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MARINE AND COASTAL RESOURCES
Developing states in Africa and the Pacific have sovereign
rights over vast areas of the ocean filled with fish,
petroleum and minerals plus a number of undiscovered
resources. These countries are rightfully beginning to
question the current methods of exploiting resources.
While there is a strong push for the rapid development
of these sectors to drive economic development, there
is also an emerging need to ensure marine and coastal
ecosystems continue to provide long-term sustainable
benefits.
TheMarine and Coastal Resource programme encourages
innovative thinking in sustainable development based on
marine and coastal ecosystems and resources. Its goals
are to:
• Support true “green-growth” that increases human
well-being while maintaining and enhancing the
health of our oceans and coasts.
• Ensure that resource use adds tangible local value and
leaves a significantly smaller environmental footprint
than is currently seen throughout the world.
POLAR AND MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENTS
The polar and high mountain regions of the world
play an important role in the Earth’s climate system.
They help regulate global temperatures, drive ocean
circulation, and store water in the form of glaciers
and ice sheets. The Polar and Mountain Environments
Programme works with governments, UNEP and UN
agencies, academic institutions, civil society and local
communities to address the challenges of adapting to
rapid climate and environmental changes in the Arctic
and in mountain regions.
Examples of our work include:
• Generating new knowledge about the impacts of
climate change on water availability, food security,
ecosystem function, and societies in the Hindu Kush
Himalayas; and
• Supporting the United Nations Environment
Programme in the Arctic through our role as a Centre
of Excellence on polar issues and engaging in the work
of the Arctic Council’s working groups.
STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORTING
Countries need to be able to measure and monitor the
condition and trends in ecosystems in their marine
jurisdictions. Developing countries have identified
the lack of capability to undertake State of the Marine
Environment (SoME) reporting as a major gap. They
have experts available with knowledge of their marine
environments, but there is a lack of reporting skills in
government agencies responsible for this task.
The goal of this programme is to enhance the capability
of developing countries to undertake their own,
independent assessments using an internationally
recognized methodology. GRID-Arendal will work with
partners this year to:
• Finalise guidelines for SoME reporting and marketing
the method;
• Publish Sierra Leone’s SoME report as the first national
report based on the guidelines; and
• Use the reporting template for other purposes, such as
State of the Environment Reports for lake or river basins.
A scientific paper will be produced based on what was
learned in the Raet National Park SoME demonstration
assessment. The park is located near Arendal/Tromøy.
TRANSBOUNDARY WATERS
With nearly 90 per cent of the world population living in
countries where freshwater resources cross borders, the
peaceful cooperation and sustainable use of shared waters
are critically important. In Africa alone there are 64 shared
river/lake basins. These basins are important hubs for
economic development and regional integration.
GRID-Arendal provides innovative communication
tools and products that enable the sustainable use and
development of such shared resources. It helps develop
local expertise in environmental assessments, and
provides a platform for dialogue on transboundary water
issues between governments, civil society, media, youth
and other stakeholders.
Activities in 2015 will include:
• An assessment of major environmental changes that
have occurred in the Lake Victoria Basin, their causes
and impacts;
• Analysis and mapping of major disasters and risks to
which the LimpopoRiver Basin is vulnerable, with a focus
on the role played by climate change and vulnerability;
• A study on the threats to ecosystem services provided
by the Okavango River Basin with a view of suggesting
innovative governance strategies such as Payment for
Ecosystem Services; and,
• Supporting the institutional and legal framework for
the management of the Caspian Sea.