Press release : Senegal hosts the 10th edition of the Regional Coastal and Marine Forum in West Africa
Dakar, March 25, 2022. The 10th edition of PRCM Regional Forum will be held from March 29th to April 1st, 2022 in Saly, Senegal. The official opening ceremony of this edition will take place in the morning of March 29th, 2022 under the chairmanship of Mr. Abdou Karim Sall, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development.
This 10th edition of the regional forum devoted to the theme “The health of the oceans, a challenge for the sustainable development of West African coastal countries“, will bring together experts and high-level specialists in marine conservation as well as grassroots actors, all of whom committed to the cause of PRCM, i.e. “Together, for a healthy and productive West African coastline“.
National and intergovernmental institutions, scientific institutions, national and international NGOs, socio-professional organizations, the private sector (fisheries, tourism, and hydrocarbons) and technical and financial partners will discuss the evolution of the coastal and marine area, including common and emerging challenges. Benefits of West African marine and coastal areas account for 56% of the GDP of coastal countries.
“Since its launch in 2004, the Forum’s main concern has been to bring together high-level specialists to discuss and encourage sub-regional and national initiatives in the management of fragile coastal and marine ecosystems and to strengthen the level of commitment of stakeholders to biodiversity conservation,” said Ahmed Senhoury, Executive Director of PRCM
In the plenary sessions as well as in the other events (workshops, side events, etc.), ecological and economic issues for local populations will be addressed, with regard to the development of the West African coastal zone. These include the construction of infrastructure and the development of oil and gas exploration and exploitation activities along the coastal basin, that are likely to have a significant impact on communities and their activities. Climate change and ways to build resilience in coastal areas and communities will also be discussed at the event. Participants of the Forum will also delve into ways and means to promote sustainable fisheries, protection of vulnerable species (seabirds, sea turtles, etc.) and preservation of sensitive ecosystems (sea grass beds, mangroves, etc.). The financing of conservation and the revival of post-COVID conservation will be the focus of attention at the Forum. All the topics that will be discussed in this edition will inform future recommendations intended for stakeholders of the coastal and marine area.
Given the urgency of the issues related to the marine environment, the commitment of future generations is important will be taken into account. Thus, PRCM will provide a space at the forum where donors and young innovative project leaders can be in contact with each other to facilitate financing opportunities. The latter will present their project outline to a jury that will evaluate them depending on their relevance.
The meeting is organized by PRCM in collaboration with Wetlands International Africa (WIACO), the Regional Network of Marine Protected Areas (RAMPAO), BirdLife International Africa and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with the financial support of the MAVA Foundation for Nature, Oceans 5, DOB Ecology,OAK foundation, the French Fund for Environment (FFEM) and the World Bank’s WACA Program.
About PRCM:
PRCM is a coalition that brings together about 90 partners, stakeholders involved in the preservation of the sea and the coastline. These include civil society organizations, government institutions and sub-regional commissions, elected officials, professional organizations, researchers and teachers, and international NGOs. PRCM is active in seven countries: Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Guinea and Sierra Leone. In Senegal, it has the status of a foreign NGO based in Dakar.
Its missions include the following:
- Support, through its network of partners, the coherence and coordination of the different interventions active at regional, national and local levels;
- Play a role of political advocacy towards strengthening the processes of conservation and integrated management of the coastal zone;
- Sustainably mobilize technical and financial resources through active representation to international institutions and cooperation agencies;
Mobilize, capitalize and share research results, local knowledge and best practices
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