The Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region, encompassing the Northern Mozambique Channel- NMC, is rich in marine biodiversity and crucial to the livelihoods of about 10 million people. However, the region faces challenges from illegal fishing, offshore oil and gas exploration, and environmental degradation. The African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the African Integrated Maritime Strategy (AIMS)…
WIO Symphony is a tool based on more than 80 ecology and human activity maps. It supports ecosystem-based Marine Spatial Planning by calculating cumulative impact over large areas and illustrating those that are under specific pressures. The tool also shows how different planning and policy measures can lead to a positive environmental impact in an area.…
WIO Symphony for a Sustainable Western Indian Ocean The Western Indian Ocean (WIO) is a region of immense ecological diversity that is home to a range of ecosystems, including coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangroves. These ecosystems provide vital services, such as food and protection from natural disasters, to over 60 million people in the…
Multi-Stakeholder Working Groups make concrete steps and process plans for the region The Nairobi Convention Secretariat in implementing the SAPPHIRE, SWIOFC and WIOGI partnership projects organized a “Marine Spatial Planning and Information Management Capacity Building Workshop” from November 28 to December 1 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The workshop aimed to increase the understanding of…
Through Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) and a Regional Information Management Strategy (IMS) Our oceans and seas are the planet’s largest ecosystem. As such, they play a huge role in influencing climates and are vital to our blue economies. As such, we should be obligated to use ocean and sea resources sustainably, for future generations. The…
Mini Symposium: Launch of the ‘WIO Symphony’ tool for regional cumulative impact assessment in the WIO – a transparent support tool for ecosystem-based Marine Spatial Planning 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…
South Africa’s coastal environment is a rich and diverse national asset that provides economic and social opportunities for its coastal communities. South Africa is a maritime nation with jurisdiction over one of the largest exclusive economic zones in the world, at 1.5 million square km. Therefore, our ocean represents a significant asset for current and…
Marine Spatial Planning and Information Management Capacity Building Workshop This workshop will aim to promote shared learning on Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) implementation at national and regional levels for sustainable management of the coastal and marine resources in the WIO region and its contribution to information management. The workshop will highlight the datasets needed for…