20 year Strategic Framework for Conservation of Biodiversity

Ecoregional conservation aims to go beyond the approach taken in the past where projects were often undertaken at local level in an uncoordinated way. There are three principal ways that make this approach different and more effective. Firstly, biological targets, priority areas and critical ecological processes across the ecoregion are identified in a collaborative manner. Secondly, action in these areas is supported by action at national and international levels to enhance the policy, legal and institutional environment (the “enabling” environment) in which site-based action takes place. Thirdly, local action is undertaken on the basis of an ecosystem or seascape approach. This approach is holistic and strategic, and aims to catalyse and co-ordinate action by a range of stakeholders, improving the opportunities for shared learning and replication of successes.

The EAME Strategic Framework has been formulated within a participatory process that has established a partnership for implementation, the EAME Partnership (EAMEP). The 20-year Strategic Framework comprises:

• The EAME Programme Vision including the twenty-one priority seascapes for conservation
• Conservation targets for habitats and species
• Strategy components for achieving the targets:
1. Priority seascapes and the marine protected area network
2. Conserving wide-ranging species and addressing transnational threats
3. Enhancing the enabling policy and legal environment
4. Support for sustainable livelihoods
5. Monitoring, innovating and building capacity

The Strategic Framework complements and provides a means of linking related initiatives (which take account of ecological processes at the regional level) that are being undertaken in the region by national governments and international agencies. These include the Nairobi Convention, the Tanzanian National Integrated Coastal Environment Management Strategy and the Mozambican Coastal Management Project.

The first five-year phase of implementation will be undertaken through National Action Plans complemented by a Regional Action Plan, and makes provision for co-ordination at national and ecoregional levels, to ensure that the various activities support and complement each other, and that the process is monitored and reviewed.

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Reversing the trends in biodiversity loss: a long-term conservation strategy for EAME

How fast are we losing biodiversity in our marine and coastal areas? What needs to be done to reverse the trend? Although we don’t know enough, we know that action cannot be postponed. We need to act now and with conviction to address the problem.

In the first few years, the EAME Partnership will be laying the foundations for later phases, trying out new ideas, demonstrating the value of alternative approaches, and testing the feasibility of implementing them at a larger scale. We will be working towards creating an enabling environment to support our site-based work.

In later phases, EAMEP will expand its scale of activities, consolidate the gains made, and extend work to new areas where action may be called for. EAMEP will measure the effectiveness of its work at key moments, and use this information to review the strategy, refine the approach, and ensure that it makes a difference.

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Conservation of Habitats

Goal: To ensure that all priority habitats of the EAME are effectively conserved and provide benefits for present and future generations.

Coral reefs and associated communities

Strategy : To ensure the long-term stability and diversity of coral reefs and coral communities.

Objective: Decline in the quality of coral reef/community areas halted and/or reversed by 2010.

Indicator: None of the 15 priority reefs have greater than 20% are damaged. Four medium quality and 3 high quality coral sites have improved by at least 1 status level.

Mangroves

Strategy: To ensure the long-term productivity, stability and diversity of mangrove forests and associated biota.

Objective: Decline in the quality and area of mangrove forest is at least halted by 2010.

Indicator: At least 400,000 ha of healthy, viable and representative mangrove forest spanning the Ecoregion.

Seagrasses

Strategy: To maintain productivity, biological diversity and ecological functions of sea grass meadows.

Objective: Decline in the quality and quantity of seagrass areas will have been halted/ or reversed by 2010.

Indicator: Species richness is at least maintained in seagrass beds. The three seagrass sites currently ranked as having medium quality status will have increases to ‘high’ quality status.

Coastal wetlands

Strategy: To ensure the persistence of significant coastal wetlands and their characteristic plants and animals.

Objective: Destruction or degradation of priority wetlands halted in the EAME by 2010.

Indicator: At least six healthy, viable wetlands support characteristic and representative wildlife associated with them.

Coastal Dunes

Strategy: To ensure protection of unique coastal dunes.

Objective: Destruction or degradation of priority dunes halted by 2010.

Indicator: At least four EAME areas support stabilized and restored sand dunes. Extent (ha) and percentage vegetation cover increased.

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Conservation of Species

Goal: To ensure the long-term viability of populations of key threatened, endangered, or vulnerable species within the EAME.

Species exploited by small scale / artisanal fisheries

Strategy: To ensure that the utilization of species of particular importance to small scale

and/or artisanal fishing communities is sustainable.

Objective: Livelihoods improved while inshore fisheries resources are at least stabilised by 2010.

