Assessment 2016 West Africa coastal areas GENERAL DOCUMENT 2017 This document has been developed by the West African Coast Observation Mission with the support of the Centre for Ecological Moni- toring (CSE) and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as part of the implementation of UEMOA Regional Coastal Erosion Control program and the enforcement of article 10 of the Abidjan convention related to coastal erosion control through the imple- menting agency agreement entered into be- tween UEMOA and CSE in November 2012. Table of contents Acronyms and abbreviations 4 4.2.1. The facade of the canary current 65 1. INTRODUCTION 5 4.2.2.Rivieres sud ecological complex 69 2. WEST AFRICAN LITTORAL SYSTEMS: 4.2.3. Guinea gulf conservation mechanism 72 QUICK STATE OF THE PLAY 12 4.3. The protection of coastal stakes 76 2.1. Coastal physical features in west africa 13 4.3.1. Coast protection endogenous solutions 78 2.1.1. A basically sedimentary, 4.3.2.Integrate protection actions in consistent mobile and dynamic coastal area 14 adaptation strategies 79 2.1.2. Hot spots relating to shoreline changes and sea-level rise 16 4.4. Improving knowledge and vigilance in terms 2.2. Evolution of coastal issues, demographic of coastal risks 80 and economic forecasts: a confirmation in 2016 4.4.1. Feedback on sdlao results in partner countries 81 of the trends identified in 2010 17 4.4.2. Establishment of the data infrastructure 2.2.1. A continuous and increasing population for the monitoring of coastal systems 82 concentration in coastal areas 17 4.4.3. Establishment of national offices 82 2.2.2. The urban question 19 4.4.4. Regular publication of the regional newsletter 2.2.3. Sustained economic growth on the medium term... 22 and of different communication products 83 2.2.4. ... but persistent inequalities 23 4.4.5. Partnerships and events 84 2.2.5. A strongly predominant primary sector 24 4.4.6. 2015 assessment of west africa coastal areas 85 2.2.6. Trade intensification and equipment of the shoreline 25 5. GUIDANCE IN TERMS COASTAL RISKS REDUCTION 3. WEST AFRICAN COASTAL AREAS : TOWARDS «NO REGRETS» ADAPTATION INCREASING PRESSURES 27 TO CLIMATE CHANGE 86 3.1. A climate change context 28 5.1. Reminder of some background elements 87 3.1.1. Uncertainties… 28 5.2. Coastal risk reduction and adaptation strategies 89 3.1.2. Mean sea level rise in question 28 5.3. Territorial approach to adaptaton 90 3.1.3. Already visible impacts of rising sea level 5.4. Sector-based approaches to adaptation 92 and storm surges 29 5.5. Governance supporting adaptation 92 3.2. Increase and concentration of issues, 5.6. Awareness of the adaptation service 93 artificialization of coastal systems 31 BIBLIOGRAPHY 95 3.2.1. Port infrastructure 32 ANNEXES 97 3.2.2. Road networks 35 ANNEX I - Dakar declaration establishing a west african 3.2.3. Urban and built-up extensions 36 coastline observatory for the reduction of coastal risks 3.2.4. Mining and oil sector 46 and the impacts of coastal erosion 98 3.2.5. Dams 48 ANNEX II - list of national, regional and international experts having participated in the study 100 3.2.6. Tourism 50 ANNEX III - SDLAO updating methodology 105 3.2.7. Coastal defense works 52 ANNEX IV - guide for identified sector’s monitoring 4. THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF STATE’S RESPONSES as part of SDLAO 114 TO COASTAL RISKS 53 ANNEX V- main applicable legislation and regulations 4.1. Overseeing the use of coastal areas and resources: to coastal areas in west africa. 133 governance, legal and regulatory frameworks 54 ANNEX VI - main mining operations in countries 4.1.1. Inclusive approaches based on framework monitored by moloa 136 documents and a territorial approach to coastal developments 55 ANNEX VII - main events since moloa implementation 138 4.1.2.Emerging territorial approaches 60 ANNEX VIII - coastal sites of world heritage of humanity 4.1.3.Constitutional approaches to the establishment in west africa and properties nominated for inclusion 143 of the coastal governance 61 4.2. Promoting coastal systems’ resilience 63 p.3 Acronyms and abreviations AFD French Development Agency ALTTFP Abidjan Lagos Trade and Transport Facilitation Project CBD Convention on Biological Diversity CSE Center for Ecological Monitoring of Dakar DAC OECD Development Aid Committee and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development DAL Coastal Development Guidelines DC Developing Countries DFI Direct Foreign Investments ECOWAS Economic Community of West African States EEZ Exclusive Economic Zone EITI Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative FFEM French Facility for Global Environment GDP Gross Domestic Product GEF Global Environment Facility HDI Human Development Index HISC Highly Indebted Small Countries ICAM Integrated Coastal Area Management IDA International Development Association IHDI Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IUCN International Union for the Conservation of Nature IRD Research