Introduction

The Training Workshop on Ecosystem Approaches to Coastal and Ocean Management: Focus on Ecosystem- Based Management in Eastern Africa was organized by the Secretariat of the Nairobi Convention and Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) with the financial and technical support from the United Nations Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (UNDOALOS) - Office of Legal Affairs of the United Nations - Train Sea Coast Programme, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) - Regional Seas Programme, Government of Israel and The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The Training Workshop was an interdisciplinary course that focused on the development and implementation of ecosystem approaches to the management of human activities and their impacts on the coastal and marine environment.

The training was in response to the Conference of Parties decision CP 5/2 (Protection of ecosystems and endangered species) that endorses and supports the use of ecosystem approaches, including the involvement of upstream countries, for the conservation of the coastal and marine areas of the Region.

The need for such approaches has been increasingly recognized by the international community, including the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development and by the General Assembly of the United Nations.

The Training Workshop built on a series of courses that have been conducted in Eastern Africa, notably:

• Marine Management - Good Governance in Practice by Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida),
• South West Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission (SWIOFC) Regional Workshop on the Implementation of an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries.

The training workshop benefited from a training course developed by UN DOALOS, in the context of the Train Sea Coast Programme: the development and implementation of ecosystem approaches to oceans management. A number of experts in marine protected areas management drawn from the region and Israel were invited to share their experiences.

Objective of the Training Workshop

The objective of the training workshop is to provide government officials and managers with the necessary tools and skills to develop and implement ecosystem approaches to the management of activities in the marine and coastal environment.

The workshop was designed for those responsible in the relevant ministries, departments, and institutions involved in the formulation of Integrated Coastal Management and oceans policy and the management of activities that impact marine and coastal ecosystems.

Participants were introduced to a range of issues related to the development and implementation of ecosystem based management approaches, including scientific, economic, social and legal aspects.

By the end of the course, participants were equipped with the tools, skills and ability to:

• increase awareness to Ecosystem- Based Management approaches and an effective sourcing and critical examination of information for the development and implementation of ecosystem approaches that are best suited to coastal and marine environment of the Western Indian Ocean;
• effective implementation of Ecosystem- Based Management approaches through use of better management tools that ensure integrated management of national resources at national and regional levels;
• increase integration between national and regional institutions in the development and management of projects/programmes on the marine and coastal environment.

The workshop provided an opportunity for participants to expand their professional network and equiped them with the necessary information to replicate lessons learned at the national and local levels.

Programme structure

The course was delivered through presentations by practitioners with expertise in relevant fields, including law of the sea, marine biology, fisheries, socio-economics, as well as project management.

Participants examined case studies, engaged in group discussions and took part in a simulation exercises to asses their acquired knowledge and skills to develop and implement ecosystem based management approaches.

Participants were invited from the contracting parties of the Nairobi Convention, namely: Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa and United Republic of Tanzania.

Venue and Dates

The Training workshop was held at Leopard Beach Resort, Ukunda, Kenya. The total number of the training workshop were 7 days;

• Half day coordination meeting on 26 November consisting of UNDOALOS, FAO, Government of Israel, WIOMSA, UNEP and the instructors,
• 5 days instructor-based training from 27– 31 October 2008 and
• 1 day field trip to Kisite Mpunguti Marine Protected Area on 1 November 2008.

Field Trip

Kisite Marine Park and Mpunguti Reserves are located on the south coast off Shimoni and south of Wasini Island, Kwale. Mpunguti and Kisite, which jointly gained its status as a Marine Reserve and Park in 1978.

It is located 40 Km from Mombasa via Diani and Kwale. A dhow transports you over to the shallow marine reserve from the coastal mainland.