Rolph's Journal

BCRC South-East Asia (Jakarta) championing e-waste management

2015-04-08T14:42:00.001+04:00

Ridwan Tamin and Rolph Payet at the BCRC in Jakarta

The Basel Convention Regional Centre (BCRC) for South-East Asia in Indonesia addresses in particular electronic waste issues in the region, among other issues. Established in 2004, it is also a Stockholm Convention Regional Centre since 2011. It primarily assists the following ten countries: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. My visit to the Basel Convention Regional Centre for South-East Asia, together with my BRS colleague, Mr. Suman Sharma, was facilitated by the Director of the Centre, Mr. Ridwan Tamin.

I was very impressed by the enormous amount of work completed by a relatively small centre, especially on developing guidelines and training for recycling, refurbishment and reconditioning of used electrical and electronic devices, as well as on the management of e-wastes. The support of the Government of Indonesia was clearly evident and needs to be commended. However, it is important that the BRS Secretariat, through partners, identifies means to further develop and expand the scope of the Centre, especially within its area of competency, hazardous wastes, drawing links to the Stockholm, Rotterdam and the Minamata Mercury Conventions, as well as SAICM implementation.

Globally, and especially in this region, the rise in disused and discarded electric and electronic waste is of great concern. According to a 2012 Asian Development Bank (ADB) report, the explosion of e-waste has been driven in part by population growth and rising consumption. But it also owes much to the proliferation of high-tech devices worldwide, rapid obsolescence, manufacturing techniques that make disassembly difficult, and widespread unawareness of the toxic nature of materials hidden in personal computers, cell phones, monitors, and many other electronic products. Nevertheless, work undertaken by the Centre shows that there are significant opportunities and solutions available to extend the life of electronic equipment, reduce costs, protect the environment, and create jobs at the same time. By training and establishing Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) specializing in the clean reconditioning and recycling of electrical and electronic wastes, it is possible to limit the volume of e-wastes destined for final disposal, thus reducing soil and water contamination, as well as stimulating the creation of jobs in the region.

Meeting with BCRC staff

The issue of e-waste will be extensively discussed at the forthcoming 12th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention in May. The focus of these discussions will be on the technical guidelines on transboundary movements of electronic and electrical waste and used electrical and electronic equipment. It is imperative that these guidelines are adopted to enable the Secretariat of the Basel Convention, together with its partners, to address some of the challenges related to e-waste. There are a number of lessons to be learnt from initiatives implemented in Southeast Asia; however, this region needs further support to implement measures and mechanisms to address used electronic and electrical wastes, which reduce the impact of recycling, refurbishment and reconditioning on the environment and health. This support can be further enhanced through partnerships with local authorities, the private sector, development banks and other entities.

To learn more about our activities on e-waste , follow this link.

The Central and Eastern European and Central Asian regions are characterized by countries that have different capacities to deal with chemicals and waste management

2015-04-07T12:00:00.000+04:00

Speech delivered at the Joint BRS-Minimata Workshop in Bratislava

Mr. Vojtech Ferencz, State Secretary, Ministry of Environment,

Mr. Dusan Jurik, Director, Directorate of Environmental Assessment and Management,

Mr. Martin Vavrinek, Director General, Slovak Environment Agency,

Mr. Martin Lakanda, Director, Section of Environmental Science and Project Management,

Mr. Lajos Szabo, National Programme Officer, Embassy of Switzerland for Slovakia,

Ms. Dana Lapesová, Director, Basel Convention Regional Centre for Training and Technology Transfer for Central Europe in Bratislava,

Distinguished delegates,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my great pleasure to join my distinguished colleagues in welcoming you to the Central and Eastern European and Central Asian Regional Preparatory meeting for the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions 2015 COPs and the Regional Workshop in support of the ratification and effective implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury.

Besides being a historical event for the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, the regional preparatory meetings are intended to provide you as Parties with the opportunity to better prepare for the upcoming COPs. Therefore, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the importance these meetings hold in the wider chemicals and waste agenda.

First and foremost, by holding these meetings together we are further strengthening the implementation of the three conventions and creating the momentum required to move towards ratification of the Minamata Convention. This comes at a critical time as parties have asked for a review of the synergies arrangements.

Negotiating and adopting a convention is by no means an easy task and should be celebrated, however ratification and implementation is where the real work actually lies. This is where we bring together professionals from around the world to perform the work of a secretariat, which in response to the needs of the parties, puts in place mechanisms, measures and programmes to support parties in meeting their obligations under the conventions. Indeed one of the most debated decisions of a conference of the parties is finance and budget – we all want smaller and more efficient secretariats and we all want more action on the ground, because this is where we can make a real difference.

Having a joint secretariat implies that our staff today are geared to deliver a wide range of services from conference services, to scientific support, to technical assistance which covers the needs of parties and also seeks to take into consideration the sound management of chemicals and wastes, the life cycle approach, and most importantly its contribution to alleviating poverty and the post-2015 agenda. It is imperative that we never lose sight of the many benefits environmentally sound chemicals bring to our communities, economies and countries, nor the significant opportunities of integrated waste management. Therefore, the identification of possible areas for synergies and most importantly partnerships at the global, regional and national levels is critical for progress towards this goal. As we move towards our triple COPs in May, I am confident we can further explore those opportunities under these synergies arrangements.

During the two days dedicated to the BRS regional preparatory meeting this week, our aim is to bring you up to speed with the preparations for the upcoming triple COPs.

Responding to the back-to-back nature of the BRS COPs in 2013, Parties requested assistance from the Secretariat in organizing meetings to assist regional preparatory processes. I am delighted to say that thanks to the generosity of our donors, we have managed to organize regional preparatory meetings in the Asia/Pacific, Africa, CEE and GRULAC regions. It is my belief that these meetings will contribute immensely to the success of the conferences of the parties in 2015 by giving regions the opportunity to consult each other in advance of the meetings, consider meeting documents, discuss substantive matters, identify regional priorities and challenges, and facilitate the preparation of regional positions. The Secretariat will be here to assist you in your deliberations and clarify any issues you may have.

