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Regional Workshop on Community Management of Marine Areas in the Indian Ocean

Toliara, Madagascar – From December 9 to 12, 2024, some 50 marine area stakeholders from 9 territories in the Western Indian Ocean gathered for a workshop on community management of marine areas. This event was organized by Réserves naturelles de France, with the support of the French biodiversity Agency and in collaboration with IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa as part of the Varuna Biodiversité_AMP program.Participants were able to share their experiences and co-construct solutions to promote sustainable management of their sites, with an emphasis on involving local communities.

A shared vision for the region

During these four days of exchange and collaboration, several objectives were set:

  • Share best practices on community governance of marine areas;
  • Promote collective learning, to adapt solutions to the social, cultural and environmental realities of each territory;
  • Propose concrete recommendations to strengthen the inclusion of local communities in the management of marine protected and conserved areas.

These objectives are part of global efforts to achieve Target 3 of the Global Biodiversity Framework, which emphasizes participatory management of natural resources.

Constructive discussions

During this 4-day workshop, several avenues for action were identified:

  • Develop common tools to meet the specific needs of territories in the south-west Indian Ocean.
  • Strengthen the recognition and legitimacy of local communities in the management of marine protected areas.
  • Create sustainable connections between regional players to foster long-term collaboration.

Discussions provided a better understanding of the challenges facing the region, while identifying ways to promote more inclusive management practices.

Participants also contributed to the identification of practical solutions, with a particular focus on:

  • The inclusion of women and young people in the management of marine areas, a priority to ensure more equitable and sustainable governance.
  • Strengthening community financial capacities, to ensure local communities’ autonomy in the face of economic and environmental challenges.
  • Clarifying intervention frameworks, to promote coherent, harmonized management at local and regional levels.
  • Setting up multi-stakeholder dialogue platforms, to create spaces for collaboration between the various players involved in marine area management.

These actions are designed to pave the way for innovative projects, in particular micro-projects that will be carried out within the framework of the “marine areas” program.

Immersion in the field

The workshop ended with a field immersion in a locally managed marine area (LMMA), where participants had the opportunity to discover the conservation efforts led by the local community. They were guided through a protected mangrove swamp, a vital ecosystem for marine biodiversity.

The visit addressed key issues such as sustainable fishing, dune restoration and financing models adapted to local realities. The rich exchanges reinforced the conviction that the management of marine areas must imperatively rely on traditional knowledge and local initiatives.

A collaborative future to better involve local communities in the management of the region’s marine areas

The work carried out at this workshop represents a further step towards integrated, sustainable management of the region’s marine areas. Thanks to the commitment of participants and technical and financial partners, the foundations for enhanced regional cooperation have now been laid.

Actors from Madagascar, Comoros, Mayotte, Seychelles, Mauritius, Rodrigues, Mozambique, Kenya and Tanzania have thus built strong links, ready to work together to preserve marine biodiversity.

To find out more, contact:

Sevahnee Pyneeandy, Varuna_AMP coordinator: sevahnee.pyneeandy(@)rnfrance.org

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