Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2000

Status of Coral Reefs in East Africa
REGIONAL CORAL REEF PROGRAMMES IN EAST AFRICA
During the past 2-3 years, regional cooperation is being increasingly supported at the
strategic planning and institutional levels, especially with regard to areas of research,
management, training, planning and policy. Coral reef management has been at the
forefront of this trend and catalysed debates on marine and coastal issues, due to their
recognised socioeconomic and biological importance. Leading global institutions active in
the East Africa region are: UNEP-RCU, IOC/UNESCO, WWF, IUCN, with regional support from
Sweden, the USA and the World Bank. Regional institutions and projects that are new or
expanding significantly in the period 1998 to 2000 include:
• Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA): established in the last
decade through a series of regional conventions led by the Arusha Conference in
1993, and supported by the SIDA East Africa Regional Marine Programme of Sweden.
WIOMSA provides research grants for scientists in the region, supports scientific travel,
training, and coordinates conferences and workshops;
• Secretariat for East Africa Coastal Area Management (SEACAM): established
following a Ministerial Conference in the Seychelles in 1996 under the ‘Arusha
process’. SEACAM’s mandate is to support coastal management in eastern
Africa, through capacity building, coordinating seminars and workshops, training,
publication and policy advice;
• Coral Reef Degradation in the Indian Ocean (CORDIO): established in 1999
following the regional reef devastation caused by the 1998 El Niño, and is
involved with GCRMN in implementation of the East Africa node. CORDIO
supports national coral reef monitoring teams, primary research on biological
and socioeconomic aspects of reef impacts, reef rehabilitation trials, and
investigation of alternative livelihood options for resource users affected by reef
degradation; and
• WWF East African Marine Ecoregion: established in 1999 with reconnaissance
surveys of biological, socioeconomic and institutional status of marine ecosystems
in East Africa. The programme targets ecosystem and regional-level conservation
planning and implementation, involving WWF protected area projects, partner
organisations and policy-level interventions relevant to the regional scale.
• Coral Reef Conservation Project: established in 1987 conducts scientific studies
on: human impacts on coral reefs: reef restoration; long-term monitoring of
Kenyan reefs. It coordinates scientific studies on reefs, and trains of scientists in
coral reef techniques.
GAPS IN MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT CAPACITY
While management results and actions for coral reefs and resources in East Africa varies
greatly across countries in the region, there is however a vibrant and varied network of
institutions and groups active in both coral reef management and research. A principal gap
in reef health monitoring and management capacity, is the need for more effective
communication and cooperation among the various groups with regard to sharing and
collating information and experience. This is partially due to the small number of people
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