Lamin
Komma, Senior Program Officer responsible for Coastal and Marine Environment
Programme at the National Environment Agency has disclosed that COP12 of the
Abidjan Convention is an occasion for participants to network and share
information on marine environmental issues in Africa.
The
conference, he said is also a place where partners of the convention share
information on their projects, publications, etc. through exhibition booths
during the conference.
In
an exclusive interview with this paper at a side event, he revealed that The
Gambia became a signatory to the Abidjan Convention on 23rd March 1981 and
ratified on 6th December 1984 and since then, he said the Gambia has been so
committed in fulfilling her obligations towards the goals of the convention.
With
the theme “Integrated Oceans Management Policies in Africa”, Komma said COP12
meeting is to ensure the implementation of the Convention and its protocols,
and it will mark the end of the revitalization process of the Abidjan
Convention initiated in 2010 and launch its active phase.
According
to the head of Gambian delegation, the theme for this year has given a renewed
spirit to focus on moving further with enormous courage and enthusiasm in the
sustainable and sound management of our shared natural resources for the
benefit of present and future generations in a manner that is consistent with
the overall goal of sustainable development. “As Contracting Parties to the
Abidjan Convention, we are united and committed to addressing the myriad of
challenges facing our shared environment – ocean storm surges, coastal erosion,
destruction of coastal and marine ecosystems, resource exploitation, habitat
degradation, poverty, etc. We have also made tremendous strides in putting in
place legislative regimes and national and regional programmes to address these
challenges”. SPO Komma pointed out.
On
the home front, Komma pointed out that The Gambia has an 80 Kilometers long
Open Atlantic Coastline and 200 Kilometers of Sheltered Coast along the River
Gambia which is dominated by extensive mangrove systems and mud flats. With a
continental shelf area of about 4,000 km2 and approximately 10,500 km2 of
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), he disclosed that The Gambia is believed to be particularly
rich in terms of abundance fish species and diversity. This rich resource-base,
he said offers great potential to make a substantial contribution to the
country’s socio-economic development, if fish resources are managed
sustainably.
In
order to meet this objective, he informed this paper that the Government of The
Gambia, has introduced The Gambia Incorporated……VISION 2020 development
programme in which it has commit herself to conserve and promote the rational
use of the nation’s natural resources and environment for the benefit of
present and future generations in a manner that is consistent with the overall
goal of sustainable development at all levels.
VISION
2020 he pointed out is in harmony with the Gambia Environment Action Plan
(GEAP), other natural resource sector policies as well as the Multilateral
Environmental Agreements. “Therefore, we should take advantage of the available
opportunities to implement activities using approaches that are mutually
beneficial and synergetic, and can contribute to the overall objectives of the
Abidjan Convention work programme”. He advised.
Going
further, he added that The Gambia’s marine and coastal environment has
international importance because of its strategic location, route for
straddling marine stocks and the like, and therefore calls for sound
environmental management that requires continuous appropriate management to
ensure their proper and sustainable conservation. He appealingly noted that the
effective administration of conservation and environmental protection requires
enforcement of the legislation in hand, enhanced and strengthened consultation
procedures, and the provision of appropriate expertise to stakeholders and
adequate resourcing.
Furthermore,
SPO Komma revealed that the Contracting Parties meetings aims to ensure the
enforcement of this Convention and the Protocols thereto, taking decisions
necessary for effective implementation of the Convention, adopting, revising
and amending, as appropriate, in accordance with Article 29 provisions, the
Annexes to this Convention and related protocols, and making recommendations
for the adoption of additional protocols or amendments to this Convention or to
its related Protocols, in accordance with the provisions of Articles 24 and 25.
It
also aims to take stock of the steps taken to control pollution and preserve
marine and coastal biodiversity in the area of application of the Convention,
review and make decisions on cooperation activities to be undertaken under this
Convention and its protocols, including financial and institutional
implications, and finally to encourage the Parties to get involved in the
development of integrated marine areas and coastal zone management policies for
their populations. Komma noted.
During
the COP12, he disclosed that draft decisions to be adapted include Work Program
2017-2020, Financial issues, Modification of the text of the Abidjan
Convention, Work of the Convention on the interface between soft waters, marine
and coastal ecosystems, Sustainable management of mangrove ecosystems in the
zone of influence of the Abidjan Convention, and Environmental standards for
exploration and exploitation activities related to oil and gas off the coasts
of the States Parties.
Also
to be adapted according to Komma, are the Integrated management policy for
coasts and oceans, Creation of the Guinea Current Commission by a protocol of
the Abidjan Convention, Revitalization of the Action plan for the protection
and the development of the marine environment and coastal zones of the
South-Eastern Atlantic, Climate change, Ecologically or Biologically
Significant Marine Areas (EBSAs), and Conservation and sustainable use of
marine biodiversity for zones located beyond national jurisdictions are among a
longlist of decisions to be adopted during the sessions.
It
could be recalled that the Twelfth Meeting of the Contracting Parties (COP12)
to the Convention for Cooperation in the Protection, Management and Development
of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Atlantic Coast of the West,
Central and Southern Africa Region (Abidjan Convention) is taking place in
Abidjan, Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, from 27 to 31 March 2017.
