written by Carolin Hoffmann, Blue Solutions
It is our mission to foster capacity development in the field of coastal and marine management. For that reason, we have just spent 9 days with a diverse group of marine professionals who underwent an intense training program on various elements and skills that constitute a blue trainer. There is one thing we are sure of – what happened in Bali will not stay in Bali!
© Blue Solutions / Janina Korting
Earth Optimism, an unprecedented gathering of thought leaders, scientists, environmentalists, artists, civic leaders and international media, is a global initiative that celebrates a change in focus from problem to solution, from a sense of loss to one of hope, in the dialogue about conservation and sustainability. The initiative cumulated to a series of 27 parallel sister events to celebrate reasons for optimism in conservation on the occasion of Earth Day (22 April). The Conservation Optimism Summit in London (20-22 April), held at the beautiful Dulwich College, was part of this series. Continue reading
… These were only some of the questions that the participants of our Blue Planning in Practice Training had to tackle at the International Academy for Nature Conservation on the beautiful Isle of Vilm in the Baltic Sea in Germany.
Participants and trainers during a short walk. © Carolin Hoffmann
We are pleased to invite you to apply for two marine training opportunities in early 2017.
© M Fischborn
Scientist, civil society, international organizations – people dedicated to the sustainable management and conservation of our ocean from many backgrounds got together in St John’s, Newfoundland to exchange and discuss new research results and political developments. Continue reading
The 4-day “Regional Forum on Solutions for Oceans, Coasts and Human Wellbeing in Africa“, held from 31 May to 3 June on Zanzibar, gathered more than 100 participants from 24 African countries to share successful examples of sustainable management and conservation of marine and coastal ecosystems. The forum, held both in English and in French, was organized by the Blue Solutions Initiative and co-hosted by the Abidjan Convention, the Nairobi Convention, the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) and the Sustainable Ocean Initiative (SOI) of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Continue reading
On 12-13 May, the 3rd Potsdam Ocean Governance Workshop was held at the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) in Potsdam, Germany. The event gathered over fifty international ocean experts and representatives from governments, international organisations, research institutes and civil society organisations to think creatively about the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and ocean governance. Discussions focussed particularly on innovative approaches to the implementation of SDG 14 and the importance of healthy oceans to work towards all SDG. Participants also voiced their preference to refer to this SDG as “Life in Harmony with Water” rather than “Life Below Water” to better include the human dimension.
Blue Solutions was represented at the workshop by the implementing partners GIZ, GRID-Arendal and UNEP, and it was suggested to arrange for an exchange around ocean governance solutions at the upcoming UN Conference to Support the Implementation of SDG 14 in New York, 5-9 June 2017.
The sustainable management of marine ecosystems involves a multitude of stakeholders, across various sectors. The vastness of the ocean and the potentially diverging interests of stakeholders involved – including different government departments, the private business sector and civil society – are not necessarily reflected in ‘traditional’, sector-based regulation and management mechanisms. This poses a challenge to an efficient use of ocean resources, and the conservation of its ecological integrity and functioning.
Representatives from East African countries met in Nosy Be, Madagascar from 18 – 22 January 2016 to discuss the importance and relevance of Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) in their contexts. The Workshop was convened by the Sustainable Ocean Initiative (SOI) of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
Government officials presented policies and practices already in place in their countries regarding MSP and related processes such as Integrated Coastal Zone Management. Participants from regional and international initiatives shared aspects of their work that could be useful to East African governments to further their MSP processes, including BEST, Bird Life International, Blue Solutions, CORDIO, French MPA Agency, Nairobi Convention, Ocean Health Index and WIOMSA. Continue reading
Members of the working group in Da Nang, Vietnam
Back-to-back to the East Asian Seas Congress taking place in Da Nang, Vietnam in November, a 1-day meeting of the Technical Working Group on Coastal Zone Management and Climate Change of the Sector Network Rural Development Asia took place.