Programme Cooperation Agreement 2014: Final Report for the Period 01 January 2014 to 01 March 2015

MARINE AND COASTAL RESOURCES

STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORTING

Developing states in Africa and the Pacific have sovereign rights over vast areas of the ocean filled with fish, petroleum and minerals plus a number of undiscovered resources. These countries are rightfully beginning to question the current methods of exploiting resources. While there is a strong push for the rapid development of these sectors to drive economic development, there is also an emerging need to ensure marine and coastal ecosystems continue to provide long-term sustainable benefits. TheMarine and Coastal Resource programme encourages innovative thinking in sustainable development based on marine and coastal ecosystems and resources. Its goals are to: • Support true “green-growth” that increases human well-being while maintaining and enhancing the health of our oceans and coasts. • Ensure that resource use adds tangible local value and leaves a significantly smaller environmental footprint than is currently seen throughout the world. The polar and high mountain regions of the world play an important role in the Earth’s climate system. They help regulate global temperatures, drive ocean circulation, and store water in the form of glaciers and ice sheets. The Polar and Mountain Environments Programme works with governments, UNEP and UN agencies, academic institutions, civil society and local communities to address the challenges of adapting to rapid climate and environmental changes in the Arctic and in mountain regions. Examples of our work include: • Generating new knowledge about the impacts of climate change on water availability, food security, ecosystem function, and societies in the Hindu Kush Himalayas; and • Supporting the United Nations Environment Programme in the Arctic through our role as a Centre of Excellence on polar issues and engaging in the work of the Arctic Council’s working groups. POLAR AND MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENTS

Countries need to be able to measure and monitor the condition and trends in ecosystems in their marine jurisdictions. Developing countries have identified the lack of capability to undertake State of the Marine Environment (SoME) reporting as a major gap. They have experts available with knowledge of their marine environments, but there is a lack of reporting skills in government agencies responsible for this task. The goal of this programme is to enhance the capability of developing countries to undertake their own, independent assessments using an internationally recognized methodology. GRID-Arendal will work with partners this year to: • Finalise guidelines for SoME reporting and marketing the method; • Publish Sierra Leone’s SoME report as the first national report based on the guidelines; and • Use the reporting template for other purposes, such as State of the Environment Reports for lake or river basins. A scientific paper will be produced based on what was learned in the Raet National Park SoME demonstration assessment. The park is located near Arendal/Tromøy. With nearly 90 per cent of the world population living in countries where freshwater resources cross borders, the peaceful cooperation and sustainable use of shared waters are critically important. In Africa alone there are 64 shared river/lake basins. These basins are important hubs for economic development and regional integration. GRID-Arendal provides innovative communication tools and products that enable the sustainable use and development of such shared resources. It helps develop local expertise in environmental assessments, and provides a platform for dialogue on transboundary water issues between governments, civil society, media, youth and other stakeholders. Activities in 2015 will include: • An assessment of major environmental changes that have occurred in the Lake Victoria Basin, their causes and impacts; • Analysis and mapping of major disasters and risks to which the LimpopoRiver Basin is vulnerable, with a focus on the role played by climate change and vulnerability; • A study on the threats to ecosystem services provided by the Okavango River Basin with a view of suggesting innovative governance strategies such as Payment for Ecosystem Services; and, • Supporting the institutional and legal framework for the management of the Caspian Sea. TRANSBOUNDARY WATERS

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