Parties (COP) for Abidjan and Nairobi conventions in Johannesburg, South
Africa
1 November 2007
Environment Minister's from nearly 30 African countries will converge in
Johannesburg, South Africa next week to discuss continental marine issues for
both the west and east coast of Africa.
Ministers from Namibia, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, South Africa, Nigeria
and Ghana amongst others will participate in the Joint Conference of Parties
(COP)for the Abidjan and Nairobi Convention from 5 to 8 November at the Indaba
Hotel, Fourways, Johannesburg.
South Africa is the host country for COP 8 of the Abidjan Convention
alongside the COP 5 of the Nairobi Convention. The joint Cop is organised in
collaboration with the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad), under
the umbrella of the African Union. The purpose of the Nairobi Convention is the
Protection and development of the Marine and Coastal Management of the Eastern
African region, South Africa joined the Nairobi Convention in 2001 and ratified
in November 2002. (See Note 1)
The current programme 2004 to 2007 adopted at the COP4 in Madagascar in 5 to
8 July 2004 is co-chaired by South Africa as the vice-chair. Madagascar was
elected as the Chair for the Nairobi Convention for the period 2004 to 2007
when the next COP5 will take place.
In the last four years, 2004 to 2007, the Nairobi Convention has been able
to leverage resources from various sources, including US$3,4 million from the
Norwegian government and US$4,2 million from the GEF. Swedish International
Development Agency (Sida) has been a very consistent partner in the Western
Indian Ocean region and in the last four years has supported the Convention
with US$1,3 million. Five governments from the eastern African region have
consistently contributed to the Nairobi Convention's Trust Fund.
The purpose of the Abidjan Convention is the Protection and development of
the Marine and Coastal Management of the Western and Central African region,
South Africa joined the Abidjan Convention in 2001 and ratified in November
2002. (See Note 1).
The Abidjan Convention region has some of the largest and most ambitious
Large Marine Ecosystems projects, namely: the Guinea Current project
implemented by UNEP and UNDP (USD21,49 million); the Benguela Current project
implemented by UNDP (USD15 million); and the Canary Current project implemented
by FAO and Unep (USD12 million).
The joint COP will focus on ecosystems-based management approaches,
especially in the context of the connection between land and sea. It will also
review the Convention to recognise the importance of fisheries and of the
ecosystems that support fisheries and related livelihoods, and to clarify how
fisheries issues relates to the Convention and its implementation, in so far as
it impacts on habitats and livelihoods.
The key direct outputs from the Joint COPs will be decisions from each of
the convention's conference of parties, a recommendation to adopt the protocol
for land based activities and sources of pollution for each convention area as
well as the adoption of work programmes for 2008 to 2012 for each convention.
The work programmes will be action oriented agendas that give a holistic
overview for ecosystem based coastal and marine management in sub-Saharan
Africa, to be implemented by governments and partners from civil society,
intergovernmental agencies, projects and the private sector.
In addition, there will be a Joint Declaration issued to Nepad from the
Joint Heads of Delegations. This declaration will cover the common thematic
areas that were discussed during the conferences and will assist in renewing
and maintaining governments' commitment to the implementation of the two
Conventions in the context of Nepad.
The COP will be organised in segments: Stakeholder workshops, Heads of
Delegation meetings and a Joint meeting of the Heads of Delegations for
Abidjan, Nairobi and Nepad.
The COP will take place under the theme, "Building on Success", focusing on
the progress made from the multiplicity of programmes and projects that have
been implemented since the adoption of the two Conventions and to build on this
momentum with increased political resolve and commitment to preserve and
sustainably develop the marine and coastal environment by governments, key
partners and stakeholders towards objectives of the two conventions.
The West Indian Ocean Land Based Activities (WIO-Lab) project steering
committee will also take place on 5 November. WIO-LaB was launched in
Madagascar in 2004 and deals with the protection, prevention and management of
marine pollution from land based activities. It aims to determine the extent
and magnitude of pollution of coastal waters due to sewage, industrial
effluents and river run-off.
South Africa occupies a unique position as the only country on the continent
to inhabit both the west and east coast of Africa. At the culmination of the
Joint COP, South Africa is expected to take the chair of one of the COPs.
