The Western Indian Ocean Marine Protected Area Network (WIOMPAN) made waves during its first regional workshop held from November 1st to 4th, 2023, in the vibrant city of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. This landmark event, supported by the Nairobi Convention, the Minderoo Foundation, the Blue Nature Alliance (BNA), the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA), the VARUNA Biodiversity Programme, the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), brought together over 80 participants representing ten Nairobi Convention countries, creating a dynamic platform for collaboration and knowledge exchange.
Building Support through Site-Based Planning: A Crucial Imperative
The workshop emphasized the critical role of site-based planning in ensuring the effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Community Managed Areas (CMAs) in safeguarding marine and coastal ecosystems. It was acknowledged that many managers, policy-makers, local communities, and stakeholders lack access to updated knowledge, information, and guidelines necessary for effective site management. Furthermore, the implementation of management plans often occurs without significant input from MPA managers and local communities.
Enter WIOMPAN—a network designed to bridge these gaps, providing a mechanism for resource managers to come together, share experiences, and set new standards for MPA and CMA management in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region.
WIOMPAN: A Force for Positive Change
Comprising MPA and CMA practitioners from the ten Nairobi Convention countries, WIOMPAN operates through a large networking and partnership approach. With active participation from over 100 MPAs and 100 CMAs, the network has established itself as a powerful force for increasing the management effectiveness of marine conservation areas.
The First Regional WIOMPAN Knowledge Exchange Workshop
Fueled by financial and technical support from key organizations, the first regional WIOMPAN Knowledge Exchange Workshop was hosted by the Marine Parks and Reserves Unit, Tanzania. This event aimed to enhance regional coordination and streamline interventions to bolster the management effectiveness of WIO marine conservation areas.
Identifying Challenges and Setting Priorities
The workshop engaged participants in a structured process to identify challenges and build resilience within the MPA and CMA network. The Minderoo Foundation provided a comprehensive overview of management effectiveness, defining key components through the lens of the 2021 WIO MPA Outlook report and the IUCN Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool.
Five domains emerged as crucial: Equipment and Infrastructure, Capacity and Training, Operations, Stakeholders and Partners, and Planning and Higher-level processes.
Solutions Unveiled: Strengthening Design, Planning, and Adaptive Management
Expert insights from the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management (SwAM) and Foundation of Success (FOS Europe) unpacked approaches to enhance the design, planning, and adaptive management of MPAs and CMAs. The integration of deliberate learning into professional practice emerged as a key strategy for effective decision-making in the face of uncertainty.
Global Standards and Commitments
Participants explored evaluation tools, including the Greenlist Standard, a global benchmark for addressing 21st-century environmental challenges. Notably, sites from Comoros, Kenya, Mozambique, Seychelles, and Tanzania expressed interest in embarking on the Greenlist process to meet this ambitious global standard.
Towards a Sustainable Future: Key Recommendations and Outputs
The workshop produced key outputs, including the identification of priority issues and proposed solutions, a white paper on the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework in the Western Indian Ocean, a regional capacity needs survey, and updated Terms of Reference for the WIOMPAN network.
Next Steps: A Collaborative Journey Ahead
Moving forward, WIOMPAN and its partners are gearing up to develop workplans and identify funding opportunities to support the priority actions identified during the workshop. The journey towards sustainable marine conservation in the Western Indian Ocean has only just begun, and WIOMPAN stands at the forefront, steering the course towards a healthier and more resilient ocean.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue this exciting journey of marine conservation and collaboration!
Access the workshop report: https://wiomsa.org/wiompan/2023/12/06/wiompan-regional-knowledge-exchange-workshop-report/