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Promoting MPAs as a Tool for Management in the Western Indian Ocean Region

GEF/UN Environment Western Indian Ocean Land-Based Sources

By IW:LEARN

October 31^st, 2018

The increasing population and reliance on coastal and marine resources for sustenance and livelihood have compounded the challenges facing biodiversity conservation in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region. Additionally, ongoing urbanization, development of coastal mega-cities, oil and gas mining and changes in land use have increased pressure on marine ecosystems.

As a regional framework for collaboration on national and transboundary issues, the Contracting Parties[1] to the Nairobi Convention [2] formulate and adopt guidelines on identification, establishment and management of protected areas through its Protocol on Protection of Wild Flora and Fauna.

Map of the Kenyan coast showing location of MPAs and Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs)

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are dedicated to the protection and conservation of biological diversity, natural and cultural resources. If well-managed, MPAs can restore, protect and maintain ecosystem processes, biodiversity and ecosystem services. MPAs have been associated with building resilience against external impacts such as climate change in addition to increased productivity in surrounding fishing grounds.

The Contracting Parties to the Nairobi Convention with over 155,500km2 of protected areas have adopted decisions (CP. 4/4, CP.7/7 and CP.9/11) to promote proper management of MPAs. The Convention is engaged in building capacity in management of MPAs through supporting demonstration projects in the region through the Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded WIOSAP[3] project. In this regard, the Convention with support from partners is developing a “Regional Outlook on MPAs” and a “Critical Habitats Outlook”. The MPA Outlook will support the countries to establish baselines and include assessment metrics to track their progress in the delivery of the targets to increase the spatial extents of national MPAs from the current 2.4% to 10% by 2020, thus achieving SDG 14[4] target 14.5[5].

Promoting MPAs as a Tool for Management in the Western Indian Ocean Region

The Critical Habitat Outlook will provide extensive baseline information to countries to support, address and respond to a range of SDG targets, with special emphasis on SDG 14. The production of the MPA and Critical Habitats Outlooks will equip the Contracting Parties with information on the status of the MPA coverage, the extent of critical habitats within the MPAs and those requiring protection/management.

The Outlooks will be important decision-making support tools, especially in identifying areas requiring protection, or in the establishment and implementation of comprehensive national and transboundary network of well managed MPAs. The Nairobi Convention through the WIOSAP Project will also support the development of management plans for at least 5 key critical coastal and marine habitats, reinforcing the regional MPA network and mitigating habitat loss and climate change impacts. Additionally, the Project will support development of strategies on alternative livelihoods, working with the communities relying on these resources to reduce pressure on critical habitats. These efforts will promote marine resource conservation and management amidst coastal developments thus moving countries towards sustainable ocean/blue economy initiatives.

For more information, please contact Jared Bosire on jared.bosire@un.org and visit iwlearn.net/iw-projects/4940.

[1] Convention’s contacting parties include: Comoros, France, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania and South Africa.

[2] Full name as the Convention for the protection, management and development of the marine and coastal environment of the Western Indian Ocean region (in this article shortened to the Nairobi Convention)

[3] Implementation of the Strategic Action Programme for the protection of the Western Indian Ocean from land-based sources and activities (WIOSAP)

[4] SDG target 14 - Conserve and Sustainably Use Oceans, Seas and Marine Resources for Sustainable Development

[5] SDG target 14.5 - Conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on best available scientific information