For media interviews and queries contact:
Carol Moses
Tel: 012 402 3566
Cell: 082 829 3917
E-mail: cmoses@deat.gov.za
Roopa Singh
Tel: 012 310 3566
Cell: 082 225 3076
E-mail: rsingh@deat.gov.za
Note 1
The coastal and offshore waters of the coastal and island countries of the
Sub-Saharan Africa region are ranked among the most productive waters in the
world. The countries in Western Africa are rich in fisheries, oil, gas and
mineral resources, while those in Eastern Africa have rich and diverse
ecosystems. Overall, the two regions have great potential for tourism and serve
as important reservoirs of marine and coastal biological diversity. The
economic values of the biodiversity in the two regions are enormous.
The over-exploitation of these resources and pollution from domestic and
industry sources, as well as poorly planned and managed coastal developments
and near-shore activities, have resulted in degradation of vulnerable coastal
and offshore habitats and shared living marine resources thus putting at risk
the economies and health of the people.
The Abidjan and Nairobi Conventions, adopted respectively in 1981 and 1985,
are central instruments for co-operation in addressing these threats and
challenges posed on the economic, social, health and cultural values of the
marine and coastal environment of the West, Central, Southern and Eastern
regions of Sub-Saharan Africa. These two Sub-Saharan Regional Seas Conventions
provide important frameworks through which closer co-operation among member
States and international organisations concerned with the protection and
development of the marine and coastal environment can be achieved. Member
States have shown commitment to the two conventions as demonstrated by the
number of ratifying countries. The Abidjan Convention has been ratified by 14
out of 22 countries and the Nairobi Convention by all the 10 countries that are
signatories to it.
The first jointly held Conferences of the Contracting Parties (COP) has been
organised under the auspices of the African Ministerial Conference on the
Environment (AMCEN) and within the framework of the African Union, to further
the commitment of these countries to work together for the protection,
management and development of the marine and coastal environment in Sub-Saharan
Africa for the economic, social, health and cultural benefit and enjoyment of
present and future generations.
Nairobi Convention Secretariat
Marine and coastal environments, and the goods and services they provide,
are under increasing pressure from unsustainable consumption and production
patterns as well as ineffective management practices in most countries in
sub-Saharan Africa. The ecosystems health and the sustainability of the
services that coasts and oceans provide are increasingly being compromised by
the impacts of pollution, resource exploitation and physical alteration and
degradation of habitats.
In response to these challenges, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
initiated a Regional Seas Programme that facilitated the development of two
regional conventions, namely: Convention for Co-operation in the Protection and
Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment in the West and Central
African Region (Abidjan Convention, 1981); and the Convention for the
Protection, Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of
the Eastern African Region (Nairobi Convention, 1985). By 2006, 14 countries
out of 22 had signed, acceded to, or ratified the Abidjan Convention, while the
Nairobi Convention had received 100% ratification.
The two conventions together cover thirty-one coastal states, including
island states in the Atlantic and the Indian Oceans.
The Joint Secretariat for the Abidjan and Nairobi Conventions
The two Conventions are co-ordinated by a Joint Secretariat hosted by Unep
under the Division of Environmental Policy Implementation (Depi). The Joint
Secretariat is supported by Regional Co-ordinating Units in Seychelles and Cote
d'Ivoire, a forum of national focal points, and thematic and technical task
forces.
The Secretariat also works closely with collaborating partners such as
regional non-government organisations and various national and research
institutions. It has recently successfully catalysed the establishment of the
"Consortium for Conservation of Coastal and Marine Ecosystems in the Western
Indian Ocean"
(WIO-C).
This is a consortium between major NGOs in the Western Indian Ocean which
have developed marine programmes. The aim is to enhance collaboration, exchange
of information and synergy towards a joint programmatic approach in addressing
marine and coastal environmental issue in the region.
The Abidjan and Nairobi Conventions provide a framework for regional
co-operation in the protection, management and development of the marine and
coastal environment, for sustainable socioeconomic growth and prosperity.
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
1 November 2007
Source: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (http://www.deat.gov.za)
