Western Indian Ocean ecosystem conservation consortium launched

 

From: IPPMedia

Nov 2007
By Guardian Correspondent

The consortium for Conservation of Coastal and Marine Ecosystems in Western Indian Ocean`, (WIO-C), was launched yesterday at the on going conference of parties to the Nairobi and Abidjan Convention in Johannesburg.
The consortium seeks to influence the development of policies that balance conservation and development needs through high profile and high-level engagement.
The consortium whose main focus is on sharing of information, lessons and best practices; monitoring for improved management and capacity building on the future of coastal and marine livelihood was launched by Dr. Rolph Payet, the Interim Regional Coordinator of the Nairobi Convention.
It is a joint initiative by the World Conservation Union (IUCN), the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA), the Coral Reef Degradation in the Indian Ocean (CORDIO), the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
Others are Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), the New Partnership for Africa’s Development Coastal and Marine sub-programme; (NEPAD/ COSMAR), Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (IOC/UNESCO), aimed at developing synergistic partnerships that will advance marine research, conservation and management in the Western Indian Ocean region.
Over the years, the governments of the Western Indian Ocean have voiced concern over the continued degradation of the marine and coastal environment; consequently, several regional organisations have developed coastal and marine conservation programmes in the Eastern and Southern Africa including the Island States of the West Indian Ocean (WIO).
These programmes include the WWF coordinated Eastern African Marine Ecoregion (EAME), IUCN’s Eastern Africa Marine and Coastal Ecosystems Programme and other projects implemented by CORDIO, WIOMSA, WCS, UNEP and UNESCO.
Due to the multiplicity of projects and programmes, a number of key stakeholders have come together to discuss and agree on how the initiatives can be more effective in influencing decision making and changing the face of natural resource management in Western Indian Ocean. WIO-C has been formed to rationalise these efforts.
`It is recognised that such collaboration will not only advance the sustainable use and conservation of coastal and marine ecosystems and associated resources, but that it will also contribute to sustainable livelihood and poverty reduction in the region,` said Dr. Payet .
The mission of WIO-C is to become the principle mechanism for reaching a broad stakeholder engagement in the formulation and implementation of the programme of Work for the Nairobi Convention.
The nine founding members are therefore committed to anchor the Consortium in the Nairobi Convention for the Protection, Management and Development of the marine and coastal environment of the Eastern and Southern Africa (Western Indian Ocean) Region.
The consortium consists of a highly credible network of organizations that will be able to provide decision support, share information and management experiences, mobilize resources and develop collaborative programmes.
In particular these activities will relate to the regional and transboundary issues.
The main purpose of the consortium is to support synergy and strengthen coordination in the implementation of activities and programmes related to marine and coastal ecosystem management, research and development.
The consortium will also be instrumental in promoting knowledge and information sharing amongst stakeholders in the Western Indian Ocean region with a view to anchoring activities within the framework of the Nairobi Convention, says the statement.
While the nine-member leadership group will steer the consortium, the day-to-day secretariat functions will be a revolving responsibility – initially undertaken by the WWF-Eastern African Marine Ecoregion Team based in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, it says.
The consortium was established at the Meeting of the Partners that was held in Nairobi, Kenya from August 31 to September 1, 2006.

* SOURCE: Guardian

European Development Days Roundtable

Climate Change Mitigation, Opportunities and Financing   Room 4 - 10.30-13.30

Combining the Fight against Poverty and Climate Change

The pictures of this round table are accessible here

 

“The whole debate has illustrated the complexity of the issues involved in addressing climate change, in particular issues such as the transfer of technology and reducing greenhouse gases, while simultaneously trying to eliminate poverty... Amongst the experts themselves, the views diverge greatly on how can you achieve the Millennium Development Goals on poverty reduction and at the same time reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It is clear there are no easy answers and clearly no silver bullet.”

Anya Sitaram, Journalist and Broadcaster - Moderator

Panellists debated the complex interplay of issues surrounding how to implement and finance climate change mitigation measures. They generally agreed that mitigation, adaptation and technology transfer are three pillars of equal importance in sustainable policies for tackling climate change.

