The consultative meeting benefited from the discussions at the workshop on the findings of the regional assessment of biodiversity and ecosystem services for Africa and the thematic assessment of land degradation and restoration of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services held on 30 June 2018.

The Western Indian Ocean contains 16% of the world’s coral reefs, and the region is now thought to host the second peak of coral reef biodiversity globally. Coral reef ecosystems underpin the economies of the countries in the region, particularly fisheries and tourism sectors, and provide livelihood opportunities and income for local communities. However, anthropogenic threats at all scales, such as from fishing, development and climate change, are all increasing with human population growth and local to regional development. Western Indian Ocean coral reefs experienced widespread coral bleaching during the first global coral bleaching event in 1998, in which 30-50% of corals were estimated to have died.

The Trash Free Waters Initiative is a partnership between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Peace Corps, the United Nations Environment Programme – Caribbean Environment Programme (Secretariat to the Cartagena Convention); UN Environment’s Regional Office for Latin America and its Caribbean Sub-Regional Office. They are collaborating to implement activities in Panama and Jamaica to reduce and prevent land-based trash from entering watersheds, coastal waters, and the marine environment.

Regional consultations