TANUJA KRISHNA REDDY

VI semester 3 year LLB ‘B’

Registration number: 40320111105
Subject: Environmental Law
 The Western Indian Ocean region is characterised by high biodiversity, both in
terms of species and ecosystems, have always played a prominent role in maintaining
the ecological balances.

 Owing to unfriendly exploitation of natural resources, overfishing, shipwrecks and

anthropogenic activities contributing to pollution, oceans have become a focal point
of environmental concerns.

 Several conventions, treaties and declarations were entered into by the States for a
healthier marine environment. Nairobi Convention is one such engagement.
 Nairobi Convention forms the flagship programme of the United Nations Environment
Programme’s Regional Seas Programme. The Convention, signed in 1985, was effected
from 1996.

 It aims at the sustainable development of the marine and coastal environment by

international cooperation.

 This convention was mainly passed for the protection, management and development of
the marine and coastal environment of the East-African region.

 The Convention takes into account the pertinent environmental provisions as proposed
by prominent international treaties like
 Basel Convention of 1989,
 Bamako Convention of 1991,
 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 and the strategies adopted by
the nations worldwide.
 The Programme is funded by the East African Trust Fund.
Western Indian Ocean region
 The Convention’s
Contracting Parties are:

 (Comoros, France, Kenya

, Madagascar, Mauritius,
Mozambique, Seychelles,
Somalia, Tanzania and
the Republic of South
Africa ).
 offer a legal framework and coordinate the efforts of the countries to protect,
manage and develop their marine space,
 provide a forum for inter-governmental discussions for better understanding of
regional environmental problems, the strategies needed to address them and
solutions,
 facilitate the periodic assessment of the state of coastal and marine environment.
1. National Focal Points: They are the main line of communication between
Contracting Parties and the Secretariat.

2. Secretariat: The Executive Director of the United Nations Environment

Programme acts as the Secretariat and serves as the central administrator for the
Convention and implementation of the work program.

3. Partners of the Convention: They support the Nairobi Convention in carrying

out the activities of the work programme.

4. Expert groups/Task forces address emerging issues in the region.

5. Regional Coordinating Unit (RCU) - The central coordinating body of the

Nairobi Convention.
 The Convention promotes
 International cooperation from regional organisations
 Collaboration between nations and regional organisations to
promote technological and scientific advancements,
 Development of research centres and exchange of information for
better implementation.
 AREAS OF WORK
 Under the 2018-2022 Nairobi Convention Proposed Programme of Work, the Convention
has four priority areas:

1. Assessments and capacity building: Ecosystems and resources are assessed,

including on areas such as sources of pollution, marine litter, economic valuations of the
marine and coastal environment, and the impacts of climate change.

2. Management: sustainable use, and protection of the Western Indian Ocean region

3. Coordination and legal aspects: , including through implementing and updating the
Convention and its protocols, developing new protocols,

4. Information and awareness: to raise awareness among the public of the importance of
the Western Indian Ocean region.
 Implementation of the Strategic Action Programme for the protection
of the Western Indian Ocean from land-based sources and activities
(WIOSAP)
 The Western Indian Ocean Large Marine Ecosystems Strategic
Action Programme Policy Harmonisation and Institutional Reforms
(SAPPHIRE)
 Integrated Management of the Marine and Coastal Resources of the
Northern Mozambique Channel (NoCaMo) Project
 The constant efforts of the Organisation to promote regional cooperation, exchange
of data and technical assistance to underdeveloped countries have resulted in
some positive outcomes. The current day situation of most of the estuaries has
improved in terms of a healthy flow of rivers, thriving mangroves and restoration of
endangered marine species.
 Key achievements:
1. Finalization of negotiations for a Protocol on Integrated Coastal Zone
Management
2. Support to the Northern Mozambique Channel as a good example of integrated
ocean management approach.
3. Support for sustainable fisheries management and biodiversity conservation of
deep-sea living marine resources and ecosystems in the areas beyond national
jurisdiction.
4. Regional oil and gas development capacity building programme in the
Western Indian Ocean region (2016)