UTILIZATION OF MARINE SPATIAL PLANNING IN THE GULF OF GUINEA FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PAYMENT FOR ECOSYSTEM SERVICES AND NATURE-BASED COASTAL SOLUTIONS
As part of the implementation of its 2021-2030 Strategic Action Plan (SAP), the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) has partnered with the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) to secure funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for the achievement of the project “Utilization of Marine Spatial Planning in the Gulf of Guinea for the Implementation of Payment for Ecosystem Services and Coastal Nature-Based Solutions.” This proposed project for GEF-7 “International Waters” focal area will complement ongoing initiatives, programmes, and projects that are active in the region, notably the West Africa Coastal Areas Management Program (WACA) and other initiatives, into a broader planning and management of the marine and coastal zone using Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) tools. In its pilot phase, the project is being executed in Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, and Ghana. These three countries were chosen because they are adjacent to one another and will permit the development of transboundary management measures.
The specific goal of the project is to strengthen transboundary cooperation and management of coastal and marine resources and associated ecosystems for improved food security, climate change resilience, and sustainable livelihoods in the FCWC region. Key objectives include:
Generate Benefits: Accrue benefits to fisheries and coastal communities through improved ecosystem management and funds generated through payment for ecosystem services, which can be used to improve livelihoods and contribute to the restoration and protection of coastal and marine areas.
Sustainable Management Model: Provide a new sustainable model for the management of natural resources in the Gulf of Guinea.
Enhance Livelihoods: Improve the sustainable livelihoods of local communities and populations dependent on fishing.
Biodiversity Conservation: Conserve and sustainably use the components of biodiversity.
Equitable Sharing of Benefits: Share fairly and equitably the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources, including through appropriate access to genetic resources.
To learn more about this, read the MarEcoPlan Project leaflet below.