Indicators:

• Capable local communities managing marine resources collaboratively with government
• Marketing techniques improving returns to local artisanal fishing communities
• Viable, healthy populations of:

• Lobsters
• Gastropods: (Conus chaldeus, Cypraea moneta, Cypraea lynx, Mitra mitra, Lambis
• digitata, Ovula ovum, Lambis scorpius, Lambis crocata, Conus litteratus, Conus virgo,
• Pleuroploca trapezium (in Somalia and Zanzibar), and Chicoreus ramosus (in Zanzibar and Kenya))
• Coastal sharks and rays
• Sea cucumbers
• Small pelagic fish species.

Species exploited by offshore and industrial fisheries

Strategy: To ensure that the utilization of species of particular importance to industrial and off-shore fisheries is sustainable.

Objective: Offshore fisheries area at least stabilised by 2010.

Indicators: Viable, healthy populations of:

• Sharks and rays (three most heavily exploited species)
• Prawns
• Yellowfin and Skipjack Tuna
• Squid (e.g. Loligo sp.).
• Demersals (Lethrinidae, Sparidae, Serranidae)
• Billfish (e.g. Tetrapturus sp.)

Species of special concern

Strategy: To ensure the long-term viability of populations of threatened, endangered, or vulnerable marine reptiles and mammal species within the EAME (Marine Turtles, Dugongs, Dolphins, and Whales).

Objective: Populations of priority threatened marine species are at least stable by 2010.

Indicators:

• Marine Turtles: The five species of marine turtles in the EAME have viable breeding populations and a fully representative age structure throughout their ranges.
• Dugongs: The number of dugongs in the EAME increases by 10%.
• Dolphins: All species of dolphins in the EAME have a viable breeding population and a fully representative age structure throughout their ranges.
• Whales: All species of whales in the EAME have a viable breeding population and a fully representative age structure throughout their ranges.

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Action to Achieve Goals and Objectives

The EAMEP strategy identifies a number of priority actions in order to achieve these targets, clustered into five components:

• Strategy Component 1: Planning and management of priority seascapes, with a focus on developing the network of marine protected areas
• Strategy Component 2: Conserving wide-ranging species and addressing transnational threats
• Strategy Component 3: Enhancing the policy and legal framework for conservation and sustainable use
• Strategy Component 4: Promoting sustainable livelihoods
• Strategy Component 5: Monitoring, innovating and capacity-building

Strategy Component 1: Priority Seascapes and the Marine Protected Area Network

Objectives

• Where appropriate, management plans will be developed and implemented in priority seascapes, in partnership with local governments, communities and user groups;
• Programmes will be initiated to help change the way people use natural resources so that livelihoods that are dependent on biodiversity do not exhaust the resource base, but instead, use it sustainably for present and future generations;
• Local government will be strengthened and communities empowered to ensure that they play a meaningful role in local conservation initiatives; and
• The marine protected area network will be expanded so that it becomes more effective, and the capacity of MPA management will be strengthened.

Increasing support for marine conservation

A dramatic increase in marine protected areas in EAME has taken place over the last decade, arising from the commitment of political leadership at the highest levels of government and of key stakeholders.

Between 1895 and 1995, governments declared 1,082km2 of marine protected areas in the EAME. During the past 8 years, 4,590 km2 of MPAs have been added, 2.5 times the total for the entire previous century. The EAME MPA network now covers nearly 5.7% of the continental shelf of eastern Africa, much more than the 2.3% of the shelf within MPAs across the rest of Africa. In addition, there has also been a measurable increase in funding available for marine conservation in the region and an enhancement of management effectiveness of the MPAs that have been created.

Eastern African governments have engaged actively in the Nairobi Convention (i.e., the UNEP Regional Seas Convention for the eastern African region) and have developed a long-term marine conservation vision for the EAME. Gaps in MPA coverage have been identified through these processes and governments have responded by declaring new MPAs to close these gaps.

MPAs have demonstrated a role in maintaining fish catches and preventing fisheries collapse in local communities, providing a crucial link between marine conservation and the provision of protein to millions of poor people - a focal issue for African governments. MPAs have also contributed to increased tourism revenues. Significant funding is now available from bilateral, multilateral and NGO sources to support marine conservation, including the establishment and management of MPAs.

In September 2003, Mozambique declared its intention to extend the Maputo Special Reserve 5 km out to sea, and to implement cross-border reserves with Tanzania in the north and South Africa in the south. Tanzania has committed to expanding the area of its sea under protection to 10% by 2010 and 20% by 2025. Kenya is committed to maintain its current MPAs and to enhance their management effectiveness, and work to create community-based MPAs. South Africa outlined its intention to expand the existing St. Lucia reserve northwards to the border with Mozambique.

 This continued commitment to expanded MPA coverage in the EAME might be seen as remarkable in a region where national priorities are focused on poverty alleviation. In fact it is far from being remarkable - it shows that governments recognize the economic benefits to be gained from well-managed marine resources, particularly in terms of coastal livelihoods and the revenue generated from tourism.

