We hope to share our experience in integrated management with protected areas with similar situations and learn more from them. Therefore, we have jointly launched the Forum for UNESCO multi-designated sites with Shennongjia Global Geopark in China, Chilento Global Geopark in Italy and Azores Island Global Geopark in Portugal to exchange experience in integrated management.
In 2021, our research on integrated management of Huangshan got support from UNESCO seed funding. GGN newsletter and China News Agency both made special reports on the integrated management of Huangshan. We were invited to introduce the experience of integrated management at the UNESCO training course on biosphere reserves in Northeast Asia. At the 9th UNESCO International Geopark Conference, we shared Huangshan's experience in applying the Green List standard to promote integrated management.
1. Our integrated management has achieved certain results
2. Cross industry communication
3.Networking of the 3 UNESCO designations
Networking is mutually beneficial, and achievements can be actively exchanged and shared.
Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP) for six threatened medicinal plants in Ehlanzeni District, Mpumalanga province, South Africa.
Strategic conservation of the Endangered Pepper-bark Tree (Warburgia salutaris) in South Africa.
Adaptability to other countries/regions
Digital KICK currently is limited to South Asia taking into consideration 8 South Asian countries. However, this solution can be adapted to other regions such as Africa, Southeast Asia and Europe.
It is important to understand the regional impact of COVID-19 and to identify key problems which the single country/ region faces. This is because the impacts of COVID-19 vary from one region to another.
For some regions, maybe just social media may not be enough. For that region, the information kiosk may need to be personalized such as audio content (over radio), or even text messages.
Sustainable Sea Transport inside the lagoon and between atolls of the Marshall Islands
WAMCat in the lagoon
Waan Aelõñ in Majel
Sustainable Sailing Vessel
Janina Laurent
Training on sustainable sailing vessel
Janina Laurent
Director Alson Kelen
Waan Aelõñ in Majel
Ri Majol, the people of the Marshall Islands were known for their superior boat building and sailing skills for centuries. They traveled frequently between their atolls (for trade and war) on big offshore canoes called Walap (some of them 100ft long). The lagoons of their low-lying coral atolls where crested by sails of smaller outrigger canoe designs for rapid inside lagoon transportation, food gathering and fishing. Together with Waan Aelõñ in Majel, we are reviving the traditional knowlege combined with modern technology. The ambitious goals of the Marshall Islands in the sea transport sector have become the main driver and motivation for us to pursue and to transition towards a low carbon fleet for the Marshall Islands for transport inside the lagoons and between atolls. Currently, a 150 ft. Training Vessel is about to be constructed and delivered to RMI by the 2nd half of 2022. After the agreement of the design, the market survey process started with the objection to identify shipyards that are interested and capable of building the new built as drafted in the tender design. The Maritime Training Approach in the Marshall Islands sets a clear focus on Low Emission Sea Transport Education and will train future sailors as part of the national fleet operators.
Today, the traditional outrigger canoe designs are not in use for inter-atoll voyages in RMI anymore. The traditional inter atoll voyages stopped and none of the traditional inter-atoll canoes (Walap) survived till today. Nowadays, offshore transport tasks are mainly carried out by the government owned Marshall Island Shipping Corporation (MISC) and private contractors with conventional monohull freighters with motorized engines causing emissions and impact on climate change.
The charter of SV Kwai - a sailing cargo vessel - in the time period from September to end of December 2020 showed how essential training is in the revitalization of sailing rigged ships that make the way open for a low emission transportation set up in RMI in the future. Sailing trainings took place on SV Kwai for the first time with participants already enlisted by MISC. The training was held with the intention of sailing within the lagoon of Majuro. The aim was to educate on Kwai operations under sail and to train the MISC crew hands on alongside the SV Kwai crew from Kiribati, USA and Australia. An assessment meeting took place after the training to capture the positive outcomes and summarize improvements for upcoming trainings in the future. The trainings already provided a first indication of training needs for the maritime sector in RMI.
Ensuring a multistakeholder approach, including financial institutions and bilateral and multilateral donors in the dialogue and more specifically on investment in the blue economy financial institutions are involved since start, in particular the EIB, AfD, KfW. The UfM receives also support from SIDA and GIZ for complimentary Blue Economy activities.
The UfMS will continue to promote discussion on current needs, limitations and opportunities to further encourage innovative financial instruments in the sustainable Blue Economy, through participation and co-organisation of future events such as Blue Invest events, organized by the European Comission, and follow up to the meeting on the implementation of the Sustainable Blue Economy Finance.
Permanent representation North-South through the UfM CoPresidency (EU and Jordan);
Permament platform for dialogue - UfM Working group on Blue Economy (countries and stakeholders; countries are represented based on national priorities with respect to the BE dossier, thus contributing to a cross-sectorial exchange at regional level)
Solid tools for stakeholders' involvement, including the Med Blue Economy Platform; regular Stakeholders Conference/s; representation of categories of stakeholders at the UfM WG on Blue Economy
It is crucial to align strategies and implementation modalities and complement existing roadmaps.
The ambition is to foster the transfer, exploitation and mainstreaming of knowledge and results developed under different Euro-Mediterranean initiatives – including ENPI/ENI CBC Med Programme, Union for the Mediterranean, Interreg MED Programme, PRIMA, WestMED, the regional and bilateral components of the European Neighbourhood Policy, etc.