Institute for Development JICA Japan International Cooperation Agency MOLOA West African Coast Observation Mission MPA Marine Public Area NDF Nordic Development Fund PACO IUCN Central and West Africa Program PDALM Master Plan for Development of the Mauritanian Coast PMA Protected Marine Area PRCM Regional Program for the Conservation of Coastal and Marine Areas in West Africa PRLEC West Africa Regional Coastal Erosion Control Program RAMPAO Regional Network of Marine Protected Areas in West Africa REDD Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation SDAU Urban Development Master Plan SDLAO West African Coastal Master Plan SNIM Mauritania National Industrial and Mining Company TEU Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change WACA West African Coastal Areas Management Program WAEMU West African Economic and Monetary Union WII Wetlands of International Importance – Ramsar site WWF World Wide Fund for Nature p.4 1.Introduction ASSESSMENT 2016 WEST AFRICA COASTAL AREAS GENERAL DOCUMENT p.5 ASSESSMENT 2016 WEST AFRICA COASTAL AREAS / DOCUMENT GENERAL INTRODUCTION ven though West African States are now experienc- Mauritania to Benin1. ing rapid growth in different ways, this growth is di- rectly translated into increasing stakes and there- This work is proportionate to the resources made avail- fore risks on the Western African Atlantic Coast. able by the West African Economic and Monetary Union EThis increase in stakes is combined with the increase in (UEMOA). In this context, MOLOA’s national offices did not the frequency and intensity of coastal hazards. have a specific budget and were therefore required to de- ploy their activities to the extent of their own resources The shoreline monitoring study and the Master plan for supported for regional meetings through the coordination the Management of the West African coastal area (SD- of MOLOA. LAO) were published in 2011. The Environment Ministers meeting held in Dakar in May 2011 marked, through the This work focuses on the main developments over the Dakar Declaration (see Annex I), a regional awareness and period 2010-2016. It is accompanied by an updated map high-level political commitment on coastal risk issues and of the SDLAO at a scale of 1/500,000th. The extension of the procedures for their integration. The establishment knowledge and the establishment of a regional vision of of the West African Coast Observation Mission (MOLOA) the great changes that shape the future shorelines of West immediately after the validation of the SDLAO allowed for Africa allow today an update of the scenarios which helps monitoring the development of hazards and stakes over outline potential relevant adaptation strategies to climate the 11 000 km coast of the 11 SDLAO partner countries. change impacts in the West African context. The prospective study conducted in 2010 with the target The updated assessment of West Africa coastal areas ad- dates of 2030 and 2050 showed the extremely rapid devel- dresses current changing pressures on coastal systems opment of human occupancy in large areas of these coast- (Chapter 3) and the responses of States to cope with these al zones. In fact, the major trends observed both at the pressures (Chapter 4). These elements are preceded by a demographic and economic levels now seem to be fully general context (Chapter 2), which includes an updated re- confirmed by the developments noted between 2010 and view on the prospect made during the SDLAO in 2010. 2015. The forecasts on climate change impacts, updated through the 5th report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), are also a source of concern, and In terms of adaptation and reduction of coastal risks on some recent events in various parts of the West African this shoreline, the “SDLAO Master Plan” (document 1) shoreline confirm this worrying trend. remains highly relevant, as it proposes guidelines for the development of effective adaptation policies. However, this being a recent issue, adaptation doctrines are rapid- The preparation of this 2016 assessment of the status of ly changing. Some recommendations on approaches to the West African coastal areas involved all the members coastal climate change adaptation and coastal risk reduc- of the West African Coast Observation Mission (MOLOA) tion are proposed in Chapter 5. Regional Coordination, established by the Center for Eco- logical Monitoring in Dakar (CSE), MOLOA scientific com- mittee members, supported by the Coastal Expert Group This updated work also includes an update of the SDLAO of IUCN Ecosystem Management Commission and the mapping presented in 9 sheets of A1 format. An updated Marine and Coastal Program of IUCN for Central and West version of the detailed master plan, presented in an ap- Africa. pended document, includes the changes observed across the 179 coastal segments identified during the SDLAO and confirmed during regional technical seminars organized This review, which takes place during the same period as by MOLOA.