Management planning for priority seascapes

Each priority seascape includes a large area of land and sea. At present the boundaries of many of these areas have not been defined in detail. They are also enormously variable in size (from less than 500 km2 to over 12,000 km2). In each area, there are a number of conservation initiatives taking place, often including establishment of marine protected areas. In many cases, these initiatives are poorly co-ordinated. Through seascape planning, EAMEP will help to identify what planning approaches are needed for each seascape and support co-ordination of efforts where needed. Co-ordinated management planning and implementation as proposed through the seascape planning process would make these individual efforts more effective and enhance support for marine protected areas.

Seascape management planning needs to be undertaken in partnership with all key stakeholders, including local communities. It brings together existing initiatives, addresses both biodiversity and community concerns, and helps to ensure broad and effective land use planning in the area. An essential component of the planning process is the establishment of pilot projects from an early stage, to gain experience and credibility, test new approaches, demonstrate their effectiveness, and build local support.

Collaborative management

Community natural resource management plans, often being established through existing initiatives, are important components. These help to organise and legalise access and control of natural resources in the area, through collaborative management and enforcement involving both the local community and local government. Elements could include no-take areas, closed seasons, fishing gear regulation and mangrove management.

Effective local government

In the long term, important natural resources will only be effectively managed if local government has the resources, skills and political will to be an active partner. Local government needs sustainable sources of revenue and a range of options needs to be explored in each priority seascape to achieve this. In addition, local government capacity needs to be enhanced through training in managing natural resources effectively. Local political will needs to be strengthened through participatory planning and collaborative management of natural resources in the area. Finally, local government needs to be strongly supported and mandated by central government.

Sustainable tourism

Tourism is both a threat and a key opportunity for livelihood enhancement and conservation in EAME. EAMEP will support well-regulated tourism that does not impact negatively on important marine and coastal environments and that provides much needed revenue to communities and local government. Key actions will be to develop (where needed) and implement guidelines for the tourism industry, encourage a focus on the development of eco-tourism enterprises as a source of employment and income to local communities.

Integrated catchment management

Agricultural and settlement activities often impact on marine resources near coastal cities and major rivers. EAMEP will encourage integrated catchment management practices to secure reductions in marine pollution due to industrial effluent, sewage, siltation and agricultural run-off. Work will focus on those priority areas most impacted, and be undertaken in the context of seascape plans, river basin management policies (where these exist), and policy advocacy.

Enhancing the marine protected area network

Representative networks of marine protected areas, based on the ecosystem approach, are an essential tool for effective marine biodiversity conservation. They help to maintain the natural range of species, ensure adequate mixing of the gene pool to maintain natural genetic characteristics of the population, and ensure protection of ecological processes that are essential for ecosystem functioning. They also play an important role in maintaining food supply to poor communities and allow countries and communities to control and manage their resources more effectively functioning.

Designing an effective network requires both scientific rigour and a framework that harmonises the interests of conservationists, fishery managers, local communities and other stakeholders. To improve the network of MPAs in the EAME, two issues need to be addressed: firstly, ensuring sustainable and effective management of MPAs, and secondly, by expanding the network by creating new MPAs. These are discussed below.

Enhancing management of MPAs

While it is essential to expand the MPA network, care must be taken to ensure sustainable funding and effective management of existing and future MPAs. Currently, the effectiveness of the existing MPAs is impeded by:

• Limitations on staff skills, particularly with regard to marine natural resource management and marine socio- economic and livelihood support;
• Prevalence of top-down approaches to decision-making, with negative conse quences for participation and co-management;
• Lack of harmonised and effective policy, legislation and institutional arrangements
• Competition between agencies for limited financial resources;
• Lack of sustainable funding mechanisms, e.g. from tourism; and
• Unwillingness of a number of MPA management authorities and their parent ministries to fully engage in the unpopular task of enforcing existing marine regulations.

To support the effective management of MPAs, existing and future, the EAME Partnership will seek to:

• Support training and capacity building programmes;
• Advocate stakeholder participation in decision-making and benefit-sharing in relation to MPAs;
• Advocate policy and legislation that promotes good management of MPAs and effective compliance;
• Foster the institutional and technical arrangements needed to facilitate the development and management of national MPA systems;
• Advocate regular monitoring and assessment of management effectiveness;
• Promote compliance with and effective enforcement of marine legislation; and
• Support the development of sustainable financing mechanisms.

Expanding the EAME network of MPAs

Several levels of management are needed: a core network of fully protected MPAs or zones (or no-take areas), embedded within a larger network of multiple-use MPAs and/or priority seascapes, which would be part of overall integrated coastal area management programmes and which would cover 100% of the ecoregion.

