Regional Sea Programmes

The Nairobi Convention works towards a prosperous Western Indian Ocean Region with healthy rivers, coasts, through providing a platform for governments, civil society, and the private sector to work together for the sustainable management and use of the marine and coastal environment.

Signatory countries: Comoros, France, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania and the Republic of South Africa.
See a summary of key action plans associated with the Nairobi Convention here

• Proposed work programme for the period 2018–2022 for the implementation of the Nairobi Convention

The work programme takes into account emerging issues that need catalytic support in the WIO Region such as the need to support efforts to attain the Sustainable Development Goals, in particular Goal 14 on oceans, with a focus on an ecosystem-based approach, marine protected areas, marine litter, the impacts of ocean acidification, the development of green ports and harbor’s and biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. See more info at https://www.unenvironment.org/nairobiconvention/resources/policy-and-strategy/proposed-work-programme-period-2018-2022-implementation-nairobi

• The Western Indian Ocean Large Marine Ecosystems Strategic Action Programme Policy Harmonization and Institutional Reforms (WIO LME SAPPHIRE) (2016)

The project’s activities have several cross-cutting themes, which will seek to meaningfully address progress towards meeting UNDP goals and targets with respect to sustainable development, poverty alleviation, early warning of disaster and climate change, SDGs, gender mainstreaming and youth. See more info at
https://www.unenvironment.org/nairobiconvention/resources/policy-and-strategy/western-indian-ocean-large-marine-ecosystems-strategic-action

• Situation Analysis for Mangroves for the Future: Understanding the Resilience of Coastal Systems (2013)

The purpose of this situation analysis is to better understand ecological and social coastal systems in Eastern Africa with a view to identifying key areas and effective strategies through which MFF can contribute to the conservation, restoration and sustainable management of coastal ecosystems as key natural infrastructure which support human wellbeing, resilience and security. More info at:
https://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/25724

• Final Act of the Conference of the Plenipotentiaries for the Adoption of the Protocol for the Protection of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Western Indian Ocean from Land-Based Sources and Activities (2007)

The Conference of Plenipotentiaries was convened by the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in pursuance of decision CP5/4 adopted at the fifth Conference of Parties ICOP5) to the Nairobi Convention For the Protection, Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Eastern African Region Activities (2007)
https://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/25901

MAP was established in 1975 as a multilateral environmental agreement in the context of the Regional Seas Programme of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Mediterranean countries and the European Community approved MAP as the institutional framework for cooperation in addressing common challenges of marine environmental degradation.

Party States: Albania, Algeria, Cyprus, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Egypt, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Morocco, Montenegro, Monaco, Slovenia, Spain, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey
Below is a list of key action plans associated with the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP)

• Mediterranean Offshore Protocol Action Plan
• National Action Plans to reduce pollution for 2016-2025
• Plan on reduction of input of BOD by 50% by 2010 from industrial sources for the Mediterranean region
• Plan for the reduction by 20% by 2010 of the generation of hazardous wastes from industrial installations for the Mediterranean region
• Plan for the management of hazardous waste, including inventory of hazardous waste in the Mediterranean region
• Plan for the management PCBs waste and nine pesticides for the Mediterranean Region
• Regional Working Programme for the Coastal and Marine Protected Areas in the Mediterranean Sea including the High Sea
• Action Plan for the conservation of Cartilaginous Fish (Chondricthyans) in the Mediterranean
• Action Plan for the conservation of marine vegetation in the Mediterranean Sea for the period 2012-2017
• Action Plan for the conservation of Mediterranean Marine Turtles in the Mediterranean Sea for the period 2014-2019
• Action Plan for the conservation of Bird species listed in Annex II to the SPA/BD Protocol in the Mediterranean for the period 2014-2019
• Action Plan for the conservation of Habitats and Species associated with seamounts, underwater caves and canyons, aphotic engineering benthic invertebrates and chemo-synthetic phenomena, in the Mediterranean Sea
• Roadmap towards a comprehensive, ecologically representative, effectively connected and efficiently managed network of Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas by 2020
• Action Plan for the implementation of the ICZM Protocol 2012-2019
• Regional Climate Change Adaptation Framework for the Mediterranean Marine and Coastal Areas
• Regional Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden
• The Action Plan for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment and Coastal Areas (1980)
• The Protocol Concerning Co-operation in Combating Pollution in Cases of Emergency

The mandate of the Jeddah convention is to conserve the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden environment by ensuring the parties undertake to take all appropriate measures to prevent, abate and combat marine pollution from all sources.

Signatory countries: Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
Key Action Plans:

Regional Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden

The Abidjan Convention provides an important framework through which national policy makers and resource managers implement national control measures in the protection and development of the marine and coastal environment of the WACAF Region (West and Central African Region).

Below is a list of key action plans  associated with the Abidjan Convention:

• The Action Plan for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment and Coastal Areas (1980)
• The Protocol Concerning Co-operation in Combating Pollution in Cases of Emergency

Parties: Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, Namibia, Nigeria, Sao Tome e Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Togo