WIO LMMA Alliance
In September 2024, the first Western Indian Ocean (WIO) Locally Managed Marine Area (LMMA) Forum was held in Mahajanga, Madagascar, bringing together over 200 participants from nine countries. The forum resulted in the adoption of the WIO LMMA Declaration and a collective call to establish a regional LMMA Alliance. This Alliance seeks to address critical challenges, including the lack of a shared understanding of LMMAs, uneven development across countries, and limited representation of LMMA communities in national, regional, and global decision-making platforms. It also emphasizes gender equity and inclusivity in marine governance, building on existing networks and successful models such as Madagascar’s MIHARI network to replicate proven approaches across the region. The long-term vision is to establish a Pan-African LMMA Alliance, with the WIO serving as a pilot for collaboration, coordination, and transformative impact.
In support of this vision, Mission Inclusion (Mi) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) are implementing the Regenerative Seascapes for People, Climate and Nature (ReSea) project, in partnership with local feminist organizations across Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Madagascar, and Comoros. Funded by Global Affairs Canada under the Partnering for Climate initiative, ReSea aims to strengthen the physical and socioeconomic resilience of coastal communities by accelerating the adoption of gender-responsive Nature-based Solutions (NbS), promoting sustainable marine and coastal management, and supporting regenerative blue economy practices. These efforts are aligned with the broader Great Blue Wall (GBW) initiative, which seeks to establish a network of sustainable, resilient, and inclusive seascapes through a people-centric approach.
The GBW initiative is structured around four key pillars i.e. Blue Planet, Blue Nature, Blue People, and Blue Partnerships which collectively advance equity, conservation, and local empowerment. Through these pillars, the WIO LMMA Alliance aims to increase the number of effectively managed LMMAs, secure legal recognition and integration into national frameworks, strengthen financial and technical self-sufficiency, and elevate the voices of women, youth, and local communities. The Alliance also prioritizes research, data collection, traditional knowledge integration, and targeted advocacy through storytelling and communications. Together, these efforts are driving transformative and inclusive ocean governance in the WIO, contributing to measurable ecological outcomes and supporting the achievement of global 30×30 conservation targets.
In support of this vision, Mission Inclusion (Mi) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) are implementing the Regenerative Seascapes for People, Climate and Nature (ReSea) project, in partnership with local feminist organizations across Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Madagascar, and Comoros. Funded by Global Affairs Canada under the Partnering for Climate initiative, ReSea aims to strengthen the physical and socioeconomic resilience of coastal communities by accelerating the adoption of gender-responsive Nature-based Solutions (NbS), promoting sustainable marine and coastal management, and supporting regenerative blue economy practices. These efforts are aligned with the broader Great Blue Wall (GBW) initiative, which seeks to establish a network of sustainable, resilient, and inclusive seascapes through a people-centric approach.
The GBW initiative is structured around four key pillars i.e. Blue Planet, Blue Nature, Blue People, and Blue Partnerships which collectively advance equity, conservation, and local empowerment. Through these pillars, the WIO LMMA Alliance aims to increase the number of effectively managed LMMAs, secure legal recognition and integration into national frameworks, strengthen financial and technical self-sufficiency, and elevate the voices of women, youth, and local communities. The Alliance also prioritizes research, data collection, traditional knowledge integration, and targeted advocacy through storytelling and communications. Together, these efforts are driving transformative and inclusive ocean governance in the WIO, contributing to measurable ecological outcomes and supporting the achievement of global 30×30 conservation targets.
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