In recent years there has been significant progress in the establishment of MPAs in the EAME, particularly in the form of larger MPAs. However, major gaps remain in the current network of MPAs. To support the achievement of a representative network of MPAs in EAME, the EAMEP will seek to:

• Support the development of a scientifically-based marine protected area network in EAME;
• Invest in research to determine appropriate network design;
• Advocate the creation of MPAs, in particular through providing information and analysis demonstrating the benefits of MPAs to fisheries, tourism and livelihoods;
• Develop sustainable funding mechanisms for the long- term management of MPAs; and Fundraise to make new MPA projects a reality.

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Strategy Component 2: Conserving Wide-ranging Species and Addressing Transnational Threats

Conserving wide-ranging and migratory species

Taking an ‘ecoregion-level’ perspective allows decision-makers and conservation practitioners the possibility of working together across nations to address the conservation needs of wide-ranging species such as marine turtles, and migratory species such as tuna, whales and some commercially valuable fish. The conservation of species whose larvae are carried by currents along the whole coastline of EAME and spawning aggregation sites is made possible. No nation alone can implement all of the actions and policies necessary to protect these animals throughout their life history, so collaborative action is necessary. Priority actions (other than policy and legal aspects, which are addressed under Component 3) include:

• Advancing turtle conservation, including through regional agreements and support for Turtle Excluder Devices;
• Helping to develop and implement a regional dugong conservation plan; and
• Promoting common approaches across the region to shared resources, including wide-ranging and migratory species like turtles, commercially valuable fisheries, bill fish, sharks, whales and the management of common resources.

Addressing transnational threats and threats emanating from outside the region

Taking a regional view enables planners to develop joint strategies for tackling threats that cross boundaries or emanate from outside of the ecoregion, such as unsustainable offshore/industrial fisheries, oil spills, pollution, global warming and climate change.

Offshore or industrial fisheries

Ensuring the sustainability of offshore or industrial fisheries will require developing effective working relationships between the private and public sector across the region to assure understanding, support and compliance. EAME will support this objective through:

• A better understanding of the problem: Determining distribution, abundance, and range of normal variation of keys pecies (where information is lacking), establishing criteria for “viable and healthy” populations of key species, quantifying current levels and patterns of trade and extent of pressure, and developing, implementing and monitoring the effect of different management strategies;
• Effective policies and legislation: Developing a regional approach to ecologically sustainable and fair fishing agreements; promoting legislation regulating fishing gear, quotas, size limits, seasons, and no-take zones, harmonising fishing regulations between EAME countries, establishing ecoregional responses to pirate fishing, supporting compliance and promoting a fisheries certification programme;
• Developing area-specific and species- specific management plans that promote sustainable utilisation: This needs to be done with private sector involvement and support in all aspects of planning, implementation and monitoring, and should build on international best practice for private sector partnerships;
• Lobbying and advocacy regarding international fisheries and /or trade agreements: supporting CITES and Traffic regarding turtles, sharks, sea cucumber, lobster, molluscs etc.; and

• Supporting improved fishing agreements (both international and bilateral access agreements and conservation agreements); promoting learning and exchange of experience between countries relating to negotiating fishing agreements and seeking coherence between agreements especially those addressing shared stocks.

Oil spills, pollution and global climate change

Action to address oil spills, pollution and global climate change would require:

• Encouraging the development and implementation of a joint disaster response plans for oil spills;
• Promoting international advocacy for mitigating oil spills from ships (EAME is a major shipping route transporting oil);
• Promoting strict Environmental Impact Assessments for all oil and gas developments across the region and harmonizing EIA standards;
• Developing joint pollution mitigation plans in transnational areas;
• Supporting national participation in global policy forums on how to mitigate global climate change; and
• Jointly seeking international financial and technical support for addressing the impacts of climate change on marine resources in EAME, particularly coral bleaching.

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Strategy Component 3: Enhancing the Enabling Policy and Legal Environment

The conservation of natural resources in the EAME requires an effective set of policies and laws, operating at regional, national and local levels, to provide a supporting framework for local-level action.

The governments of the region have signed various international agreements, such as the Convention on Biodiversity, the Nairobi and Ramsar Conventions and the Jakarta Mandate, and have developed national development strategies, such as Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers supporting an enabling policy and legal environment to assist the sustainable use of natural resources.

Through its regional approach, the EAME Programme reflects the intent to intervene and influence events at a broader scale. This perspective includes addressing policies and institutions in individual countries as well as those that cross national boundaries, and supporting national governments in meeting their international obligations. It also includes efforts to address some of the root causes of ecological change in the ecoregion that reach beyond Africa all together. It also includes efforts to address some of the root causes of ecological change in the ecoregion that reach beyond Africa altogether.

