WWF MDCO priority landscapes NEWSLETTER FACTSHEET APRIL Northern Seascape 2016 A hotspot of marine and coastal biodiversity and one of the last large marine sanctuaries in the Western © WWF / Iñaki Relanzon

AT A GLANCE Promoting integrated ocean management for sustainable development • Size: 800,000 km² The Northern Mozambique Channel (NMC) region is one of world’s outstanding marine and terrestrial biodiversity areas and a biological reservoir for all East African coastal areas. The • Population: 10 biological and conservation values of the NMC area are of global importance as confirmed by million multiple reports including the 2012 assessment of Ecologically or Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAs). • Ecosystems: coral The economic importance of the NMC has emerged as a future driver of national and regional reefs, , development on a scale not previously realized in East Africa, due to the high fishery productivity coastal wetlands, of the Mozambique Channel, recent findings of globally significant natural gas deposits and a high seagrasses, islands potential for coastal tourism development. Accelerating population growth in the NMC region (rising and islets, deep to 20 million, by 2040) will increase demands for and pressures on resources, while at the same time ocean, coastal forests providing opportunities for economic growth and building prosperity. • Landscape The region is characterized by lackluster governance of marine resources, including low capacity, features: the second weak law enforcement (triggering expansion of Illegal fishing), inappropriate public investment and largest hard coral political instability. biodiversity hotspot in the world, Nosy Vision and Goals Hara and Quirimbas National Parks, Vision: By 2050, the people, countries and Goal 2: By 2020, integrated ocean Mohéli Marine Park, economies of the Northern Mozambique Channel management (IOM) is adopted by three natural gas deposits prosper in a sustainable future founded on the NMC countries and those countries natural and cultural assets and diversity of the are regionally aligning their ocean • Key species: region. management policies. corals, marine Goal 1: By 2020, the NMC countries have endorsed, Goal 3: By 2020, public-private turtles, humphead at the Heads of State level, a regional integrated partnerships or funding support the wrasses, coelacanths, management policy or plan of action centered on countries, institutions and partners in humpback whales, securing critical habitats for biodiversity and food implementing the regional vision for the sharks, whale sharks security. NMC area in a coherent manner. Key Results WWF has been promoting integrated management in the NMC area since 2013. Here are a few of the

key achievements: • NORTHERN MOZAMBIQUE CHANNEL SEASCAPE SEASCAPE CHANNEL MOZAMBIQUE NORTHERN • A Decision was issued at the Nairobi Convention COP 8 requesting all parties to support projects in the NMC • Clear interest from the Malagasy and Comorian governments for collaboration with WWF to fulfil

their Sydney promises and to move towards implementing IOM © WWF / James Morgan • Increasing interest shown by donors to support integrated management and marine spatial planning for 2016 CURRENT PROJECTS • Received commitment from 10 large NGO partners to be fully involved in reaching the current • Initiating the objectives scoping phase of • Collection and analysis of baseline information to better understand the status, value and flow of the NMC integrated ecosystem goods and services in the NMC area management programme intended to foster NMC Main Activities and Partners MPA regional integration Prompted by WWF, many partners, Mafia Island and MSP. who are members of the Western Seychelles Indian Ocean Consortium Aldabra • Enhancing CSO (WIO-C), are acting to promote capacity to manage Tanzania Mnazi Bay the integrated ocean management and advocate for approach in the NMC area. Those Grande Comore Glorioso Islands marine natural partners are: Birdlife International, resources and

Ambodivahibe • Nosy Hara Blue Ventures, Conservation Quirimbas Moheli create a CSO 2016APRIL AMP Mitsio Tsarabanjina Nioumachoua International, CORDIO, Fauna Marine Reserve network. Saziley Lokobe and Flora International, IUCN, Nosy Tanihely Sahamalaza-Iles Radama Rare Conservation, The Nature • Conservancy, Wildlife Conservation and fisheries Mozambique Madagascar Society, Zoological Society of management and London. Baly Bay Bombetoka-Belemboka poverty reduction Promotion of Marine Spatial in Ambaro Bay, Planning (MSP) and sustainable Madagascar to principles and standards for oil and gas extraction are the two main focus areas for WWF and our improve use of partners. Each country in the NMC area will be approached and supported to build multi-actor and mangrove and multi-sector collaborations, when relevant through existing partnerships, allowing for an effective shrimp resources. integrated approach to marine and coastal resources and coordinated use of marine space.

People Spotlight Story The people who live in the NMC area vary greatly The economic importance of the Northern from one country to another as do their habits and Mozambique Channel (NMC) has emerged customs. Many different languages are spoken in the as an important driver of national and region, with the main ones being English, French, regional development. Malagasy, Portuguese and Swahili. The populations At the Eighth Conference of the Parties to of the countries have diverse origins coming from the Nairobi Convention (COP8), in 2015, multiple African ethnic groups and from the Middle © WWF MDCO the NMC integrated management concept East, South East Asia and Europe. was endorsed by the region’s countries. The conference decision The population of the NMC landscape is around requested Contracting Parties, the GEF (Global Environment Facility) ten million. Mozambique is the most populated and other partners, to support projects on Northern Mozambique while the Mayotte islands (France) are the least. Why we are here Channel as a good example of the integrated ocean management The population growth rate is high. At the current If there is no URL To stop the degradation of the planet’s naturalapproach. environment and rate the population will double every 24 years. Most to build a future in which humans live in harmony and nature. of the people depend on marine resources. The This decision paves the way for countries in the region to become more involved in the NMC strategy and for a cooperative management

education level is generally low. WWW.WWF.MG approach. OR

Why we are here To stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and With URL - Regular to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. www.panda.org