This is the third regional preparatory meeting organized by the Secretariat, having held similar meetings in the Asia-Pacific and African regions in previous weeks. As already indicated, these meetings are designed to facilitate Parties’ preparations and collaboration in advance of the 2015 COPs. Additionally, they have given both myself and the Secretariat a first-hand insight into the main challenges and strengths of each region. The Central and Eastern European and Central Asian regions are characterized by countries that have different capacities to deal with chemicals and waste management including those that are EU member States. The structure of the economies in the region has changed significantly since the early 1990s. The share of the service industry sector now exceeds 50% in all economies in the Eastern European and South-east European sub groups. The agricultural sector has stagnated or declined in most countries and consequently, its share of GDP has shrunk throughout the region. Industry has enjoyed growth in almost all countries since 1995. However, industrial growth in many countries has been predominantly due to the exploration for and processing of fossil fuels, metals and minerals, often, it appears, at the expense of less energy- and resource-intensive manufacturing and light industry.

Total waste generation in countries in Eastern and Southern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia is high, mostly because of large-scale resource extraction and processing. Total waste generation per capita in EECCA is 14 tonnes per year compared with 4 tonnes in the EU. There appear to be huge differences between individual countries in total waste generation. Significant amounts of hazardous waste are generated, but there are difficulties in ensuring that this waste is managed in an environmentally sound manner.

Added to these challenges are issues of obsolete pesticide stockpiles, with the management of certain waste fractions including e-waste and medical waste, and with contaminated sites.

With these issues in mind, a joint session of the Minamata Workshop and the regional preparatory meeting will be held this week to delve deeper into issues of mutual concern related to the Conventions, including the integrated approach to financing chemicals and waste which formed the cornerstone of UNEA decision 1/5 on chemicals and waste, the special programme to support institutional strengthening at the national level, and access to financing through GEF.

In addition, to ensure a much closer relationship between the secretariat and parties, I am also organizing on the side a number of bilaterals. High on the agenda during these meetings will be discussions on both the challenges and opportunities associated with implementing the Conventions in the region, with a particular focus on the importance of national synergies in improving the effectiveness of the Conventions.

There will also be ample time to share views and experiences during the lunch and coffee breaks and the evening reception that the Government of Switzerland is kindly hosting.

Distinguished delegates, I would like to bring my remarks to a close with some congratulatory words. Despite the challenges you face in the region, you have clearly shown your commitment in implementing the Conventions. Nearly half of the Parties in the Central and Eastern European and Central Asian regions have ratified the Ban Amendment, 8 of whom count towards the global entry into force of the Ban Amendment. Whilst there seem to be challenges faced in this region with respect to the submission of national reports under the Basel Convention, you have a higher than global average track record of reporting under the Stockholm Convention. Added to this is your success in submitting National Implementation Plans under the Stockholm Convention, and may I take the opportunity to encourage those that have not done so to signal your interest to GEF for the review and update of these plans. You also have some of the best regional centres here in CEE that continue to undertake excellent work in support of the Parties in the region. There is a lot more to be done, but I believe we have the right building blocks to implement the sound management of chemicals and wastes.

Ladies and gentlemen, it only remains for me to say that it is an honour to represent the Secretariat here today, in partnership with my esteemed colleagues from the host government, Slovakia, as well as the Interim Secretariat of the Minamata Convention and the Regional Centres. I express my profound thanks to the Government of Switzerland and the European Union for making available the funding to allow these meetings to take place globally, and I look forward to supporting you all in your work this week.

Thank you.

What is chemical leasing?

2015-03-18T18:00:00.000+04:00

Meeting with the Director General of the United Nations Industrial DevelopmentOrganization (UNIDO), Mr. Li Yong, revealed how deeply connected he is to environmental issues and its inescapable linkages with industry. Many of us associate industrial development with pollution, which is indeed a cause for concern in many parts of the world, especially with regards to the production and use of chemicals or hazardous wastes for instance. So can we have green industrial development? We think so! UNIDO’s Green Industry Initiative for Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development is a great step in this direction.

There are many examples at work today in both developing and developed countries. One such example is Chemical Leasing: first introduced in Austria in the beginning of the 2000s, it is now a common tool being applied in many industrial and even agricultural sectors. Chemical Leasing is about sharing the responsibility for the chemicals that are manufactured among the producers, the users and across the supply chains. By delinking profits from output, manufacturers are incentivised to optimise the use and application of the chemical rather than just selling the chemical to users. This green industry model is in the commercial interest of the manufacturer to reduce pollution, unwanted emissions and wastage, and ultimately shift to safer and less hazardous chemicals.

For further information on chemical leasing visit: http://www.chemicalleasing.com/

Chemical leasing Explained:

We are further strengthening the implementation of the three conventions and creating the momentum required to move towards ratification of the Minamata Convention at Regional Level

2015-03-18T06:56:00.002+04:00

Speech delivered at the Joint BRS-Minimata Workshop in Indonesia

His Excellency Mr. Muhammad Ilham Malik, Deputy Minister for Hazardous Substance, Hazardous Waste and Solid Waste Management, Ministry of Environment and Forestry of Indonesia,
Her Excellency the Swiss Ambassador to Indonesia, Ms. Ycvonne Baumann,
Mr. Ridwan Tamin, Director of the Regional Centre in Southeast Asia,
Mr. Jacob Duer, Coordinator for the Minamata Convention and representing UNEP,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my great pleasure to join my distinguished colleagues in welcoming you to the first joint Regional Workshop in support for the ratification and effective implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury and in preparation for the Regional Preparatory meeting for the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions 2015 COPs in May.

Besides being a historical event for the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, these regional preparatory meetings provide a unique opportunity for parties to better prepare for the COPs. Therefore, I would also like to take a moment to reflect on the importance these meetings hold in the wider chemicals and waste agenda.

First and foremost, by holding these meetings together we are further strengthening the implementation of the three conventions and creating the momentum required to move towards ratification of the Minamata Convention. This comes at a critical time as parties have asked for a review of the synergies arrangements.

Negotiating and adopting a convention is by no means an easy task and should by all means celebrated, however ratification and implementation is where the real work actually lies. This is where we bring together professionals from around the world to perform the work of a secretariat, who in response to the needs of the parties, puts in place mechanisms, measures and programmes to support parties in meeting their obligations under the conventions. Indeed one of the most debated decisions of a conference of the parties is finance and budget – we all want smaller and more efficient secretariats and we all want more action on the ground, because this is where we can make a real difference.