 An analysis of the root causes of biodiversity loss in the ecoregion, which was conducted as part of the EAME planning exercise, presented a broad range of social, political, institutional and economic factors operating at different levels. Many of these factors impact on conservation efforts on the ground. For example, policy and institutional changes aimed at stimulating economic activity resulted in environment destruction of coastal marine resources and undermined the needs and interests of the rural poor, who depend on EAME’s natural resources for survival.

Policy advocacy and reform

In order to foster the development of international, ecoregional and national policies, practices and legal frameworks that support effective management of marine resources in the ecoregion, a policy advocacy programme will be undertaken.

Strategies in this component are focused on providing institutional and policy support at all levels for activities at local level. At the international level, the EAME programme will work in partnership with governments to help them meet international obligations under international conventions such as the Convention on Biodiversity, and to influence regional development processes such as NEPAD. The EAME programme will also enlist the support of international NGO partners to help promote its needs and interests in the international policy arena. At the national level, there are suggestions for incorporating environmental and social impacts into development policies and programmes and support for national strategies for sustainable development. At the local level, economic alternatives to unsustainable resource use, especially in areas of growing environmental scarcity, are identified.

This programme will:

• Identify and prioritise policy and legal actions that should be implemented at international, regional, national and local levels to implement the EAME programme, for example in relation to fisheries, marine protected areas, devolution to local government, community policing, trade in endangered species and tourism activities. Ensure that both root causes and proximal causes of threats are addressed within these policy and legal interventions;

• Identify how and where the priorities and activities of EAME can be best incorporated within existing regional and national strategies, examples being regional fisheries agreements, National Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) and national fisheries plans of FAO;
• Promote harmonisation of legislation and policy between governments, relating to shared resources, including wide-ranging and migratory species like turtles, commercially exploited fish, billfish, sharks and whales;
• Promote harmonisation of legislation and policy relating to the management of common resources where practice in neighboring countries affects management;
• Assess the costs and benefits of the trade-offs inherent in different strategies of economic growth and environmental protection;
• Work in partnership with national governments, communities and the private sector to implement policy and legal frameworks effectively. This component would develop enforceable regulations, enhance the capacity to ensure compliance, seek ways to engage the private sector, and provide information on the relevant policies and laws;
• Build capacity of government and communities to implement policy and legal interventions; and
• Support and work in a complementary manner with relevant international conventions and programs, including CITES, Nairobi Convention, regional fisheries bodies, national fisheries plans of FAO, UNCLOS, WTO and UNCCC, and regional economic development plans, such as NEPAD.

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Strategy Component 4: Supporting Sustainable Livelihoods

Approximately 22 million people live along the coast of Eastern Africa between southern Somalia and the very northernmost section of the South African coastline. This is likely to increase significantly over the next 50 years with average birth rates in the area at around 3% per annum and in-migration a continuing challenge. Populations along the coastline largely make their living from natural resources. Marine resources probably account for a significant part of household livelihoods whether from fishing or the harvesting of other resources such as mangroves. Important livelihood activities along the coast include fishing, gathering marine and coastal products, agriculture, trading tourism, mariculture, harvesting of medicinal plants, salt production, wildlife harvesting and others.

In the past, sustainable resource use was possible, either because community management systems were effective or because population densities were low enough for open access regimes to be sustainable Currently, throughout most of the ecoregion, the fishing communities outside of existing MPAs still manage their own fishing activities, in effect, reaching agreements amongst themselves about the operational specifics. However, the increase in coastal populations and the rising number of people fishing have fundamentally changed the dynamics of these systems. In recent times, community management systems have failed to prevent over-harvesting and pillaging of marine resources.

Local people, in both civil society and local/district government, are therefore key to resolving the environmental challenges along the coast, and must be at the core of the strategy for sustaining and conserving marine resources.

Three principles of implementation have been highlighted as key for developing successful strategies:

• The principles of collaborative management (involving both local government and communities) and local access, control and sustainable use are key to successful and equitable governance of marine resources;
• Economic development components of conservation programs should address the primary livelihood activities of local populations;
• Developing strategic partnerships with other organisations (governmental, private sector and NGO) to help design and implement livelihood strategies is critical to immediate success and long-term sustainability. To successfully facilitate the development and implementation of sustainable use plans within the livelihood context, the EAME Partnership needs to embrace organisations with development expertise.

Supporting collaborative management of natural resources at local level

Effective governance of local natural resources is key to success. As local government takes on more responsibility for this (devolved from central level) in all countries, so local seascape initiatives should build on the principle of collaborative management, with local communities and local government working as partners. Access, control and sustainable use of resources by local communities are important facets of this.

In this context developing organisations and capacity at both local community and government level becomes central to good livelihood strategies. The EAME Programme will support organisational development and empowerment of coastal communities regarding access, control and use as well as collaborative management. The EAME programme will also help build the capacity of local government to work with local communities. This involves local government staff learning new skills and attitudes, as well as developing sustainable financial streams to be able to continue the work after EAMEP withdraws.

