
Well-designed Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and the protection of critical habitat can provide substantial benefits for biodiversity conservation and sustainable fisheries management at national and regional levels. A Practical Guide to the Effective Design and Management of Marine Protected Areas for Sharks and Rays is the first-ever such tool focused specifically on these animals……..read more
Webinar: Designing and Managing MPAs for Sharks and Rays
On: Sep 4, 2019 10:00 AM in Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Related: CITES Conference Responds to Extinction Crisis by Strengthening International Trade Regime for Wildlife
Other marine species addressed by the conference included eels, teatfish (sea cucumber), queen conch, marine turtles, precious corals, sturgeons and seahorses. Governments furthermore agreed to examine the trade in live ornamental marine fish to assess what role the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) could or should play in regulating this trade…read more
Kenya Calls for Good Maritime Standards on the Indian Ocean
Kenya wants the 20-member States of the Indian Ocean to deploy fully skilled and trained personnel to police and monitor the region’s ocean space to guarantee ships safety, security and protection of marine environment. The Ministry of Transport wants more countries with ports in the Indian Ocean to cooperate in the implementation of instruments contributing to both collaboration and effective Ocean governance in the region……….read more
Public Comment Sought on Marine Spatial Management in South Africa
The Draft Approach to Spatial Management System Report for South Africa’s Marine Planning Areas has been published in the Government Gazette for public comment. “The main purpose of developing this… report… is to prescribe possible planning approaches for the facilitation of consistent Marine Area Plans…….read more
Acid Oceans Are Shrinking Plankton, Fueling Faster Climate Change
Increasingly acidic oceans are putting algae at risk, threatening the foundation of the entire marine food web. This research found thatincreased seawater acidity reduced Antarctic phytoplanktons’ ability to build strong cell walls, making them smaller and less effective at storing carbon. At current rates of seawater acidification, this effect will be visible before the end of the century…….read more
Vacancy
Chief of Service, Programme Management
Deadline: 06 September 2019
The incumbent will be responsible for the activities of the Marine and Coastal Ecosystems Branch including the overall implementation of the approved UNEP ocean strategy, the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities; Small Island Developing States; UNEP Coral Reef activities; Regional Seas Programme and Marine and Coastal ecosystems work programme. Apply here
Do you have an event or story you’d like included in the weekly round-up? Write [email protected] to be featured next week!
