The focal points discussed new and emerging issues, themes and partnerships, including: ecologically or biologically significant marine areas; the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20) and the concept of "Green Economy in a Blue World"; potential new Marine World Heritage Sites in the Indian Ocean; oil and gas exploration; and the Ocean Health Index.
September 2012: The Focal Points Forum Meeting of the Parties to the Convention for the Protection, Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) Region (Nairobi Convention) met in Maputo, Mozambique, on 9 August 2012. The meeting focused on implementation of the Nairobi Convention, and preparations for the Seventh Conference of the Parties (COP 7), scheduled to convene in December 2012.
Discussions addressed, inter alia: the Regional Synthesis report on Birds as indicators of Ecosystem Health; the development of the Eastern Africa Regional Coral Reef Action Plan; and climate change and policy implications. The focal points also considered new and emerging issues, themes and partnerships, including: ecologically or biologically significant marine areas; the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20) and the concept of “Green Economy in a Blue World”; potential new Marine World Heritage Sites in the Indian Ocean; oil and gas exploration; and the Ocean Health Index.
Participants also considered new regional initiatives, including the: Western Indian Ocean Alliance, a proposed regional governance mechanism; and Western Indian Ocean Coastal Challenge Platform (WIO-CC), which aims to bring WIO countries together to commit to action towards island conservation and sustainable livelihoods.
The meeting was attended by focal points from Comoros, France, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa and Tanzania. [Publication: Report of the Meeting]