Promoting sustainable harvesting practices

The EAME Programme will place an important emphasis on educating the communities about the reality of what is happening to the marine resources and about the extreme poverty that will confront these communities when the marine resources have been totally degraded. The programme will help the fishing communities to recognise their responsibilities, to move away from destructive activities and to devise more sustainable practices. Individuals and communities are often aware of the damage their practices are causing to the environment, but poverty or external factors can prevent them from taking action to change. EAMEP will need to address some of the poverty and external factors alongside education and enforcement.

 Individual household livelihood opportunities will be complemented by community or habitat wide resource management plans, often developed in collaboration with local government, They will be further aided in this process of change through a parallel programme of improved enforcement of regulations on outsiders and individuals unwilling to comply - meaning that those that do adopt sustainable practices are not undermined by those that do not. Governments need to ensure that progress towards sustainability by artisanal fisherfolk is not undermined by the practices of industrial fleets.

Efforts will be made to facilitate the use of both traditional and new resource management techniques to ensure sustainable harvesting, reduce destructive fishing practices and protect nursery or reproduction areas. As part of this, EAMEP will promote supportive policy and legal measures relating to fishing gear types, gear exchange, quotas, size limits, seasons, and allowed fishing areas.

Exploring sustainable coastal livelihoods

Promoting alternative livelihoods, or increased returns to existing livelihoods, will not by themselves reduce the pressure on the resource base - they can even increase the pressure. Improved and alternative livelihoods can however provide the conditions that make it possible for local communities to adopt sustainable management practices. The two processes, of livelihood improvement and sustainable natural resource management, need to be developed hand-in-hand, with each supporting the other, within an overall process of improved governance. This is not easy, and lessons need to be learnt across the ecoregion and from other parts of the world.

Strategy development for priority seascapes should be built around existing mainstream livelihood activities without ignoring alternatives. Improved marketing and processing, will enable fisherfolk to receive a higher proportion of the value of their catch, and can help soften the blow of harvesting restrictions. Similar attention to marketing and value added can increase returns on agriculture and natural resource harvesting. Sustainable intensification of agriculture and some other livelihoods can prove beneficial to the individual household and to the environment.

Alternative livelihoods should be rigorously tested for economic viability, with special attention paid to marketing, technical assistance will be sought as appropriate. Micro-credit can be an important driver, enabling investment in improved and alternative livelihoods; this requires involvement of specialised microfinance agencies, and genuinely profitable improvements to invest in. As tourism, and particularly eco-tourism, becomes a viable option, it is important to recognise that building relationships with the private sector, (as in other livelihood activities), will be key to developing this sector as will assuring a balanced relationship between private business, local communities and local government.

EAMEP will recognise that most households pursue a mix of livelihood strategies, and that these are often different for men, women and children. Different ethnic groups, wealth groups, genders and age groups may be affected very differently by changes to livelihood opportunities - it is therefore important that the community is not assumed to be homogeneous, and that the views of all those using a resource are consulted before management plans are developed.

Regional EAMEP activities will provide support to seascape livelihoods work, in the form of coordination between seascapes, technical assistance, lesson learning, communicating best practice, promoting the interests of local fishing communities at regional level, supporting marketing activities and monitoring progress.

Empowerment of fishing communities

If fishing communities are to become part of the solution, rather than part of the problem, they need power and influence not only at the community level, but also at the District, National and Regional levels. This is because many of the decisions that will guarantee the sustainability of EAME will be taken at these higher levels - levels at which there is currently very little representation of fisherfolk. To ensure that artisanal fishing communities have an effective voice in conservation planning and action, EAMEP will support organisational development of, and linkages between, fishing communities. Fishing communities will be encouraged to send representatives to decision making meetings - they will need training and encouragement to operate in these forums.

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Strategy Component 5: Monitoring, Innovating and Capacity Building Ecosystem and livelihood monitoring for improved management

In order to support learning and capacity to undertake improved resource management in the ecoregion, EAMEP will:

• Seek to provide improved and relevant information on which to base key management decisions, and facilitate the development and dissemination of this information across the ecoregion in formats adapted for ease of use by decision-makers; and
• Monitor the state of the environment, state of coastal livelihoods and EAMEP programme progress.

This monitoring would include developing and implementing a monitoring plan, including the following activities:

• Establishing a baseline on the current state of the environment and livelihoods, including examination of past data to help estimate ecological and economic trends and understand the impact of future activities;
• Developing practical indicators of ecosystem or species-level change (Geographic Information System (GIS) based modeling may be useful when dealing with such large scales and uneven data quality and quantity);
• Undertaking an inventory of existing institutions which are already collecting and analyzing biological and economic data related to the indicators, and promoting linkages among them;
• Seeking ways to overcome constraints to regional data sharing and analysis;
• Develop ways of communities participating in monitoring, both as an incentive to their own management and to feed into wider data collection systems;
• Providing ecological monitoring and project impact information mapped in GIS and summarised on a web page; and
• Publishing national ‘State of Coastal and Marine Resources’ and regional ‘State of EAME’ reports at regular intervals.

