As part of the Ivorian national pilot project “Integrated Management of the Marine and Coastal Area from Abidjan in Assinie” (GIAMAA), a training workshop on SoME reporting was held from 10-12 July 2019 in Bonoua (Côte d’Ivoire).

On December 20 2018, the project on the Integrated Management of the Marine and Coastal Area from Abidjan in Assinie (GIAMAA) implemented by the Ivorian Antipollution Center (CIAPOL), signed the contract establishing Côte d’Ivoire as a pilot country beneficiary of the project on Integrated Oceans Management in partnership with GRID-Arendal, and financed by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety.

As part of the GIAMAA, a paramount task of the CIAPOL was to organize a training workshop on the State of the Marine Environment (SoME) report drafting process, from 10-12 July in Bonoua for experts, technicians and firms involved in the implementation of the project.

Representing the Executive Secretary of the Abidjan Convention, Dr. Abdoulaye Diagana, Senior Specialist in Partnerships, Communication and Fundraising, said that “the launch of this process is a key element for Côte d’Ivoire to fulfill its international commitments on environmental information, particularly in the context of the Aarhus Convention”. He added that “the state of degradation of marine and coastal ecosystems, which is most often the result of human activities, requires the different actors to adopt a more inclusive approach by promoting consultation for a sustainable management of resources, while preserving users’ rights”.

Mr. Martin Niagne DIBI, Director of CIAPOL, in his opening statement stated: “This training workshop on the SoME reporting process has helped to build the capacity of participants to master the SoME tool, with a view to drafting Côte d’Ivoire’s report. This assessment will enable us to respond urgently to the degradation of ecosystems, by managing our environment with all relevant partners in a more integrated way”.

The workshop’s opening ceremony took place at the CIAPOL in Abidjan. It was followed by three field visits to the project area, respectively to Zimbabwe Vridi 3, Grand Bassam and Assouindé. These visits enabled the participants to confront the specific and concrete issues the GIAMAA project is seeking to address, such as those of artisanal fishing communities, the control of invasive plants, and the construction of hotels on the coast. The meeting continued for two days of work in plenary sessions, at the residence Nirala hotel in Bonoua.

The workshop featured the participation of representatives from non-governmental organizations, as well as of researchers and academics. In total, more than 15 different institutions were represented. During these two days, the training participants shared their expertise and skills in various fields, including biological diversity, the health of marine ecosystems, the pressures and risks associated with their management, fisheries, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and communication.

Roger Bibang, who came from Gabon to immerse himself in the process of preparing the Ivorian SoME, stated at the end of the training: “I am very satisfied with this workshop. This regional collaboration provides us with the necessary tools for the implementation of SoME reporting in Gabon”.

Specifically, the workshop presented the main chapters that constitute the SoME, and deepened the knowledge on data collection methodology. The component on ordinations and classifications (Expert Elicitation) was particularly appreciated by the participants. The workshop also enabled the project to advance on many points such as the implementation of a data sharing charter between stakeholders, the establishment of a scientific committee external to the coordination team, for the validation of the SoME and the adaptation of its methodological guide to the Ivorian national context. The next steps in the process have also been scheduled.

Specifically, the workshop presented the main chapters that constitute the SoME, and deepened the knowledge on data collection methodology. The component on ordinations and classifications (Expert Elicitation) was particularly appreciated by the participants. The workshop also enabled the project to advance on many points such as the implementation of a data sharing charter between stakeholders, the establishment of a scientific committee external to the coordination team, for the validation of the SoME and the adaptation of its methodological guide to the Ivorian national context. The next steps in the process have also been scheduled.

As a reminder, the GIAMAA project was launched on May 2 2019 in Grand Bassam, and is coordinated by the Ivorian Antipollution Center (CIAPOL). Its implementation is based on the application of integrated ocean management tools: State of the Marine Environment (SoME) reporting, Ecologically or Biologically Significant marine Areas (EBSAs), and Marine Spatial Planning (MSP). In addition to Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Benin also benefit from the support of GRID-Arendal and the Abidjan Convention for the same process, with funding from the German Federal Government.

Louis PILLE-SCHNEIDER

Pictures: GIAMAA/CIAPOL