4 May 2005
All is now set for 16 African countries including Ghana, Nigeria, Benin, and Angola, to benefit from the implementation of activities projected to eventually help recover depleted fish stock, restore degraded habitat and reduce land- and sea-based pollution.
The activities, which are being undertaken under the Guinea Current Large Marine Ecosystem Project (GCLME) include at the regional level studies of the trend in marine productivity, survey of fisheries and stock assessment and establishment of common environmental information systems for the countries involved in the project.
At the national level, activities to be undertaken are creation of marine protected areas in Benin, institution of integrated coastal management system in Cameroon and establishment of low cost technology coastal defence measures in Cote d'Ivoire.
Others are creation of waste stock exchange management system in Ghana, the clearing of a notorious invasive plant - the Nypa Tree and mangrove reforestation in Nigeria and establishment of a system to reduce nutrient discharges in Togo.
This follows the adoption of the main work plan for the project for 2005 and approval of the five-year programme of implementation for the project. This was at the first GCLME Steering Committee meeting which took place in Accra from Monday April 25 to Wednesday April 27, during which the activities were thoroughly discussed.
There were forty participants from the 16 member countries, UN cooperating agencies, the NGO and private sectors, the media and community-based organisations.
Regional Director of the project Professor Chidi Ibe told the members that the activities seek to address the main problems identified in the project area. These, he said, are "declining fish stock and unsustainable resource harvesting, uncertainty of the status of the area's ecosystem, introduction of invasive alien species, reduction in water quality and habitat destruction." Professor Ibe was optimistic about results the activities will produce among member countries.
"Improved legal management structure for addressing priority issues, enhanced political commitment to address priority transboundary matters, and the development of a Regional Biodiversity Action Plan," he said.
Dr Abdoulaye Ndiaye, Regional Director of the UNDP/Global Environment Facility said the GCLME project has a current funding of 50 million dollars. His office has provided 20 million dollars, while other organisations including the US National Oceanic and Atmoshperic Administration, NOAA, have topped up the amount with a total of 30 million dollars.
Representatives of other UN agencies and the FAO pledged to support the project in every possible way. Dr Kenneth Sherman, a scientist and an official of NOAA who was introduced as the originator of the GCLME concept said he was glad that the idea is working.
He recalled that 25 years ago marine and coastal issues such as fisheries, pollution and degradation were addressed independently. "But to make real progress, there was the need for a fresh approach, which recognised that all the issues had to do with one ecosystem and thus must be addressed accordingly".
Consequently, the world's combined marine area was divided into 64 Large Marine Ecosystems, where 95 percent of all the world's fisheries are produced, with all major coastal pollution and marine degradation occurring.
Dr Sherman said the criteria for the division was "entirely scientific and not political it was based on the shape of the bottom of the coastal area, the kinds of current and water masses, the kind of productivity the region is capable of generating and food chain linkages."
The initiative jointly undertaken by a group of scientists including Dr Sherman was announced in 1984 at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences, AAAS. He shared Professor Ibe's optimism saying, "Successful implementation of activities under the GCLME will increase the economic benefits of the resources at risk in the region."
The three-day meeting of the Steering Committee was also used to formally inaugurate the regional office premises of the GCLME project. The Minister of Environment and Science, Christine Churcher unveiled a plaque and cut the sod to officially open the premises. She said, "the GCLME project could not have come at a better time when our waters are so polluted and our coastal areas degraded."
Ms Churcher was happy with the opportunity the project is providing for the 16 participating countries to come together and tackle common transboundary problems.
"It is for this reason," she said, "that Ghana is proud to be associated with the project, which will also afford more opportunities to forge closer relations with the regional office."
The Minister was also of the view that at the end of it all "the GCLME project will enable countries to bequeath a rich legacy of well-endowed natural resource base to future generations."
Members of the Steering Committee used the occasion to call on Ghana's Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama at his office at the Castle, Osu. Professor Ibe briefed him about the project. He told the Vice President that the "attainment of the goals has implications for the region's food security and nutritional needs and will go a way to help alleviate poverty in the area."
He said as the host country for the initial project known as the Gulf of Guinea Large Marine Ecosystem Project, implemented in six countries in the 1990's, "Ghana still has a special role to play in spearheading the implementation of activities that will bring about environmental sustainability in the area."
Professor Ibe stated that the Steering Committee will be counting on Ghana's vision, and wise counsel that will enable participating countries to make a difference to the economic, social and human development of the about 300 million people in the area."
He expressed his sincere gratitude to the Ministry of Environment and Science and the Government for providing office premises for the project adding, "the project will eventually be transformed into the Guinea Current Commission."
Vice President Aliu Mahama said the members "represent a powerful force of people who have come together to share experiences and ideas and to make the project work."
He was particularly happy that the project would address fisheries related issues because he has on several occasions "observed many fishermen just wandering on the sea, unable to make catches and returning with empty nets."
Alhaji Mahama hoped the team of experts would be able to "add value to our marine resources and thus improve the lot of fishermen, as well as protect and preserve our coastline for purposes of tourism and overall development."
He was presented with a souvenir by a Representative of UNIDO's Regional Director, Dr Chila Ukwe on behalf of the Steering Committee.
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