The project entitled Addressing land-based activities in the Western Indian Ocean (referred to as "WIO-LaB" in short) addresses some of the major environmental problems and issues related to the degradation of the marine and coastal environment resulting from land-based activities (LBA) in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region.

It represents a strong partnership between the countries of the WIO Region, the Norwegian government, UNEP, and the GEF and is designed to serve as a demonstration project for the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities (GPA/LBA).

Project Objectives:

1) Improve the knowledge base, and establish regional guidelines for the reduction of stress to the marine and coastal ecosystem by improving water and sediment quality;

2) Strengthen the regional legal basis for preventing land-based sources of pollution; and

3) Develop regional capacity and strengthen institutions for sustainable, less polluting development.