Having a joint secretariat implies that our staff are today geared to deliver a wide range of services from conference services, to scientific support, to technical assistance which covers the needs of parties and also seeks to take into consideration the sound management of chemicals and wastes, the life cycle approach, and most importantly its contributions to alleviating poverty and the post-2015 agenda. It is imperative that we never lose sight of the many benefits environmentally sound chemicals brings to our communities, economies and countries, nor the significant opportunities integrated waste management. Therefore, the identification of possible areas for synergies and most importantly partnerships at the global, regional and national levels is critical for progress towards this goal. As we move to our triple COPs in May, I am confident we can further explore those opportunities under these synergies arrangements.

During those two days of the BRS regional preparatory meeting, our aim is to bring you up to speed with the preparations for the next triple COPs.

Responding to the back-to-back nature of the BRS COPs in 2013, Parties requested assistance from the Secretariat to organize regional meetings to assist regional preparatory processes. I am delighted to say that thanks to the generosity of our donors, we have managed to organize regional preparatory meetings in the Asia/Pacific, Africa, CEE and GRULAC regions. It is my belief that these meetings will contribute immensely to the success of the conferences of the parties in 2015 by giving regions the possibility to consult each other in advance of the meetings, consider meeting documents, discuss substantive matters, identify regional priorities and challenges, and facilitate the preparation of regional positions. The Secretariat will be here to assist you in your deliberations and clarify any issues you may have.

Coming back to this week’s regional preparatory meeting: it is no mistake that the first of such meetings has been organized Asia Pacific. This region is not only the most populous of the UN regions, it is also one of the most diverse in terms of ethnicity, language, culture and socioeconomic conditions. Your region is the hub of the global manufacturing industry, but with this comes a heightened responsibility to ensure the safe and environmentally sound management of chemicals and waste resulting from these industries, and the health of your people. There is a huge diversity in the level of know-how and the technologies employed for this purpose across the region: although it is my contention that this represents an opportunity more so than a challenge. Added to the challenges you face in the region is the special situation of Small Island Developing States who in addition to their vulnerability, the threat posed by climate change, are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of the unsafe management of chemicals and waste.

May I just ask you all to take a moment of reflection for all those who have lost their lives and possessions during the recent cyclone that hit the islands of Vanuatu.

A joint session with the regional preparatory meeting of the 2015 COPs will provide us with the opportunity to delve deeper into issues of mutual concern amongst the Conventions, including integrated approach to financing chemicals and waste which formed the cornerstone of UNEA decision 1/5 on chemicals and waste, the special programme to support institutional strengthening at the national level, and access to financing through GEF.

To ensure a much closer relationship between the secretariat and parties, I am also organizing on the side a number of bilaterals. I will hold this week’s bilateral with SIDS, Arab States and other Asian countries. High on the agenda during these meetings will be discussions on both the challenges and opportunities associated with implementing the Conventions in the region, with a particular focus on the importance of national synergies in improving the effectiveness of the Conventions.

There will also be ample time to share views and experiences during the lunch and coffee breaks and two evening receptions that our Indonesian hosts and the Swiss Government are kindly organizing.

Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to bring my remarks to a close with some congratulatory words. Despite the challenges you face in Asia Pacific, you have clearly shown your commitment in implementing the Conventions. In terms of obligations under the Conventions, you have demonstrated a strong track record in national reporting and the submission of NIPs. You have some of the best regional centres here in Asia who continue to undertake excellent work in support of the Parties in the region. There is all lot more to be done, but I believe we have the right building blocks to ensure the Asia Pacific Region can implement the sound management of chemicals.

Ladies and gentlemen, it only remains for me to say that it is an honour to represent the Secretariat here today, in partnership with my esteemed colleagues from the host government, Indonesia, as well as the Interim Secretariat of the Minamata Convention and the Regional Centre. I express my profound thanks to the Government of Switzerland for making available the funding to allow these meeting to take place globally, and that I look forward to supporting you all in your work this week.

Thank you.

Sharing information on hazardous chemicals and wastes

2015-03-02T18:02:00.000+04:00

The UN Information Service Vienna, UNIS, is part of a global network of information centres whose common goal is to communicate the activities and goals of the UN. My first visit to a UNIS centre revealed that they do not only serve at the local level but also engage the public in live debate on global issues. Ciné-ONU, for example, screens films relevant to a specific UN issue, normally followed by a Q&A session with reputed speakers. BRS will accept the kind offer of UNIS to use the Ciné-ONU to screen movies on chemicals and waste issues, such as Mission: Planet Detox, in the lead-up to the COPs. The screenings, which will be followed by a debate in the audience, are a powerful way in which the Secretariat can engage with the public, and in particular, young people, on issues of global concern. BRS will also be developing an exciting collaboration with UNIS centres around the world through their New York Headquarters. Subscribe to my youtube channel for more videos.

Mission: Planet Detox byGEF

Building capacity for managing hazardous chemicals and wastes

2015-02-24T14:24:00.000+04:00

Last week on mission to Bonn, Germany, I met with Dr. Jakob Rhyner, the Vice-Rector of the United Nations University (UNU). It was interesting to note that the UNU’s attention to chemicals and waste issues needs further support. Without capacity building and awareness raising, countries cannot effectively address the sound management of hazardous chemicals and wastes. For example, risk assessments for potential chemical dangers require trained professionals and well-staffed government institutions to come up with solutions. The BRS Secretariat last year trained more than 1000 candidates from all over the world through its webinar programme. Awareness raising and capacity building should also start in our schools. It is never too late to teach our children about recycling, dangerous chemicals and wastes and how much we can do as individual citizens. Why not join one of our webinars or tell us about your efforts to raise awareness of harmful chemicals and waste issues?

Launch of Executive Secretaries Blog

2015-02-23T16:28:00.000+04:00

Since I joined the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Secretariat as Executive Secretary in October 2014, I have been impressed by the work done so far to advance the hazardous chemicals and waste agenda. Chemicals make up the basis of our daily lives, and wastes are a result of this. Imagine morning breakfast without bread and margarine; imagine heading to work without shirts or blouses? Today our world makes use in one way or another of about 43 million chemicals in agriculture, housing, transportation, medicine, textiles and telecommunications, to name a few. Many of these chemicals are beneficial to humans and biodiversity but some have negative impacts on our health and environment, causing serious problems that require some form of international intervention. My blog will hopefully bring those issues into our homes, our communities and our governments. I thank you for your contributions.

Rolph Payet appointed Executive Secretary by UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon

2014-08-29T10:19:00.001+04:00

http://m.seychellesnewsagency.com//articles/1156/Geneva+beckons+Rolph+Payet+-+Seychelles+environment+and+energy+minister+lands+top+UN+post

SIDS need support for research

2014-06-23T23:43:00.001+04:00

http://m.scidev.net/global/r-d/news/small-island-developing-states-lack-research.html

Voices for UNEA: My one minute message for all leaders on the occasion of the World Environment Day 2014

2014-06-03T11:36:00.001+04:00

Global Oceans Action Summit for Food Security and Blue Growth Plenary Op...

