Environment ministers converge in Nairobi

From: Kenya Broadcasting Corporation

Written By:Rosalia Opondo    , Posted: Mon, Mar 29, 2010

Environment Ministers from ten African countries are converging at the UNEP headquarters in Gigiri to discuss ways of promoting better use of coastal resources in the region.

Under the aegis of Conference of Parties (COP - 6), the Nairobi Convention will discuss how to strengthen laws on pollution in order to conserve the shared resource of the Indian Ocean. The Western Indian Ocean is one of the richest ecosystems in the world with important mangrove forests, sea grass beds and coral reefs. It is thought to hold more than 11,000 species of plants and animals.

But growing population has led to an exponential increase in pollution through overflow of sewage, chemicals and other pollutants from the land. Deputy Director in charge of Coastal, marine and freshwater at the National Environment Management Agency (NEMA) noted that land based pollution challenges will be given prominence. "One of the protocols being discussed is that dealing with land based sources and activities. Over 80 % of our pollution to environment comes from land, and we are trying to address this," he told KBC news. For the next three days, they will deliberate on how to tighten legislation and national co-operation, in order to conserve the ocean. "The conditions you find in a coastal zone are very similar to conditions in coastal zones in countries that share the same convention," he said This means pollution in one past of Africa will eventually affect other parts.

Dr. Rolph Payet, a participant from Seychelles noted that education on co-operation between users of coastal resources is vital for the survival of marine facilities. According to UNEP, some 30 million people living around the ocean depend upon the area's marine and coastal resources for food, livelihoods and recreation. COP-6 to the Nairobi Convention  is a defining moment as the meeting is expected to among others, adopt the Amended Nairobi Convention as well as endorse the Strategic Action Programme for the Protection of the Marine and Coastal Environment in the Western Indian Ocean from Land- based Sources and Activities (SAP);  The theme of the Conference is Sustaining Progress, and recommendations will be presented to Environment ministers.