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Addressing land-based activities in the Western Indian Ocean
Background
The broad goal of the Project “Addressing land-based Activities in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO-LaB)” was to address the degradation of the marine and coastal environment due to land-based activities in countries bordering the Western Indian Ocean (WIO).
It demonstrated to countries in the WIO region, the various sustainable approaches for tackling the degradation of the marine and coastal environment due to land-based activities.
The Project was executed within the framework of the Nairobi Convention for Protection, Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Eastern African Region covering 10 States of Comoros, France, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania and the Republic of South Africa.
It created a strong partnership between the countries of the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) Region, the Norwegian government, United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), and the Global Environmental Facility (GEF).
Project Outcomes:
1) Improved the knowledge base, and established regional guidelines for the reduction of stress to the marine and coastal ecosystem by improving water and sediment quality;
2) Strengthened the regional legal basis for preventing land-based sources of pollution; and
3) Developed regional capacity and strengthened institutions for sustainable, less polluting development.
Project Achievements
1) Development and finalization of two major products mainly;
2) Demonstration Projects
A key part of the WIO-LaB Project was to provide assistance to participating countries to implement demonstration projects at a number of hotspots and sensitive areas in the WIO region.
These projects were intended to demonstrate innovative, appropriate and cost-effective technical and managerial approaches for addressing the impacts of land-based sources and activities. The demonstrated projects were;
- A wetland-lagoon system for wastewater management at Shimo La Tewa Prison, Mombasa - Kenya;
- Development of eco-tourism in the Marine Park of Toliara - Madagascar;
- Application of vetiver grass for erosion and leachate control at a landfill site in Dar es Salaam - Tanzania;
- Solid Waste Management in Port Louis Harbour - Mauritius;
- Integrated Algal Ponding System technology for the polishing and beneficiation of effluent from municipal sewage treatment facilities - South Africa;
- Enhancing the ecological function of mangroves - Mozambique;
- Wastewater management on Pemba Island - Tanzania;
- Integrated management and protection of the coastal zone at Itsamia, Mohéli - Comoros; and
- Use of native species to control soil erosion within The Black River Gorges National Park - Mauritius.
Other WIO-LaB achievements included;
- Development of the Nairobi Convention Clearinghouse and Information Sharing System; and
- Production of technical reports for example; the Regional Marine Litter Assessment.
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