2014-05-03T10:37:00.001+04:00

All about Aldabra from the Seychelles Islands Foundation

2013-10-17T08:38:00.000+04:00

From: Seychelles Nation
17-October-2013

New bird recently discovered on Aldabra

In May 2013 the first Madagascar Kingfisher Alcedo vintsiodes ever confirmed in Seychelles was accepted by the Seychelles Bird Records Committee as a new species record for the country. Vagrant birds are relatively common on Aldabra but it’s rare for the team to spot a completely new species.

The stunning kingfisher was spotted in March 2013 on Picard Island by Calum Ferguson, Arjan de Groene and Christina Quanz. The staff had the luck to have their cameras ready and took several shots of the bird which later helped the experts to distinguish it from the similar African Malachite Kingfisher. It is not clear from the pictures whether the bird originates from the Comoros or Madagascar, which host separate races, but it appears to belong to the nominate Madagascar race. The sighting will also be featured in the next issue of the Bulletin of the African Bird Club and on the SBRC website. Many thanks to Adrian Skerrett of the SBRC for confirming the identification.

What you need to know if you want to visit Aldabra

The policy
Aldabra is a strict nature reserve and visitors to the atoll must receive authorisation from SIF (Seychelles Islands Foundation). Request for authorisation can be made by contacting the SIF head office on the contact details provided.
The SIF policy on tourism at Aldabra is to increase the revenue raised by the SIF in order to support the protection and conservation of the atoll through limited and strictly controlled tourism with a focus on nature tourism and education.
Tourism activities are limited to the following operations:

Small to medium size cruise ship tourism.
Live-aboard charter boats and private yachts.
Live-aboard dive boats.
Land-based educational and scientific visits limited to 12 persons at any one time.

Access by a visitor to various parts of Aldabra is limited to the areas defined in the zoning policy and is conducted in a sustainable manner with impact being continually assessed.
Visitors are not allowed to collect shells or to damage or interfere with the plants and animals. No biological or geological specimen can be collected by any visitor. Visitors are also required to abide by sanitary measures to avoid introducing alien plant seeds.
All visitors to Aldabra must at all times be accompanied by an Aldabra staff member. It is not permitted to wander about unsupervised.
Getting there

Aldabra is normally accessible from the main Island of Mahé through a bi-monthly supply boat belonging to the Islands Development Company (IDC). Otherwise, a plane can be hired from the same company to Assumption. Transfer from Assumption to Aldabra and vice versa would need to be arranged on a specially chartered boat.

A visitor can also hire his/her own yacht on Mahé to visit Aldabra after receiving the authorisation from the Seychelles Islands Foundation and the Seychelles Port Authority.
With the obvious exceptions of cruise ships, private charter boats and private yachts, all other tourism access is dependent upon air connections between Mahé and Assumption and subsequent boat connections to Aldabra. While the SIF may assist with such arrangements if the supply boat is in the area, it is not SIF policy to be involved in the establishment of the boat connection between Assumption and Aldabra.

Fees payable
All visitors are required to pay various fees for each day that they remain at Aldabra.
For professional photographers and journalists a photography/filming fee will be applied for still photography and cine/video photography.

For further information on these fees please contact SIF on info@sif.sc

Donate now!
The SIF is helping to preserve the two Natural World Heritage sites of outstanding beauty donated to humanity by the people of Seychelles. These natural sites contain unique ecosystems and species of outstanding examples of a major stage in the evolutionary history of Earth.
Donating to the preservation of the Vallée de Mai on Praslin and Aldabra will give you the personal satisfaction of knowing you have directly contributed to providing essential funding for conservation initiatives that have been identified as needing the most support. If you would like to make a donation or get further information then please contact: info@sif.sc

If you wish to contribute towards enhancing the technical and financial capacities of the Seychelles Islands Foundation, your contribution would be welcome. Donations can be material, equipment or financial means. You may identify a project or activity towards which you wish the donation is used for. Material donations could be done by writing to the Seychelles Islands Foundation on the address in the contact details.
Financial donations can be done through the Seychelles Islands Foundation by contacting the CEO (SIF) on the address at the end of the article.

Tourism regulations for Aldabra

All vessels must have clearance in writing from the SIF head office and the Seychelles Port Authority before visiting Aldabra. Vessels approaching Aldabra must identify themselves and when within one kilometre of the shore will be answerable to the Island Management of Aldabra. The vessel should select its anchorage or mooring within view of the research station and do so in an environmentally responsible way. Vessels should use mooring buoys if these are available. Access to the lagoon and landing on any part of the atoll other than in designated tourism areas is prohibited.

- Visiting vessels must remove all rubbish occasioned by their visit.

- All visitors must be accompanied by SIF staff at all times, except within the station grounds. Tour operator guides who are familiar with Aldabra and SIF policies, and have been vetted by SIF, may be allowed to lead small groups on permitted trails on Picard.

- Visitors are to remain on designated trails or when in open areas, within the limits set by their guide.

- Visitors, particularly film crews, must comply with their guide’s instructions regarding approaches to and viewing of animals and plants.

- Aldabra is a strict nature reserve. It is prohibited to remove shells or pieces of coral from any area visited.

- No biological or geological specimen, alive or dead, may be collected by any visitor.

- Fishing is not permitted within one kilometre from the shoreline. All boat operators should ensure that this restriction is conveyed to all their crew.

Accidental introductions of alien species are a major problem in wilderness areas like Aldabra. Passengers and crew of cruise ships and charter boats are asked to assist in the prevention of this problem by always ensuring that they wear freshly laundered trousers and socks, and that their shoes have clean treads.

Satellites Reveal Differences In Sea Level Rises

2010-12-05T15:02:00.001+04:00

by Phillip F. Schewe from Inside Science News Service

WASHINGTON (ISNS) - Glaciers are retreating and parts of the ice sheets on Greenland and Antarctica are melting into the ocean. This must result in a rise in sea level, but by how much?

New maps show rise in sea level greater in some places than others
Relative sea-level change rates in millimeters per year.
Credit: GRACE

A new measurement of the gravity everywhere around the globe with a pair of orbiting satellites provides the first ever map detailing the rises across different parts of the globe.

