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State of the Environment Reporting Secretariat of the Abidjan Convention GRID-Arendal is working with UNEP helping the Abidjan Convention Secretariat to support member states to improve governance mechanisms, secure needed resources and create opportunities to improve the management of marine and coastal resources. This will be done in a number of ways using the latest coastal management and habitat protection techniques. It will also require a good understanding of the society and economies of the West African Coast and its marine and coastal communities. Finally, it will enable firsthand marine research by young marine scientists from the Abidjan Convention region. Marine Plastic is Everywhere In cooperation with UNEP-GPA (Global Programme of Action), GRID-Arendal is developing a “UNEP Vital Graphics” report on Marine Plastic Debris and Microplastics. The report is scheduled for completion in early 2016 and a large collection of graphics will be presented and used to prompt discussion at the second United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA 2) meeting to be held in Nairobi in late May 2016.It is fundamental to marine environmental management that countries have the capacity to monitor
the condition and trend of ecosystems in their marine jurisdictions. Undertaking integrated
assessments can be expensive and time consuming, but sound information is critical to decision-
making and maintaining healthy oceans. Experts from developing countries have identified the lack
of capability to undertake State of the Marine Environment (SOME) reporting as a major challenge.
While there are experts available with knowledge of their marine environments, there is a lack of
reporting skills among the government agencies responsible for this task. GRID-Arendal’s State of
the Environment Reporting programme was set up to help fill this gap.
Developing this project required GRID-Arendal staff to
take part in several international meetings, including the
Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine
Environmental Protection (GESAMP)
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Working Group on
Microplastics in Rome in April and Guayaquil, Ecuador in
November, the National Marine Litter Seminar in Oslo in
January, the Norwegian Microplastics Workshop in April
and Talking About Plastic Garbage in Zurich in October.
GRID-Arendal was also involved in the preparation of
several project proposals at European and national level,
continued its local initiative on beach clean-ups and
explored new local and international partnerships.
Towards the end of 2015 GRID-Arendal was approached by
the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment who
requested support to prepare and implement a high-level
side event onMarine Litter during the 2016UNEAmeeting.
Formal cooperation was established with the Stockholm
Resilience Centre through hosting a Master’s student
from the University of Stockholm who is working on
issues related to marine plastic pollution.
“Raet” Coastal Archipelago Park. Photo: Peter Prokosch