Welcome, Nairobi Convention Member States, partners, and friends, to this issue of the Weekly News Round-up!
Do you have any events, research, or scientific publications on the Western Indian Ocean that you would like to be included in the round-up? Write to unep-nairobi-convention@un.org!
The importance of sustainable ports: A conversation with Steven Weerts
90% of global trade is carried across our seas and a great number of goods we use in our everyday lives arrive via ports. Nevertheless, despite the essential role they play in the global economy, un sustainable ports can have dramatic impacts on coastal ecosystems and goods and services we derive from them. Ports can be significant sources of pollution. The Nairobi Convention Secretariat sat with Steven Weerts, to talk about his insights into the challenges and opportunities to achieving sustainable ports across the region.
Kenyans heal devastated land with the power of mangroves
For generations villagers living near the Sabaki estuary had relied on its natural bounty for lumber and firewood, fresh water, seafood, farming land, and plants for traditional medicine. However, years of unchecked exploitation inflicted terrible damage on the mangroves, mudflats, freshwater pools and sandy dunes at the mouth of Kenya's second-longest river.
Digital Transformation is accelerating SIDS' development
Digital Transformation enables SIDS to leverage the unique benefits of our countries and communities. Smallness can enable agility in exploring new technologies, and drive innovative thinking and practices. As this bulletin highlights, the pace of digital transformation is only increasing. The start of the COVID-19 pandemic saw 'two years of digital transformation in two months' - and this trend is continuing.
A blue fishing port is a hub for sustainable development at local, national and regional scales, and creates value across social, economic and environmental dimensions. The Blue Ports Initiative, led by FAO, intends to contribute to poverty alleviation and food security by promoting food quality, encouraging natural resources conservation through effective and integrated marine/maritime policies, reinforcing value chains and supporting labour rights compliance and gender equality within the maritime sector. This publication summarizes the key messages of the workshops and the case studies presented, with the objective of contributing to discussions around the development of port strategies that are aligned with MSP.
The COVID-19 Pandemic resulted in global lockdowns, succeeded by unprecedented economic shocks and human society weathering an existential crisis. The crisis further magnified by the already existing drastic environmental challenges. Acknowledging that the resilience of the global economy is intricately linked with the state of the environment, IUCN ESARO believes that urgent action is needed in both the short and long term to make societies more resilient to the impacts of the economic, social and environmental changes.
The Aldabra research station 50th anniversary symposium, “50 years of navigating the tides of science and conservation to build a resilient future for an exceptional atoll”, will be held on Thursday 21st April 2022. A collaborative effort between the Seychelles Islands Foundation and the Royal Society, the research symposium will not only be a celebration of an incredible milestone for SIF and Seychelles, but it will also reflect on current and future efforts in the protection and management of Aldabra Atoll.
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is seeking a Regional Marine Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist to ensure regionally cohesive data collection and reporting systems, support national teams with data analysis where needed, write or co-write reports to communicate research and project results, and support development of grants nationally and regionally. The position holder will among other responsibilities, technically support national marine teams as needed and build regional capacity for marine science.
Dr. Jacqueline Uku, president at WIOMSA and senior research scientist, at KMFRI welcomes you to the 12th WIOMSA Symposium in South Africa. The symposium’s theme, “A New Decade of Western Indian Ocean Science” draws inspiration from the current global and regional goals. Join for the largest open scientific and networking event in the #WIO region featuring advances in coastal and ocean science & governance, innovations, interventions, institutional & regional efforts to attain the #SDGs, and best practices.
