West Africa makes progress towards the 30×30 target

Last July, I was invited as a panellist for the 2nd Scientific Meeting of the Coast and Sea held on the island of São Miguel, Portugal. Organised by the University of the Azores, the meeting brought together scientists and professionals from European and American universities and organisations to share experiences and case studies on various themes around Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Topics discussed include progress made towards designating MPAs, policy implementation, participatory mapping, MPA co-design process, and co-management. 

My lecture, “New perspectives for Marine Protected Areas in Africa”, presented the approaches employed in our new projects in West Africa, which focus on several aspects of MPA management.

The presentation highlighted the challenge of achieving the 30×30 target set by the Kunming – Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), which calls for 30% of the world’s terrestrial, inland water, and coastal and marine areas to be effectively protected and managed by 2030. In Africa, MPA coverage is around 17% of marine areas, representing 2.5 million square kilometres of total area under protection. Although far from the 30% target, this percentage is significantly higher than other continents, including Europe (8.5%) and North America (15%)[1]. The real challenge, however, is in ensuring the effectiveness of environmental protection, as these marine and coastal areas, according to target 3 of the GBF[2], should be “effectively conserved and managed through ecologically representative, well-connected and equitably governed systems of protected areas…”. Effective MPA conservation and management is also the overarching goal of three new projects GRID-Arendal contributes to in three West African countries: Namibia, Senegal, and Guinea Bissau. 

[1] protectedplanet.net (as of July 2023)

 [2] https://www.cbd.int/gbf/targets/3/

Namibian coastal areas host one of the most productive marine regions in the world. The Namibian Islands´ Marine Protected Area (NIMPA) encompasses the upwelling centre of the Benguela Current, home to a diversity of seabirds and marine mammals, including the endangered African penguin. However, NIMPA waters face grave threats from overfishing, pollution, and climate change.

The Strengthening and expanding Namibia’s MPA network (NIMPA+) project, financed by the Blue Action Fund and other partners, will establish and implement a new management framework for enhanced decision-making and sustainable use of marine resources. NIMPA+ will benefit small-scale fishers, gleaners, and entrepreneurs by developing strategies to improve resource use and inform the designation of two new MPAs, increasing the area under protection for safeguarding marine biodiversity. NIMPA+ runs from 2023 to 2028 and is led by the Namibia Nature Foundation in partnership with seven organisations, including GRID-Arendal.

MPAs in Senegal cover an array of critical habitats (e.g., mangroves, canyons, and seamounts), aiming to preserve species diversity and habitat integrity. Senegalese marine waters are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of a changing climate, threatening the country’s marine conservation progress. The research project, Inclusive Management of the Cayar and Ufoyaal Kassa-Bandial MPAs in Senegal, funded by the Lenfest Ocean Program, aims to provide a better understanding of the risks confronting these MPAs in the face of changing physical and ecological conditions caused by climate change. Alterations in oceanic parameters (e.g., sea temperature, acidity, etc.) will impact species and habitat distribution and functioning, and a better understanding of such changes can meaningfully strengthen the MPA´s management, including the participation of local communities in monitoring and co-management. This project, led by GRID-Arendal and involving four Senegalese partners, runs until mid-2025.

The Bijagós archipelago consists of 88 islands located off the coast of Guinea-Bissau. Designated as a Biosphere Reserve in 1996, the archipelago is home to several endangered species, including green turtles, manatees, dolphins, sawfish, sharks, and rays. Its rich biodiversity is vital to Guinea-Bissau’s economy, yet faces numerous challenges, including overfishing and poverty among the population, with most inhabitants living below the poverty line. Led by the Regional Partnership for the Conservation of the Coastal and Marine Zone (PRCM) and implemented jointly with five environmental and social partner organisations, the ‘Blue Bijagós’ project aims to improve marine resource management and livelihoods in the archipelago. By 2028, the project aims to expand the archipelago’s existing MPA network, including a corridor to connect MPAs, ensuring more effective conservation. Improved capacity development and participation of local communities in MPA management, enhanced monitoring and prosecution of illegal practices; and the identification of alternative income generating activities (e.g., ecotourism), are some of the expected outcomes of this Blue Action Fund initiative.

The three projects held inception meetings during the months of September and October to discuss and finalise work plans. The partnerships are now ready to advance with the work to enhance marine conservation in West Africa. Learn more and follow our progress through GRID-Arendal’s news updates and social media.

For more information on GRID-Arendals activities, check out our website.