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
by Peggy J. Turk Boyer, Hem Nalini Morzaria Luna, Tonatiuh Carrillo, Elia Polanco, Caroline Downton, Paloma Valdivia, CEDO
For the past years, the Blue Solutions Initiative has been supporting the Coastal Marine Spatial Planning (CMSP) process in the Northern Gulf of California to promote this local example and share the important lessons from this process (see also here). The project is being led by the Intercultural Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans (CEDO), based in Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, Mexico. This article describes the process that was initiated with small-scale fishers, the economically most important, but probably least organized activity in the region. Continue reading
by Maria Potouroglou, GRID-Arendal
“The Ocean and Us” was published in late 2016, with Blue Solutions implementing partner GRID-Arendal serving as chief editor. This publication brings together partners who share their knowledge and expertise on how healthy marine and coastal ecosystems support the achievement of the UN SDGs.
© AGEDI/Rob Barnes
by Maria Potouroglou, GRID-Arendal
© M Potouroglou, GRID-Arendal
One destination, one goal: To integrate Ecosystem Services into Coastal and Marine Planning in the fictitious country of Bakul.
Organisers: The Nature Conservancy, Reef Resilience Network, NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program, GRID-Arendal, Blue Solutions
Where: Kona, Hawaii
When: 5-10 March 2017 Continue reading
From March 15-17 2017, the 2nd international conference on MSP organized by the European Commission (DG MARE) in cooperation with UNESCO-IOC and took place in Paris. The objectives of the conference were (a) to explore how MSP can be used to address global challenges, (b) to reflect on how to accelerate the processes of MSP worldwide, and (c) to spread knowledge on specific themes and the process itself.
… 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
During CBD COP-13 in Cancún/Mexico, Blue Solutions and the Sustainable Ocean Initiative of the CBD Secretariat jointly convened the Sustainable Ocean Night. Two hundred delegates of Parties to the Convention and marine experts came together to celebrate successes, share inspiring approaches and solutions for conserving and sustainably using healthy marine and coastal ecosystems.
Dr. Elsa Nickel (Director General BMUB) opening the event. © Sonia Gautreau
© GRID-Arendal/Glenn Edney
For this webinar, we will showcase how marine ecosystem service information can be used in conservation and sustainable development decision making. In adddition to a presentation from Nicola Beaumont of Plymouth Marine Laboratory, two Blue Solutions case studies will be featured: Esther Wolfs, Wolfs Comapny will share details on her solution “Nature’s contribution to the economy” from Bonaire and Samir Rosado, Belize Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute will share his experiences from Belize: “Mapping and valuing ecosystem services for integrated management”.
The webinar will last 75 minutes with extensive time for question and answer with the presenters. Continue reading
More than 90 participants from 24 African countries came together in Zanzibar last May for the Regional Blue Solutions Forum. One of them was Dr Serge Raemaekers from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Serge travelled to Tanzania with a solution in his bag: Abalobi – an app suite that, inter alia, allows artisanal fishers to capture their data, providing an overview of their expenses and income and eventually supporting social justice and poverty alleviation.