According to the new results, the annual world average sea level rise is about 1 millimeter, or about 0.04 of an inch. In some areas, such as the Pacific Ocean near the equator and the waters offshore from India and north of the Amazon River, the rise is larger.

In some areas, such as the east coast of the United States, the sea level has actually dropped a bit over the past decade.

The surface of the sea is a constantly shifting fabric. To achieve a truer sense of how much the sea is changing in any one place, scientists measure the strength of gravity in that place. Measuring gravity over a patch of ocean or dry land provides an estimate of how much mass lies in that region. The measured mass depends on the presence of such things as mountains, glaciers, mineral deposits, and oceans.
If the gravity measurement for a place is changing, this could mean that the place is losing mass because of a retreating glacier or gaining mass if, as in the ocean surrounding Antarctica, new melt water is streaming in.
The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment, or GRACE for short, consists of a pair of satellites moving in an orbit that takes them over the South and North Poles. The two craft, nicknamed Tom and Jerry after the television cartoon characters, send constant signals to each other to determine their relative spacing to about 10 microns -- one-tenth the width of a human hair -- over a distance of 130 miles. If the first craft flies above a slightly more weighty area of the Earths' surface -- like a mountain range -- it will be tugged a bit out of place, an effect picked up by a change in the relative spacing of the craft.
In these way monthly gravity maps of pieces of land or ocean about 180 miles wide can be made with high precision. The new report for the years of 2003-09 looks at how much mass has been lost from land areas and how much mass has been gained by ocean areas.
One of the authors of the report, Riccardo Riva from the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, said that average annual rise in sea level rise due to meltwater entering the ocean is about 1 millimeter, but that an additional rise will come from that fact that as the average temperature rises so does the ocean temperature, which in turn causes the volume of the ocean to increase.
"The most important result of the new report is the measurement of the sea level changes for specific regions of the Earth that are based on direct and global measurements of mass change," Riva said.
Mark Tamisiea, who works at the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton, England, and was not involved in the GRACE work, believes the new report represents good research.
"As coastal sea level changes impact society, it is important for us to understand as much about the local differences from the global average as possible," Tamisiea said. "These results are one piece in that puzzle."
"GRACE is definitely the 'real deal' when it comes from measuring climate change from space," said Joshua Willis, an ocean expert at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. "This work by Dr. Riva and company reminds us that the world's oceans don't behave like a giant bathtub. As the ice melts and the water finds its way back to the ocean, the resulting sea level rise won't be the same all over the world."
"These effects are still small in today's rising ocean, but as we look out over the next century, the patterns of sea level change due to melting ice will be magnified many times over as the ice sheets thin and melt," Willis said.
Looking at the actual map of sea level rises presents an ironic twist. Offshore the areas where melting ice is most rapidly falling into the ocean -- such as Greenland and Antarctica -- the sea level appears to be falling.
"The main reason for this is the rebound of the solid Earth," explained Riva. "Less ice causes the continents go up, and therefore sea level drops. Meltwater distributes around quite quickly, in most cases, so there is no accumulation due to that."
The new GRACE results appear in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.

Exciting debate kicks off innovation forum

2010-11-15T16:21:00.000+04:00

Seychelles Nation - 15.11.2010
An exciting debate led by former space scientist Dr Cheick Diarra kicked off the Seychelles Innovation Forum which was launched by Vice-President Danny Faure at the School of Education on Friday.

Dr Diarra is a former engineer with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) of the US government responsible for space exploration, scientific discovery and aeronautics research.

He is now the chairman of Microsoft Africa and once reported directly to Bill Gates who founded the software company, which invented the Windows operating system.

Dr Diarra told ministers, diplomats, top government officials, entrepreneurs, students and others at the meeting that innovation should seek to achieve goals faster, cheaper and in better ways than before.

He said such efforts should be led by knowledgeable young people who are enthusiastic and “dumb enough to try anything” with experienced advisers who have failed so many times they are afraid to try anything new, to advise the young why not to try a new idea, based on why they believe it may not work.

He kept his captivated audience at the edge of their seats as he narrated how he took part in designing and guiding craft to Mars each time using less money and time than in previous missions, saying what pains his team took not to send a single bacterium to outer space.

Dr Diarra invited Dr Rolph Payet to visit the 500,000 population Creole-speaking Cape Verde archipelago off the scientist’s native Senegal to see innovations there.

Welcoming President James Michel’s vision of a knowledge-based society which he said is within reach, he said Seychelles has the chance to make more exemplary innovations for the world.

Dr Payet – who is the vice-chancellor of the University of Seychelles – said it is developing ties with Microsoft through which the university will get software from the company at reduced prices.

In return, he told Nation, the company would gain as the graduates would be more inclined to use its software.

He said the country has evolved from a copra and cinnamon-dependent economy to one reliant on tourism and fisheries that is now becoming a financial, knowledge and innovation services-driven one.

Mr Faure said setting up the forum was in itself a form of innovation and listed many of our unique achievements.

“The forum is an initiative of the Seychelles Innovation and Technology Council which was launched by President Michel earlier this year. It is part of our vision to transform Seychelles into a knowledge-based society,” said Mr Faure.

“The Seychellois people as a nation have in the process of nation building shown they are innovative,” he said, noting our considerable progress in education, health and social welfare which have ranked us among the best performing countries of Africa.

He gave our tanker fleet, establishment of the university and ability to steer our economy back on track as examples of Seychelles’ globally notable innovations.

Many Strong Voices speak out in Seychelles

2010-10-29T15:50:00.000+04:00

Seychelles Nation - 29.10.2010
Activists from small island and Arctic states are meeting at the University of Seychelles (UniSey) campus at Anse Royale to talk about climate change and discuss their strategies for the coming five years.

The forum has been organised by the steering committee of Many Strong Voices (MSV), a platform where islanders and indigenous peoples of the Arctic combine to bring attention to the issues of climate change.

It is also a growing global network of researchers, policy makers, community organisations and Small Island Developing States that promotes the security and sustainability of coastal communities.

Around 15 people from Canada, St Lucia and Alaska, among others, are attending the meeting, which opened yesterday morning and closes today.

“The role of MSV is to peel back the veneer that science has projected and give a human face to the issue of climate change,” said Cletus Springer from St Lucia.

He explained that the islanders affected by the issue are not asking for too much – just that their way of life is protected, allowing them the simple pleasures of walking on a beach and taking a dip in the sea.

