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🇬🇭 Ghana /Environment & Climate

West Africa urged to protect marine ecosystems with Nature-based Solutions

From Ghanaian Times · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • West African nations are urged to boost efforts in protecting marine and coastal ecosystems using Nature-based Solutions and Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures.
  • A regional workshop in Accra highlighted threats like overfishing and pollution, emphasizing the need for collaboration and sustainable ocean governance.
  • Recognition of OECMs aims to support existing conservation efforts by communities and stakeholders, improving biodiversity and livelihoods.

West African countries must intensify efforts to safeguard their marine and coastal ecosystems, a call made at a regional workshop in Accra focused on Nature-based Solutions and Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs).

Healthy oceans were essential for food security, job creation, economic growth and climate resilience.

— Dr Afisah ZakariahDr. Afisah Zakariah, Chief Director of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, highlighted the importance of marine health.

Dr. Afisah Zakariah, Chief Director of Ghana's Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, stressed the critical role of healthy oceans for food security, jobs, economic growth, and climate resilience. She noted that sub-Saharan marine resources face increasing threats from overfishing, pollution, climate change, and coastal erosion, necessitating stronger international cooperation.

OECMs provided an opportunity to recognise and support areas already contributing to biodiversity conservation, even if they were not officially classified as protected areas.

— Dr Afisah ZakariahDr. Zakariah explained the function and benefit of Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures.

OECMs offer a framework to acknowledge and support areas already contributing to biodiversity conservation, even if not formally designated as protected zones. This approach complements traditional marine protected areas and provides a pathway to recognize the conservation work of local communities and other stakeholders, thereby enhancing biodiversity and supporting coastal livelihoods. The workshop aims to build participants' capacity to identify, assess, and report OECMs according to international standards.

safeguarding marine ecosystems, noting that millions of people in West Africa depended on fisheries and other ocean resources for their livelihoods.

— Ms June ShinnebachMs. June Shinnebach of the European Union underscored the economic reliance on marine resources.

Representatives from the European Union also emphasized the importance of marine ecosystem protection, noting that millions in West Africa depend on fisheries and ocean resources for their livelihoods. The EU pledged continued support for initiatives promoting regional cooperation, sustainable fisheries, and biodiversity conservation, encouraging knowledge sharing and best practices among nations.

OECMs complemented marine protected areas and provided an avenue to recognise conservation efforts by local communities and other stakeholders.

— Ms Dorcas Owusuaa AgyeiMs. Dorcas Owusuaa Agyei, National Coordinator of the NbS Project at IUCN, described how OECMs work alongside protected areas.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ghanaian Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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