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The
Eastern African region also referred to as the Western Indian
Ocean (WIO), has some of the world's most valuable coastal and
marine ecosystems.
The region's mangrove forests, seagrass beds, seashores, lagoons and coral reefs
provide essential habitats for a rich biodiversity of species. It is conservatively
estimated that the region supports more than 11,000 species of plants and animals,
15 percent of which are found nowhere else on Earth.
More than 20 percent of the world's tropical inshore fish species
are found exclusively in the region, as are nesting sites for 70 percent
of the world's marine turtles.
The livelihood and recreation needs of a 30 million people depend on these resources.
Compared to many regions, the Eastern African region is largely in a pristine
state.
However, a variety of human activities; including unplanned urbanization, discharge
of untreated municipal waste water and industrial effluent, destructive fishing
practices, overexploitation of resources, physical alteration and habitat destruction,
are rapidly degrading the marine and coastal environment of the WIO region.
These problems are attributed in part to low economic growth rates,
poverty, rapid population growth and poor resource management.
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