“Today, as we get together for our strategy meeting, let us combine our expertise to further impact on global decisions,” said UniSey president Dr Rolph Payet, who officially launched the meeting.

“I am aware of our resource and capacity constraints, but we have shown ourselves to be focused, resilient and determined in everything we do, and in many of our initiatives we have reached politicians as well as community leaders and even students.

“However bleak the outcome may be, we should strive to build more partnerships. And as we look ahead to Cancun, let us resolve to make known the issues facing our small nations and peoples today.”

The next United Nations climate change conference will be held in Cancun, Mexico, from November 29 to December 10.

One of the issues the delegates also talked about was making the industrialised countries more aware of the issue as the changes in climate affect the whole world.

“There are still climate change sceptics who do not believe in the real threat – in fact they are holding a convention in London right now, calling it Climate Fools’ Day,” said Mr Springer.

Dr Payet also asked for a credible and acceptable climate change pact, saying: “I am saddened by the continued lack of political assertiveness at the global level to resolve the climate change issue.”

Also during the meeting, the delegates looked at pictures of the effects of climate change in different areas of the world and listened to stories of the impact on the lives of people living there.
MSV was established in 2005 and partners with the Sea Level Rise Foundation in Seychelles.

Small islands ‘face huge energy challenge’

2010-10-26T15:46:00.000+04:00

Seychelles Nation - 26.10.2010
Small island states such as Seychelles face a huge challenge in securing their long-term energy supply, President James Michel’s special adviser Dr Rolph Payet has said.

He was speaking at the weekend at the preparatory commission for the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where he was representing Joel Morgan, Minister for Home Affairs, Environment and Transport.

Also in the Seychelles delegation were Didier Dogley, principal secretary for environment, and Philip Morin, chief executive of the Seychelles Energy Commission.

In his speech during the high-level segment of the meeting, Dr Payet said: ‘Small Island Developing States such as Seychelles are facing an unprecedented task in ensuring long-term security of energy supply. The link between use of fossil fuels and climate change – which threatens our very existence – is undeniable, and our goal towards a low-carbon economy should be relentless.”

The conference, on October 23 and 24, adopted its 2011 work programme and budget, and made preparations for its first assembly, also next year.

The government of the UAE is the host of Irena and has announced a fund to finance renewable energy projects in developing countries to the tune of 183 million dirhams (about R200 million) a year.

During the visit to Abu Dhabi, the Seychelles delegation also met officials of Masdar, the UAE renewable energy company.

In January 2009, an agreement to develop a windfarm in Seychelles was signed with the UAE government after talks there by President Michel.

The windfarm is one more project funded through the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development to benefit the Seychellois people. The 7MW farm is already in its advanced planning stages and construction is expected to start late next year.

E-learning brings master’s to Seychelles

2010-10-22T15:52:00.000+04:00

Seychelles Nation - 22.10.2010
Professionals wanting to get a master’s degree can do so without having to travel overseas now that the University of Seychelles (UniSey) has started an e-learning programme with India.

UniSey is now working closely with several Indian universities such as the Amity University in Noida and the Indira Gandhi National Open University in New Delhi.

In the programme, the students use a satellite connection to speak to and listen to their lecturers in India as though they were on an actual campus where the course was being held.

At the end of their two-year course they will have a master’s degree that is recognised all over the world.

The Pan-African tele-education network – which is the second phase of the Pan-African e-Network – was launched for Seychelles at UniSey’s School of Education on Wednesday.

Its first phase was launched in 2008 with the tele-medicine component, which allows medical staff in Seychelles to ask specialists in India for advice on complicated procedures via satellite, as well as giving them a chance to learn online.

There are now 16 students enrolled on the tele-education programme – studying for master’s degrees in finance and control, international business, and information technology among others.

UniSey vice-chancellor Dr Rolph Payet officially launched the programme, which started in August.
Present at the event were Minister for Education, Employment and Human Resources Macsuzy Mondon and the Indian high commissioner Asit Kumar Nag among other guests.

Benjamin Choppy, the national coordinator for the Pan African e-Network, gave those present a short introduction to the project and how it started.

Mr Nag said the e-network programme is cheaper to run than an actual university campus while making a significant contribution to human resources development in Seychelles.

Dr Payet said now that UniSey offers these online courses, it gives Seychellois another opportunity to have access to education.

“Through the e-network programme, students who do not have access to university education will now have it,” he said.

He added that the programme gives UniSey a platform to involve all members of society in lifelong learning.

“The university will continue to expand this programme, there is more to come and I would like to encourage, especially, people at work who find it hard to attend university full-time because of their jobs and families to take this opportunity and join the programme,” said Dr Payet.

Immediately after the ceremony the guests were given a tour of the classrooms the master’s students are using on the campus.
Seychelles is the second country in the African region, after Senegal, to join the network.

UniSey president in talks with Mauritian minister

2010-10-16T15:48:00.000+04:00

Seychelles Nation - 16.10.2010
During a short visit to Mauritius this week Dr Rolph Payet, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Seychelles (UniSey), called on the Minister for Tertiary Education, Science, Research and Technology, Dr Rajesh Jeetah.

The meeting was a chance to exchange information on developments in both countries in the areas of tertiary education and development of science and technology.

It was felt that Seychelles can benefit from the many years of experience Mauritius has had in university education, research and technology transfer.

A memorandum of understanding is expected to be developed between the Mauritius Research Council and UniSey, as well as with the Seychelles Innovation and Technology Council.

Dr Payet also met his counterpart, University of Mauritius vice-chancellor Professor K Morgan, and they discussed developing close ties between the two universities and exploring ways to exchange information.

They also expressed the wish for greater collaboration and exchange among universities in the Indian Ocean and Southern African Development Community regions.

Ninety-four freshers join UniSey

2010-09-22T15:57:00.000+04:00

Seychelles Nation - 22.09.2010
A new batch of 94 undergraduates have joined the University of Seychelles (UniSey) and were welcomed at their induction yesterday.

The ceremony, which coincided with the first anniversary of the university’s launch, took place at the School of Education.

It was attended by chief justice Fredrick Egonda-Ntende; Education, Employment and Human Resources Minister Macsuzy Mondon; and youth and sports principal secretary Denis Rose.

Also present were the president and vice-chancellor of UniSey Dr Rolph Payet, members of the board of governors, attorney-general Ronny Govinden, senior government officials and other guests.

Management and staff of the School of Education, as well as lecturers and students were also there.

