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UNITED EP NATIONS UNEP/(DEPI)/EAF/COP8 United Nations Distr.: General Environment Programme Original: English REPORT OF THE EIGHTH CONFERENCE OF PARTIES TO THE CONVENTION FOR THE PROTECTION, MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE MARINE AND COASTAL ENVIRONMENT OF THE WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN (NAIROBI CONVENTION) Mahe, Seychelles 22-24 June, 2015. Table of Contents Background................................................................................................................................................ 3 The Eighth Conference of Parties.............................................................................................................. 3 A. Report of the Meeting of Experts of the Conference of the Parties................................................. 4 B. The Launch of the Regional State of the Coast Report for the WIO Region..................................... 6 C. Meeting of the Heads of Delegation..................................................................................................7 Annexes....................................................................................................................................................15 I: List of participants of the Eighth Conference of Parties to the Nairobi Convention...........................15 II: Agenda of the Meetings...................................................................................................................... 26 III: Other Workshops’ Reports................................................................................................................. 32 A. Report of the Blue Economy and Ocean Governance Workshop................................................... 32 B. Report of the Partnerships Workshop.............................................................................................37 C. Report of the Science Policy Workshop...........................................................................................43 IV: Opening Statements.......................................................................................................................... 50 IV: Adopted decisions of the Eighth Conference of Parties.....................................................................77 2 BACKGROUND 1. The Convention for the Protection, Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Eastern African Region (Nairobi Convention) and its two protocols (Protected Areas and Wild Fauna and Flora in the Eastern African Region and Cooperation in Combating Marine Pollution in Cases of Emergency in the Eastern African Region). The convention that was adopted in June 22 1985 came into force in May 1996. Following their entry into force, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) convened the first meeting of the Contracting Parties in March 1997 in Seychelles and subsequently the Conference of Parties is held after two years to review the implementation of decisions of the COPs and to adopt the work program for the Nairobi Convention. 2. The Convention’s work programs are collaborative programs that builds on the momentum achieved through the previous work programmes. The work program is implemented through a coordination structure that constitutes the programme coordination office in Nairobi which provides strategic direction; a Bureau of Contracting Parties that provides guidance in the implementation of the convention; a network of national focal points; thematic experts groups such as coral reef taskforce and the Consortium for the Conservation of Marine Resources. 3. During the sixth Conference of Parties on 29 March to 1 April 2010 in Nairobi, Kenya, the Conference of Plenipotentiaries considered, adopted and signed two instruments for the Nairobi Convention: the Amended Nairobi Convention for the Protection, Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Western Indian Ocean; and a new Protocol for the Protection of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Western Indian Ocean from Land-Based Sources and Activities. The meeting also adopted a Strategic Action Programme for the protection of the Western Indian Ocean from Land-based Sources and Activities (WIO-SAP). 4. The Seventh COP adopted twenty decisions among them: development of an ICZM protocol, review of the protocol on protected areas and wild fauna and flora, environment management for oil and gas exploration, climate change adaptation and mitigation, contribution to the UN regular process, strengthening the operational functioning of the secretariat, among others. The Eighth Conference of Parties (COP 8) 5. The Nairobi Convention for the Protection, Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Western Indian Ocean Region Secretariat (Nairobi Convention) in close collaboration with the Government of Seychelles, and the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA), organized the Eighth Conference of Parties (COP8) for the Nairobi Convention under the theme “Conserving the Marine and Coastal Environment for the Western Indian Ocean for the next 30 Years” on 22 - 24 June, 2015 in Mahe, Seychelles. The COP8 for the Nairobi Convention coincided with the 30th anniversary -- the Convention that was adopted in June 1985 6. The Eighth Conference of Parties was preceded by three preparatory workshops, the launch of the Regional State of the Coast Report of the Western Indian Ocean and the signing of the Strategic Action Programme for Sustainable Management of the WIO large marine ecosystems (LMEs) by the Contracting Parties. The preceding preparatory workshops were held in the following sequence: a) The Blue Economy and Ocean Governance Workshop held on the 17-18 June 2015; b) The Partnerships Workshop held on the 19 June 2015; c) The Science - Policy Workshop held on the 20 June 2015; 3 The reports of these workshops are attached as Annex III of this report. 7. COP 8 was divided into two segments: an Experts meeting on 22 June 2015; and a Heads of Delegation Meeting on 23-24 June, 2015. The Experts’ meeting discussed the UNEP Executive Director’s report, the National Reports on the activities of the Contracting Parties, Observers reports, a Coordination Mechanism for the Nairobi Convention and the Draft Decisions for the Heads of Delegation meeting. A. Report of the Experts Meeting of the Conference of the Parties 1. Introduction 8. The Experts meeting of June 22, 2015 at the Savoy Resort in Mahe Seychelles was attended by 106 participants including the Minister for Environment, Energy and Climate Change of Seychelles, Mr. Didier Dogley, the Minister for Production, Environment, Energy, Industry and Crafts of Comoros, Siti Kassim; the Director, Division of Environmental Policy Implementation (UNEP - DEPI), Mette Wilkie; Principal and Permanent Secretaries, Directors and senior representatives of the Governments and the focal points of the Nairobi Convention from Comoros, Kenya, France, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa and Tanzania. Also present were the representatives of UN organizations, NGOs, IGOs, research institutions and academia. 2. Opening of the Experts Meeting 9. Mr. Dixon Waruinge, Head, Secretariat for the Nairobi Convention called the experts meeting to order. 10. The Director of the Division of Environmental Policy Implementation (DEPI), Ms. Mette Wilkie gave opening remarks commending the Contracting Parties of the Nairobi Convention for their achievements in the conservation of the marine and coastal environment in the last 30 years. She called upon the Contracting Parties to discuss on future opportunities for oceans governance and sustainable management of ocean resources in the Western Indian Ocean Region. Her statement covered an overview of the Blue Economy initiatives in the WIO Region, the various projects and initiatives supported by UNEP, the revision of the Convention and adoption by the Contracting Parties of the Land-Based Sources and Activities Protocol (LBSA). She commended the Contracting Parties for the progress made in ratifying the Protocol. The Director thanked the Contracting Parties, the Secretariat, the Western Indian Ocean Consortium (WIO-C), donors and stakeholders for their efforts to implement the Convention’s Work Programme 2015-2017 and committed to UNEP’s support in assisting the Secretariat to implement the work programme. Ms. Wilkie urged the Contracting Parties to participate in the post 2015 Development Agenda process and to take note of the Sustainable Development Goals particularly the goal to sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development and to harness the opportunities resulting from the post - 2015 development agenda process for the benefit of the Western Indian Ocean region. 11. The Minister for Environment, Energy and Climate of the Seychelles, Hon. Didier Dogley officially opened the Experts meeting. 4 3. Organizational Matters 12. In accordance with rule 16 of the rules of procedure for meetings and conferences of the Nairobi Convention, the Chair of the Bureau, Tanzania handed over the Chairmanship of the meeting to the Host Country, Seychelles. Kenya, as the rapporteur, kept track of the key issues from the meeting. 13. The Chair introduced the agenda which was adopted as it was. The adopted agenda is attached as an annex of this report. 4. Highlights of the UNEP Executive Director’s report 14. The head of the Nairobi Convention Secretariat presented the highlights of the UNEP Executive Director’s report focusing on the