A key cross-cutting element in this component would be to develop the capacity of communities to monitor ecological change in their areas - both as a contribution to regional monitoring and to increase awareness and help inform their management decisions.

Support for targeted research

In consultation with the EAME Regional and National Committees, and based on the targets identified in the Monitoring Plan, EAMEP will identify key environmental management knowledge gaps and seek funding for research to fill them. (e.g. ecological processes, habitat restoration, impact of climate change and tourism carrying capacities). EAMEP will:

• Publish and disseminate findings, both in peer-reviewed journals and in user-friendly formats for local decision- makers;
• Promote research and monitoring collaboration among institutions within the region and catalyse partnerships with key research institutions based in other parts of the world; and
• Support research into alternative technologies, e.g. by-catch reduction (dolphins, dugongs, marine turtles) and alternative fuel and building materials.

 Incentives for innovation

EAMEP will put in place a number of initiatives designed to foster innovation. The priority will be support for a regional programme to explore the feasibility of market-based incentives for sustainable management, such as:

• Tourism operator ratings and levies: In collaboration with the tourist industry and other stakeholders, EAMEP will investigate the option of developing a rating system that would encourage environmentally friendly tourism operations; and
• Sustainable fisheries certification: In partnership with Government and the private sector, EAMEP will carry out the assessments necessary to determine the feasibility of certifying sustainable fisheries, either at the commercial or artisanal level in EAME.

EAMEP will seek to establish a fast-track small grants fund, providing seed funding to pilot projects and emergency initiatives that advance the objectives of the EAME Strategy.

Capacity building

To implement the EAMEP Strategy, capacity building will be required across all key actors from communities, local and/regional government to MPA managers and staff, fishing, forestry, and agriculture extension agents and management authorities. The EAME programme needs to build on the strengths that are already there and support higher levels of competency in all areas. Training, motivation, management expertise and financial and logistical capability need to be improved in order to implement new policies, develop natural resource management plans and work to ensure they are enforced. Many Government officials are not used to working collaboratively with local communities, this will require learning new participatory techniques, but equally important will require new attitudes on both sides. Enforcement is a task both for the local communities and for government. Local government will need continuing resources to make enforcement a reality - this may mean improved local taxation or more financial support from central government to achieve this.

Exchange and learning programme

To support improved awareness, understanding and practice, EAMEP will:

• Run a ‘best practice’ exchange programme with participants from communities in priority areas, partners, scientists, government decision-makers, politicians and opinion-formers;
• Support existing national marine forum meetings in Kenya and Tanzania, and initiate similar forums in Mozambique and at ecoregional level;
• Establish an ecoregional marine protected area management forum, and support participation of key individuals in relevant conferences;
• Explore and support curriculum development with national education ministries and appropriate tertiary institutions, particularly with regard to the importance of marine resources and conservation to these nations, and the management of marine protected areas; and
• Establish a website and email newsletter.

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Implementation and Phasing

The EAMEP Strategic Framework is a long-term programme, to be implemented over 20 years. It will be structured into phases, the first of which will take place over five years. Action in Phase 1 will take place at international, ecoregional, national and local levels, guided by a Regional Action Plan and National Action Plans.

The first phase will focus on laying the foundations for the programme, building partnerships for implementation, addressing critical priorities, mobilizing resources and testing new approaches. Establishing the institutional framework for implementation (co-ordination, communication and co-operation mechanisms) is also part of the first phase. A strategic review of outcomes will be undertaken at the end of Phase 1, to refocus the strategy and generate momentum for Phase 2.

Regional Level Action: Phase 1

Action at international and ecoregional levels is designed to support and facilitate national and local level implementation, and to address issues that cross boundaries or require regionally or internationally co-ordinated action. The priorities for action at regional level for the first phase of implementation of the EAMEP Programme are the following:

Priority seascapes and Marine Protected Areas

• Promote legal recognition of seascape plans by national governments;
• Help identify what planning approaches are needed for each seascape, on a case by case basis;
• Promote technical exchanges and information sharing, including the establishment of a regional Seascape Working Group;
• Support the establishment of a scientifically-based marine protected area network in EAME; and
• Enhance management effectiveness of MPAs, and support sustainable income generating activities.

Conserving wide-ranging species and addressing transnational threats

• Initiate a regional approach to ecologically sustainable and fair fishing agreements; and
• Establish a pilot project with one major tourism operator to implement best practice.