In his address Dr Payet said with a total of over 300 students UniSey is proud to welcome its 94 freshmen for this new academic year 2010-2011.

“When we embarked on this historic journey we had a shipful of only 53 students,” he said.
And today, one year later, the students speak of their challenges and hardships but also the good times and the determination they all wear – like proud smiles, he said.

He added that the faculty, students and supporters of UniSey should be proud to share in the vision of President James Michel to create a modern and forward-looking Seychelles.

Dr Payet also spoke about a series of new programmes which include both undergraduate and master’s degreees for part-time students.

And he mentioned new facilities such as UniSey’s investment in a scalable – expandable – computer network at a cost of R1.2 million, contracted to Victoria Computer Services.

The new information technology (IT) system will serve both campuses and is now connected by fibre-optic cable to the Cable & Wireless direct uplink for fast internet connection. Wi-fi hotspots are being installed on both campuses.

“Our main aim is to become the first institution in Seychelles to become fibre-optic ready, once Seychelles has its submarine fibre-optic connection,” said Dr Payet.

He added that one year on, the faculty and students are proud of their achievements, and their exam results are very promising.

Dr Payet said 10 degrees have been introduced for this new academic year, including geography, law, banking, economics and environment – and a surprising number of applicants were interested in the law course.

Since the launch of the university there has been a complete refurbishment of the front wing of the ex-Seychelles Polytechnic at Anse Royale.

“We have 21 lecture rooms ready for formal courses to start at the beginning of October,” said Dr Payet.

The total cost of renovation work on the building now housing UniSey – carried out by the China State Construction Company – is about R12 million, entirely funded by the government of Seychelles. And UniSey has invested around R1 million in books which are essential for the students and lecturers.

Dr Payet wished the students all the best in their new academic year, and the event was also marked by blessings by representatives of the catholic and anglican churches, as well as songs and reflections by members of the faculty.

The induction for freshers will go on until October 1; formal classes are expected to start on October 4 and will go on until the exams next May.

UniSey offers much wider range of courses

2010-09-18T15:58:00.000+04:00

Seychelles Nation - 18.09.2010
Students following higher education at the University of Seychelles (UniSey) can now
choose from a wider range of undergraduate courses.

This follows the introduction of 11 new high-quality courses in fields such as economics, law, environment, geography, education, banking, finance and tourism.

UniSey started offering a bachelor’s degree programme in the field of business administration and in computing and information systems in September 2009.

All the courses are being run in partnership with universities abroad, such as the University of London (UK), University of Edith Cowan (Australia) and the

Université de Paris I – Panthéon Sorbonne (France).

UniSey has also increased its student base from 53 students in September 2009 to well over 300 (including students studying at the School of Education). The total number of students includes 94 freshmen enrolled on degree and diploma courses.

The new university term starts on Tuesday September 21.

UniSey and STA sign accord for joint benefit

2010-08-07T16:00:00.000+04:00

Seychelles Nation - 07.08.2010
The University of Seychelles (UniSey) and the Seychelles Tourism Academy (STA) have signed an agreement on training and sharing their facilities.

The memorandum of understanding was signed yesterday by STA principal Flavien Joubert and UniSey vice-chancellor Dr Rolph Payet.
Present at the ceremony were guests including Minister for Foreign Affairs Jean-Paul Adam, secretary of state in the President’s office Barry Faure, and representatives of Ireland-based Shannon College and the Seychelles Tourism Board.

Mr Joubert and Dr Payet toasted the new partnership immediately after the signing, before the latter congratulated the efforts of the STA in introducing its advanced diploma courses and opportunities to progress towards degree-level studies.

“I do recognise the tireless efforts the STA has made, and continues to make, to ensure that our tourism service excels at all levels,” he said.

“With the establishment of UniSey, we are now ready to make our contribution to this most important endeavour – of empowering our people to manage the tourism industry at all levels.”

Mr Joubert explained that the MoU covers several aspects beneficial to both sides. After completing their courses, students will be proficient in fields such as marketing, human resources management, service development, hotel management, tour operating and airlines.

“The MoU covers the degree course the students will be doing at Shannon College, so they will now be able to choose between UniSey and Shannon College,” he said.

“There will also be an exchange of students and lecturers, such as UniSey providing teachers in finance, marketing, statistics and human resources while we give them our specialists in, for example, housekeeping, restaurant and bar work, and food preparation, as well as sharing facilities such as libraries and equipment.”

Dr Payet said the new degree programme to be launched next month is unique globally, in that it has brought together three universities to deliver an intensive four-year programme aimed at training the tourism executives and managers of tomorrow.

Ministry hopes Seychelles joins WTO soon

2010-06-08T19:40:00.000+04:00

Seychelles Nation - 08.06.2010
It is crucial that Seychelles joins the World Trade Organisation (WTO) soon, given that the current negotiating climate is more favourable to small and vulnerable economies.

Mr Afif launching the sessions yesterday

Principal secretary for finance Ahmed Afif said this yesterday as he launched a series of sessions aimed at helping key people understand how the trade body works.

Principal secretaries, chief executives and University of Seychelles lecturers attended a briefing session at the university’s School of Education in the morning, and members of the National Assembly another in the afternoon. Ministers are due to attend one tomorrow at Liberty House.

Mr Afif said the Ministry of Finance “is under no illusion there will not be some form of negative effect as a result of WTO accession”, but he listed a number of advantages of joining.

“Seychelles will have made its case to a large number of countries who have an agreed set of procedures and rules, and we will therefore be able to present ourselves as a WTO-compatible country,” he said.

“Investors would have a more clearly defined environment in which they would operate and be better able to assess the merits or demerits of investing or operating in Seychelles.

“However, certain sectors or groups of people in the country might find themselves in some difficulties if planning the migration from not being a member to being one is not done carefully.”

Mr Afif said joining the WTO might bring more competition in the face of new rules, and local production sectors – particularly those involved in import substitution or the services sector – will need time and information to manoeuvre so they are able to face the new environment.

He noted that the launch of the sessions coincided with the opening of a WTO reference centre.

Mr Afif said “hard decisions will have to be made and the current regulatory framework governing sectors will have to be revised to ensure compliance with WTO rules”.

He said the WTO is the only multilateral organisation that deals directly with international trade and is the guardian of the other multilateral trade-related agreements.

“It has been generally agreed that these agreements have been able to mitigate against the impact of the global financial crisis,” he said.

