A Regional ICZM Policy Platform for the Western Indian Ocean

To date, a recognised multilateral Policy Platform for Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) does not exist in the Western Indian Ocean. While issues of relevance to ICZM are covered in several regional and international conventions and are to a certain extent coordinated by respective secretariats connecting into the countries through focal points in key ministries, a specific Regional ICZM Policy Platform is believed to be much more efficient in covering this particularly complex development sector. ReCoMaP is supporting National Governments and National ICZM Committees in the region in establishing a Regional ICZM Platform.

 

One prerequisite for the efficient use of such a platform is the existence of formalised and functional national ICZM Structures as well as the existence of national ICZM Policies and respective ICZM Planning Processes. The achievement of these national prerequisites is thus one of the core pillars of the strategy of ReCoMaP. Another prerequisite of such a Policy Platform will be the legal status and official mandate given to it by an international body. With significant input from ReCoMaP, it has therefore been conceptualised that a Regional ICZM Policy Platform under a mandate from a specific provision in the ICZM Protocol to the Nairobi Convention will be the most appropriate and effective form of this entity.

 

As a form of pre-cursor to a Regional ICZM Policy Platform, ReCoMaP introduced the 'Conferences of National ICZM Committees in the Western Indian Ocean Region' in 2010 with the first conference held in Mombasa in March. A second and third conference will follow in March 2011 and August 2011, respectively.

 

The 1^st Conference of National ICZM Committees in the WIO Region had two main objectives:

• To provide a policy and governance forum for exchange and discussion on the implementation of ICZM at the national level, including the development process, nature and implementation status of relevant national policies, legislation and plans.
• To further elaborate, discuss and obtain support of countries for the possible development of an ICZM Protocol to the Nairobi Convention, including the development of recommendations into the 6^th Conference of the Parties (COP6) of the Nairobi Convention.

 

The Conference was structured into two main parts. Part 1 focused on status reports from representatives of National ICZM Committees in the region. A few sub-national committees, such as those in Moheli and Anjouan (Comoros), Rodrigues (Mauritius) and Zanzibar (Tanzania) also made presentations. The second part of the conference specifically sought government views and expectations concerning a regional ICZM protocol. Each country representative made a presentation. All presentations and relevant documents have been compiled into a CD, which is available from ReCoMaP. If you would like to obtain a copy, please contact winfried.wiedemeyer@coi-ioc.org.

 

Mauritius introduced a draft decision on the regional ICZM protocol for consideration by Parties to the Nairobi Convention. The draft decision was submitted to the Secretariat of the Nairobi Convention by Mauritius during the preparatory meeting of the Conference of Plenipotentiaries and the Sixth Meeting of Contracting Parties to the Convention for the Protection, Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Eastern African Region (the Nairobi Convention). The draft decision was unanimously approved by the technical committee on the 31^st March 2010, and formally adopted as Decision CP6/3 of the Sixth Conference of Contracting Parties (COP) to the Nairobi Convention.

 

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