Marina Ploutakhina from UNIDO pointed to the broad consensus emerging that a vast array of technological solutions are necessary to address mitigation issues. The good news, she said, is that the vast majority of the technologies needed are already in the public domain.

Given that industry accounts globally for some 37% of greenhouse gases, UNIDO has focused much of its effort on the optimisation of industrial systems. But to maximise efficiency gains one must optimise the whole system. This is complex and requires an extra effort, particularly for developing countries. But many mitigation technologies for improving energy efficiency are inexpensive.

Theodoros Skylakakis of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs also believes that the growing developing world economies must urgently adopt low greenhouse gas growth paths. “The rights decisions must be taken early on since the first stages such as transportation and industrial technologies are binding for the remainder of a country’s development and cannot be reversed,” he explained.

Rolph Payet, Special Advisor to the President of the Republic of Seychelles, agreed that all the necessary technologies are already out there. “Sometimes we are creating barriers by holding onto the patents to make private financial gain,” he said. ”We have to push harder to put these technologies into use. Photovoltaic cells, for example, have been around for 25 years. Why aren’t they mass produced and cheap?”

 

MEP Berman encouraged people to think outside of the box: “Agriculture needs a new place in climate change policy. We need to support farmers not just to provide food but for non-food reasons like preventing desertification, and minimising the use of fossil fuels,” he said.

Ndidi Nnoli-Edozien of the Growing Business Foundation in Nigeria urged a change in thinking among donor countries. “A lot of what is called ‘aid’, should be called ‘compensation’ which better reflects the role being bestowed on the economic players in developing countries – ranging from forestry workers to farmers – to help reduce climate problems,” she said.

Training and education play an important role at the local level to increase awareness, explained Mahamadou Sako of Niger. “Climate change science should be taught in universities from primary school level. Our education polices should cater for looking at ways to fight climate change,” he advised.

Manfred Konukiewitz from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development pointed out that the mitigation costs of reducing greenhouse gases involve sizeable sums of money, but not as much as people think. In fact, it is just a fraction of today’s GDP. “Full implementation he said would bring us back to the GPD levels of the 1980s where we didn’t actually live badly,” he said. “It can be financed.”

Berman commented that innovation is driven by laziness, need or obligation. “Our role at the European Parliament is to create obligation,” he said. “But what we are asking for costs money. We must therefore create new sources of money. We could consider raising taxes on the kerosene used in air transportation. It seems ridiculous that such a pollution-intensive resource is tax free. The tax could be redeployed on mitigation measures to counteracting climate change.”

Payet pointed out that such an airline tax would signal the demise of the principal industry of the Seychelles and many other small economies - tourism. Simplistic solutions need to be fully thought through.

“Why not look at the business of carbon trading,” he suggested. “This has become a billion dollar business. How about taking a percentage of the commissions being made and putting it towards adaptation?”

Richard Hosier of the Global Environment Facility explained that his organisation had been working to remove barriers to energy efficient renewables projects. “We believe by removing barriers and creating the enabling environment for sustainable investments we have reduced a billion tons of CO2 emissions,” he stated.

Bernard Petit of the EC’s DG Development highlighted the importance of the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali in December 2007: “With a view to the Bali meeting, the EU has proposed a reduction of 20 per cent in its emissions by 2020. In Bali everyone must assume their responsibility and work towards a joint reduction in emissions.”

Attached documents

• Background Note [pdf]

Speakers

• HOSIER Richard
• KONUKIEWITZ Manfred
• MARTENS Maria
• NNOLI-EDOZIEN Ndidi
• PAYET Rolph
• PETIT Bernard
• PLOUTAKHINA Marina
• SAKO Mahamadou
• SITARAM Anya
• SKYLAKAKIS Theodoros

Quote from EU Development Days

From: EU Development Days Conference Lisbon 7-9 Nov 2007

PAYET Rolph
   Special Advisor to the President of the Republic of Seychelles

08/11 “The technologies we need are all out there. Sometimes we are creating barriers by holding onto the patents to make private financial gain. We have to push harder to put these technologies into use. Photovoltaic cells have been around for 25 years. Why aren’t they mass produced and cheap

Seychelles University Foundation

Seychelles University Foundation - 05.11.2007

Source: Seychelles Nation

The chairman of the Seychelles University Foundation, Dr Rolph Payet, has released a brochure outlining the proposed institution’s mission, aspirations and how people can get involved with supporting it.