Policy and legislation

• Identify the key policies that constrain EAME strategy implementation (as discussed earlier under Component 2:Enhancing the Enabling Policy and Legal Environment); initiate action to amend these at the regional level as well as the global level with international NGO partners;
• Develop at least one pilot initiative to develop working relationships between countries on issues of common concern e.g. controlling illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing (joint enforcement protocols, etc.);
• Promote further use of CITES for marine species;
• Foster the establishment of regional agreements on fisheries management, particularly commercially valuable, highly mobile fish stock; and
• Explore legal mechanisms for sustainable financing of MPAs e.g. through tourist levies etc.

Sustainable livelihoods

• Develop pilot examples of sustainable harvesting and collaborative natural resource management planning and implementation;
• Develop examples of improved livelihood returns through better marketing, value added, sustainable intensification, incentives and livelihood alternatives;
• Support organisational development and empowerment of fishing communities;
• Support regional learning exchanges and capacity building around collaborative management and sustainable livelihoods;
• Pilot Income Generating Activities within MPA programmes; and
• Demonstrate the link between MPAs, increased fish stocks and reduced poverty.

Monitoring, innovating and capacity building

• Identify critical knowledge gaps and establish a research fund;
• Develop a Monitoring Plan for the EAMEP programme and establish a Data Sharing System;
• Set up or support existing regional or international data centres on key issues, such as fisheries;
• Institute an exchange and learning programme with key opinion-makers at national and local levels; and
• Publish State of the EAME report, including indicators of biodiversity, MPA status and effectiveness, social, human, economic, livelihood trends etc.

Funding for implementation

Funding for the vision and strategy development phase of EAMEP was provided by WWF, which remains committed to supporting implementation, and in particular, to funding the core co-ordination costs of the programme for the first two years of implementation.

funding strategy will be developed as part of the implementation of Regional and National Action Plans. There are two major potential sources of funding for implementation. The first is funding raised on a project-by-project basis. The second potential source is funding released through the realignment of the budgets of government agencies and other bodies, in support of EAMEP goals.

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National Level Actions Phase 1: Overview

Much of the implementation in the first phase will take place through National Action Plans. Three of these were drawn up in stakeholder workshops in Kenya, Mozambique and Tanzania in April-May 2003. The South African National EAME Action Plan derives from a parallel process, and elements of a Somalia plan have been proposed with limited input from within the country due to security reasons.

Each plan contains:

• An analysis of proximate and root causes of biodiversity loss, together with conservation targets;
• Priorities for seascape planning and marine protected areas;
• Priority actions to address the most pressing proximate and root causes of biodiversity loss;
• Proposals to enhance the national enabling environment and capacity building; and
• Priorities for seascape planning and marine protected areas.

Strategic principles

The approach to drafting the National Action Plans was based on agreed strategic principles:

• Implementation should be focused on developing seascape plans and marine protected areas, involving communities in managing resources, and enabling an ecosystem approach to be adopted;
• Action planning should promote ecologically sustainable livelihoods, that are also socially and economically viable;
• Cooperation, collaboration, and community co-management should be built into all aspects of implementation, including support for partnership development and for effective local government;
• Action plans should seek to use donor funding to leverage funding from national governments in EAME and from other sources;
• Implementation should encourage the involvement of the private sector, and facilitate partnerships between conservation and private sector agencies;
• Action at seascape level should be complemented by the promotion of an enabling policy and legal environment, as well as capacity-building; and
• Implementation should include consideration of issues that affect both EAME and neighbouring ecoregions, such as the Eastern African Coastal Forests.

Priority seascapes

In the first five-year phase of the EAME programme, work will begin in the most important twelve of the twenty-one EAME priority seascapes. Stakeholders at the EAME national workshops agreed that that the critical priority areas would be targeted for action in Phase 1. Seascape planning will be undertaken in each of these areas, to identify (in collaboration with all key stakeholders) gaps and priorities for action, and ways of working together to implement the plan. This process will begin with the global priority areas, and the EAMEP will promote the establishment of marine protected areas where needed. The long-tem aim is for every priority area to be addressed in this way.

National-level enabling frameworks and capacity building

Enabling action at national level is needed in each country, to ensure that policy, legislation and even agency budgets support initiatives in the priority areas. For instance, national fisheries co-management policies are necessary to support establishment of co-management projects on the ground. Learning and exchange programmes need to be co-ordinated between sites and levels of government, to improve skills, understanding and practice. Each country’s action plan thus contains activities aimed at strengthening the enabling environment and capacity building.

Co-ordinating implementation at national level

The responsibility for co-ordination of EAMEP activities within each country rests on the National EAME Committees, the National Co-ordinator, and the National Focal Institution. The National EAME Committees play a crucial role in promoting the programme, facilitating access to funding sources, and developing national ownership of EAME plans and programmes.

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