Other WIO-LaB Project Activities

Assessing the Status of Marine Pollution

As part of the WIO-LaB project, countries have embarked on a region-wide assessment of environmental pollution in the coastal zone, including its sources. The task of undertaking this programme is given to a network of national academic and research institutions. Key WIO-LaB activities in this regard are:

•  Identification and assessment of pollution hot spots;
• Implementation of a Regional Water and Sediment Quality Monitoring Programme;
•  Development of National Pollution Status Reports;
• Capacity building through training and equipment purchase;
• Development of water and sediment quality objectives and standards.

The results of this activity are expected to provide governments in the region with up-to-date information with regard to the status of pollution in their coastal zones, including data on hot spots, which will allow the definition of targeted action. The capacity built will ensure that long-term monitoring activities can be adequately implemented.

Click to download WIO-LaB Project Meeting Reports

Click here to access the Water and Sediment Quality Toolbox

Development of a regional node to the GPA Clearinghouse Mechanism

The WIO-LaB project is supporting the Nairobi Convention Secretariat in the development of a web-based information management system, which will host relevant data and information on the WIO Coastal and Marine Environment. The system will function as a regional node for the GPA Clearinghouse Mechanism, and will be established in collaboration with relevant national institutions and regional and international project partners.

Link to Clearing House Mechanism

Strengthening of the policy, legal and institutional framework

As part of WIO-LaB, countries are undertaking a region-wide review of policy, legal and institutional frameworks for the management of impacts from land-based sources and activities (LBA). Key outputs from the project in this regard are:

• National reports on existing policy, legal and institutional frameworks with regard to LBA management.
• National reports on the status of ratification of international conventions relevant to LBA management.
• A new Protocol on LBAs for the Nairobi Convention.
• National implementation plans for improvement of policy, legal and institutional framework with regard to LBA management.

Click to download Draft LBSA Protocol to the Nairobi Convention

Click to download Concept Note on LBSA Protocol to the Nairobi Convention

Click to download WIO-LaB Project Meeting Reports

Regional Marine Litter Assessment

The magnitude of the marine litter problem is not well known in the WIO Region. In order to address this information gap, the WIO-LaB Project in collaboration with the UNEP Regional Seas Programme has embarked on a region wide assessment of this problem in the WIO region. It is envisaged that this assessment will form the foundation for the formulation of strategies for sustainable management of marine litter in the WIO Region. The assessment is being executed by national and regional marine litter experts.

Click to download Draft Marine Litter Assessment Report

Development of a Regional Annex to the GPA Guidelines for MWW Management

The WIO-LaB Project is undertaking a region-wide assessment of Municipal Wastewater (MWW) management practices and infrastructure in the WIO-region in order to establish the current status of MWW management in the region. At the same time, experts from the region are reviewing the regional applicability of the global GPA Guidelines on MWW Management, in order to develop a regional annex to these global guidelines.

Click to download GPA Guidelines on MWW Management

Click to download WIO-LaB Project Meeting Reports

Development of National Programmes of Action for Implementation of the GPA

National Programmes of Action (NPA) are considered an important tool for countries to design their own, targeted strategies, for addressing the impacts of land-based sources and activities. The WIO-LaB Project will be providing technical and financial assistance to atleast four countries for the development of their NPAs, therewith supporting the implementation of the GPA at the national level. 

Regionalisation of GPA Guidelines for Municipal Wastewater Management

The Global Programme of Action (GPA) for the Protection of the Marine Environment from  Land-Based Activities (LBA) has developed a practical guide for decision-makers and professionals on how to plan, design, and finance appropriate and environmentally sound municipal wastewater discharge systems. These "Guidelines for Municipal Wastewater Management" focus on four basic elements relevant to efective management of Municipal Wastewater: approaches and policies, institutional arrangements, technological choices, and financing options. Each element is supported by a practical checklist.

Stakeholder Involvement and review - The global GPA guidelines have been based upon experiences in wastewater management worldwide, and have already undergone several rounds of review and consultation. Nevertheless, the guidelines require consideration of localised situations and experiences. Within the context of the WIO-LaB project, the global guidelines are therefore being put forward for review and consideration by all stakeholders in the Western Indian Ocean region. The final product of ths regional review will be an annex to the global guidelines.

More information of the GPA, including its activities, other guidelines and reference documents can be found at http://www.gpa.unep.org

Regionalisation of the Guidelines for Physical Alteration and Destruction of Habitats

The increase of populations and economic activities in coastal areas is leading to an expansion in development, which in turn leads to the alteration of coastal zones and waters and their habitats such as coral reefs, shorelands, beachfronts, and the seafloor. The Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities (GPA) is undertaking a project to address these threats by supporting the efforts of stakeholders in protecting coastal and marine habitats against physical alteration and destruction. The focus will be on four economic sectors that potentially pose a threat to such habitats. They include: tourism; ports and harbours; aquaculture; and mining (sand and aggregate extraction). Assistance will be provided through, among other things, the development of checklists and guidance for each sector and are intended to:

• increase understanding and recognition of actions necessary to minimise the impacts of aquaculture, tourism, mining and port development on the coastal zone. Physical alteration and habitat destruction and sediment mobilisation resulting from these impacting activities are the main focus attention;
• provide direction in the development of these economically important sectors so that they do not in any way hamper environmentally sustainable development within the coastal zone;
• serve as consensus guide to national and sub-national decision makers and the stakeholders in the industry to minimise physical alteration and habitat destruction.

 For more details please visit the dedicated GPA PADH webpage at http://padh.gpa.unep.org/

Other activities

A range of other activities are being undertaken as part of the WIO-LaB Project. These include most importantly:

• A range of national and regional training and educational programmes on LBA management.
• Stakeholder involvement and awareness raising activities.
• A small-grants programme for NGOs and CBOs operating in the field of LBA management.
• Streengthening of the implementation of Environmental Impact Assessmenet as a management tool, in particular as it concerns tranboundary and cumulative impacts.
• The development of a region-wide analysis of transboundary impacts of LBAs, and the development of a regional Strategic Action Programme to mitigate such impacts.