He said, for example, that if we had been part of the WTO we could have had an avenue to redress more quickly the swordfish export ban we suffered in 2004.

“The commitment of the Ministry of Finance is that we will guide the process through the national working group to negotiate the best possible deal for Seychelles,” said Mr Afif.

“In doing so, the negotiating strategy will be phased liberalisation of various sectors of the economy, at the same time seeking to protect sectors that are much more vulnerable to foreign competition.

“This is all in the spirit of mitigating the negative impacts of Seychelles’ accession.”

He called on everyone to help get the best possible result, adding that membership of the WTO will have an effect on everyone.

Among those who gave presentations were Edwini Kessie and Cherif Mondher of the WTO.

UniSey to jointly absorb youth leadership programme

2010-05-31T13:59:00.000+04:00

Seychelles Nation - 31.05.2010
The empowerment programme for the country’s young leaders initiated by President James Michel in 2007 and launched the following year has been transferred to the University of Seychelles (UniSey).

The new move will ensure continued delivery of the Seychelles Young Leaders Programme (SYLP) which targets the leadership skills of young Seychellois with minimum disruptions to studies already on the way in the second cycle.

Since its inception, it has always been the government’s intention to transfer the programme which is run in partnership with the Institute of Public Administration (IPA) – a college of the National University of Ireland – to an appropriate higher education institution in view of its academic focus.

Under the new agreement, the UniSey will coordinate and manage the programme while IPA will continue to deliver the academic part with no expected changes.

According to the programme officials, integrating and enrolling the trainees as students of the UniSey as well as IPA, provides an important platform which will allow the programme to continue for many years to come.

To formalise the agreement, a memorandum of understanding was signed on Friday by the vice-chancellor of UniSey Dr Rolph Payet and principal secretary in the Vice-President’s Office Lucy Athanasius, who is also the programme coordinator.

The signing ceremony in the auditorium of UniSey’s School of Education at Mont Fleuri was attended by Secretary of State Jean-Paul Adam, members of the National Assembly, government officials and trainees of the programme’s second cohort.

Dr Payet described the move as a new milestone and said the UniSey will be ready to take over the whole programme when it enrols its third cohort.

He added that the UniSey is ready to take up the challenges which he said will not affect its present schooling agenda.

C&W to give UniSey R2m services

2010-05-18T16:02:00.000+04:00

Cable & Wireless - 18.05.2010
Cable & Wireless agreed yesterday to provide modern telecom services worth around R2 million to the University of Seychelles (UniSey) through the signing of an accord at the Anse Royale campus.

It was signed by the telecom firm’s chief executive Charles Hammond and UniSey vice-chancellor Dr Rolph Payet, in the presence of the information communications technology principal secretary Benjamin Choppy.

The dean of the School of Sciences, Dr George Ah-Thew, C&W public relations manager Terry Servina and staff, along with UniSey staff were also there.

The main aim of the project is to provide telecom services to the university campuses at Anse Royale and the School of Education (ex-NIE) at Mont Fleuri.

These include fixed-line phone services, mobile packages for administration staff, BlackBerry devices, wi-fi and high-speed internet access. The agreement also covers full-time scholarships for two students at the university.
A copy of the business proposal was also presented to Dr Payet.

Mr Hammond said the telecom company is proud to have the technology to deliver these services to UniSey.

“They are being delivered by highly capable and local skilled workers with the highest Cable & Wireless standards,” he said.
This sponsorship initiative complements the free broadband internet access for state schools that the firm started three years ago.

As a responsible corporate citizen, this is an opportunity to proactively contribute in creating a knowledge-based society, Mr Hammond added.

Dr Payet said technology is the backbone of education and the university will not be able to survive without it.
“We want to give our students a chance to interact with other lecturers and facilities outside Seychelles,” he said.

The infrastructure will give students and lecturers access to books and other academic materials.

“It is vital for us to expose our students to the latest technology and software, so they can bring innovation to the world of work.”

Mr Servina said the telecom company will install and maintain the infrastructure that will provide these services. The university will bear some minimal cost during the project, he added.

The main campus at Anse Royale already has most of the services, including wireless internet, and this will be connected to the School of Education once all the infrastructure has been put in place.

“The project is at an advanced stage, and if there is a need for new technology and services in the future for the benefit of the university and Seychelles we will make it available,” said Mr Servina.

Talking about the university courses, Dr Ah-Thew said students following the computing and information systems course are now sitting for their exams.

Soon they will be placed on internships, and the second year is scheduled to start in September.
He also called on other telecom companies to come forward and provide special packages to students and lecturers.

Environment ministers converge in Nairobi

2010-03-29T23:28:00.001+04:00

From: Kenya Broadcasting Corporation

Written By:Rosalia Opondo , Posted: Mon, Mar 29, 2010

Environment Ministers from ten African countries are converging at the UNEP headquarters in Gigiri to discuss ways of promoting better use of coastal resources in the region.

Under the aegis of Conference of Parties (COP - 6), the Nairobi Convention will discuss how to strengthen laws on pollution in order to conserve the shared resource of the Indian Ocean. The Western Indian Ocean is one of the richest ecosystems in the world with important mangrove forests, sea grass beds and coral reefs. It is thought to hold more than 11,000 species of plants and animals.

But growing population has led to an exponential increase in pollution through overflow of sewage, chemicals and other pollutants from the land. Deputy Director in charge of Coastal, marine and freshwater at the National Environment Management Agency (NEMA) noted that land based pollution challenges will be given prominence. "One of the protocols being discussed is that dealing with land based sources and activities. Over 80 % of our pollution to environment comes from land, and we are trying to address this," he told KBC news. For the next three days, they will deliberate on how to tighten legislation and national co-operation, in order to conserve the ocean. "The conditions you find in a coastal zone are very similar to conditions in coastal zones in countries that share the same convention," he said This means pollution in one past of Africa will eventually affect other parts.

Dr. Rolph Payet, a participant from Seychelles noted that education on co-operation between users of coastal resources is vital for the survival of marine facilities. According to UNEP, some 30 million people living around the ocean depend upon the area's marine and coastal resources for food, livelihoods and recreation. COP-6 to the Nairobi Convention is a defining moment as the meeting is expected to among others, adopt the Amended Nairobi Convention as well as endorse the Strategic Action Programme for the Protection of the Marine and Coastal Environment in the Western Indian Ocean from Land- based Sources and Activities (SAP); The theme of the Conference is Sustaining Progress, and recommendations will be presented to Environment ministers.