Towards effective restoration for sustainable management of coastal ecosystems and enhanced livelihoods
Mangroves, seagrasses and tidal marshes (often referred to as ‘blue carbon ecosystems’) play a significant role in Earth’s carbon cycle. These ecosystems also support food security and livelihoods, including by supporting fisheries and tourism. They absorb and sequester carbon dioxide, underpinning an important role in climate change mitigation. They also offer potential solutions to help coastal communities adapt to the effects of climate change and reduce the risks of extreme events.
The region of the Indian Ocean host a substantial proportion of the world’s blue carbon ecosystems, but they also include hotspots where the rate of loss of these ecosystems is greatest. They have more to gain than many other parts of the world: millions of people rely heavily on the seafood they produce as their primary source of protein and live along coasts which are at extreme risk from natural disasters like storms and tsunamis. However, the rates of loss and degradation of these ecosystems have also been high across the Indian Ocean, eroding our ability to derive benefits from them. Restoring ecosystems is fundamental to recovering benefits to livelihoods as well as climate mitigation and coastal protection. This is recognized by the United Nations through the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which has set an ambitious target to restore 30% of all degraded ecosystems. All IORA Member States have ratified or acceded to the CBD and so are required to report on progress towards achieving targets.
This think tank meeting will highlight approaches to restoration and explore the benefits that result to livelihoods. It will highlight ways in which restoration can support efforts to mitigate climate change and reduce the exposure of coastal communities to storms. Discussions will investigate ways in which IORA Member States can collect the data needed to facilitate reporting to the CBD, and will outline what the reporting mechanisms are.
The IORA Blue Carbon Hub Think Tank endeavours to build knowledge and capacity to protect and restore blue carbon ecosystems throughout the Indian Ocean, in a way that enhances blue economy and livelihoods, reduces risks from coastal hazards, and helps mitigate and adapt to climate change.
The objectives of this ‘think tank’ symposium are:
- to convene experts to build awareness and capacity on best practice in implementing restoration of blue carbon ecosystems and monitoring restoration outcomes;
- to identify the barriers to effective restoration, and potential solutions to those barriers;
- to encourage IORA Member States to think about practical implementation in their unique contexts;
- to discuss the opportunities for collaborative research for evidence-based restoration;
- to exchange information about reporting obligations of IORA Member States under international agreements, and how to meet those obligations in a cost-effective manner;
- to exchange knowledge about how to generate economic value and livelihood opportunities from restoration, and
- to discuss how to enable an adequate and consistent flow of finance to restoration activities that support communities and nature.
In view of the foregoing, it would be highly appreciated if the IORA Member States and Dialogue Partners could nominate their delegate for the Symposium. It is suggested that Member States and Dialogue Partners nominate a representative from government or an expert with responsibility for developing or implementing policies on restoration of blue carbon ecosystems and monitoring restoration outcomes. Delegates with responsibility for generating economic value and livelihood opportunities from restoration would also benefit from attending. Nominations from Dialogue Partner countries are also welcomed.