The brochure, which has been sent to all Seychelles diplomatic missions abroad, also talks about the university’s plans, saying it has already acquired two plots of land, one at Mont Fleuri and the other at Anse Royale.
Dr Payet said that it also states what rewards await those who support the initiative.

According to the publication, among the missions of the university is one to unlock the Seychellois potential for economic, sustainable and cultural growth by aligning education and human resource development to the long-term development strategies of Seychelles and to create a high profile environment for the life long learning, research and technological advancement through partnership with leading international institutions.

The core aspirations are to establish a university in Seychelles that will strive to create an innovation-learning environment relevant to the needs of the country.

“The University will be designed with a modern outlook to learning, discovery and innovation and be open to all levels of society, including grass roots individuals wishing to engage professional development and discovery while cultivating a commitment to the betterment of people within the community, thereby demonstrating a responsibility towards society as a whole.

Dr Payet said that Seychelles needs a university because human progress hinges on the development of universities, and currently, the cost of overseas graduate training restricts the number of potential Seychellois that can attend university.

“And also because the nation needs to embrace the concept of a knowledge based society. The university will serve as an engine for growth and development in Seychelles and drive Seychelles economic growth by developing its most important asset, its people.

“We also need one because the creation and retention of wealth underpins the future of Seychelles. The university will enable Seychellois to operate successfully at enhanced managerial and professional levels,” he said, quoting from the brochure.

The publication says that the university’s other aim is to initially focus on areas where Seychelles University can play a significant role in the development of Seychelles.

“Our focus in information technology will include high-level training to meet the country’s needs in areas of IT support and development, communications and emerging technologies, and to prepare for the development of knowledge services hub.

“Focus in Business and Finance will include business management, commerce, financial services, economics and business law aimed at achieving economic growth and performance, entrepreneurship and sustainable competitive advantage.

“In environment and fisheries, focus will include tropical eco-system conservation, restoration, coastal and marine ecosystem management, fisheries development, as well as emphasis on adaptation and resilience building to climate change,” it says.

With regard to education and knowledge, the brochure says that focus will be on the development of high quality teams of teachers to support the entire educational system, including the introduction of life-long learning concepts, knowledge management in early schooling, and development of a robust human resource base.

In tourism and events focus will include the development of senior managers and professionals for the entire tourism industry, with focus on quality services and products, as well as the promotion of the cultural and ecotourism aspects.

The government has offered two plots land on which to build the new university. It is also expected that a few existing buildings will also be converted to house certain faculties or facilities of the university. The main campus will be located at Anse Royale on a 27-hectare plot of land near the district administration offices.

In the first phase of construction a facility is proposed at the centre of existing learning facilities at Mont Fleuri. This modern building will be located on a 0.36 hectares of land between the Ministry of Education  and the National Institute of Education. The new facility will house the first faculties of the Seychelles University and its associated infrastructure. Preliminary artist impressions and design for the building are being prepared.

People who support the university will be rewarded thus:
For every donation given, which is below US $20,000 or equivalent in Seychelles Rupees (SR), each donor will automatically earn the title of “Friend of the Seychelles University Foundation” and a Certificate.

For every donation given, which exceeds US $20,000 (or equivalent in SR, or equal accumulated donation over three years) the donor will earn the title “Supporter of the Seychelles University Foundation,” and a Gold certificate.

For every donation of US $200,000 (or equivalent in SR) and above, the donor will be entitled to a personal portrait or portrait of choice in the Hall of Fame, and earn the title of “Supporter of the Seychelles University”.

For every donation of US $2,000,000 (or equivalent in SR) and above, the donor will have the choice of naming one of the university buildings, be entitled to a portrait in the Hall of Fame, and earn the title of “Co-founder of the Seychelles University.”