OPERATIONAL BRIEF Coastal and Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystems BLUE ECONOMY FOR RESILIENT AFRICA PROGRAM © 2022 The World Bank Group 1818 H Street NW, Washington DC 20433 Telephone: 202-473-1000 | Internet: www.worldbank.org Acknowledgments This work is a product of the staff of The World Bank Group with external contributions. “The World Bank Group” refers to the legally separate organizations of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), This brief was written by Ruth Tiffer-Sotomayor (Senior In addition, the team received incisive and helpful advice, the International Development Association (IDA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the Multilateral Environmental Specialist) with contributions from João input, and comments from World Bank colleagues, including Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA). 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BLUE ECONOMY FOR RESILIENT AFRICA PROGRAM I 1 About the Blue Economy for Resilient Africa Program The Blue Economy generated nearly US$300 billion for the African continent in 2018, creating 49 million jobs in the Key Messages process. These and other crucial benefits—most notably food security, livelihoods, biodiversity, and resilience to the effects of climate change—are entirely dependent on the health and productivity of coastal and marine areas. By safeguarding productive coastal landscapes, countries will be in a better position to take full advantage of future Blue Economy opportunities, which range from sustainable To develop a resilient Blue Economy, the African continent needs to better blue energy to aquaculture to blue carbon. protect and manage its biodiversity and habitat to enhance ecosystem services. The World Bank’s Blue Economy for Resilient Africa Program, announced at COP27, will provide multisectoral analytical, financial, and policy support to Africa’s coastal countries and island states to help them leverage the opportunities—and manage the risks—inherent in scaling up their Blue Economies. Better monitoring of the ocean’s physical and biological changes will be key. Improved coastal and marine data and knowledge will inform co-created management decisions. About this series of briefs Governance also plays an important role. Coastal areas and territorial waters are under the jurisdiction of several agencies that lack sufficient coordination and incentives to improve the management of natural resources. Marine spatial planning is The Blue Solutions for Africa series of operational briefs an important tool to improve such governance. captures how a thriving Blue Economy can help African countries better manage the development challenges they face while supporting economic growth, sustainable On-the-ground enforcement and monitoring livelihoods, and the health of these precious ecosystems. also need to be improved. Countries along the African coastline desperately need to THE BRIEFS COVER THE FOLLOWING THEMATIC AREAS regain control over their exclusive economic zones through at-sea patrolling of their • Climate change • Data management and open waters. knowledge creation • Coastal and marine biodiversity and habitats • Innovative financing instruments • Sustainable fisheries • Developing and incentivizing • Marine pollution institutions • Jobs and livelihoods © Shutterstock • New frontiers of innovation © Vincent Tremeau / World Bank • Participatory marine spatial planning © Freepik BLUE ECONOMY FOR RESILIENT AFRICA PROGRAM I 3 Introduction The Challenge Africa’s diverse and rich biodiversity—which provides critical Africa is home to eight out of 36 global ecosystem services, drives the continent’s economy, and serves biodiversity spots, 439 marine key as a buffer to climate change—are increasingly threatened by biodiversity areas, and 148 marine and ocean and coastal degradation, overfishing, erosion, and the coastal Ramsar sites. The continent’s effects of climate change. 30,000 kilometer (km) shoreline is a cradle of immensely diverse To mitigate these threats and improve the resilience of marine ecosystems, including mangroves, coral habitats, Africa’s governments need to partner with the private reefs, and seagrasses. sector and development finance institutions, including the World Bank, to improve collaborative marine resource governance, enhance the knowledge base of marine ecosystems and species to inform Africa’s diverse and rich biodiversity provides critical Climate change is exacerbating these challenges by causing decision-making, and strengthen the restoration, monitoring, and ecosystem services, drives the continent’s economy, and serves as a buffer to climate change. The African Union’s warming waters, sea level rise, acidification, and coastal erosion. Climbing sea-water temperatures and the reduction control of marine and coastal areas. Agenda 2063 has declared the Blue Economy to be “Africa’s of oxygen concentrations will have a significant effect in Future” in recognition of the key role oceans play as catalysts coastal and marine ecosystems, affecting primary production for socioeconomic transformation. Fisheries and aquaculture by phytoplankton and algae, as well as the abundance and This brief sets out the key challenges to marine and coastal ecosystems in African countries, as well as what already contribute US$24 billion to the African economy. distribution of marine species. Increasing temperatures However, Africa needs to urgently address important are already leading to coral reef bleaching, and increased is needed to address these challenges. It also provides insight into how World Bank-financed projects in Africa challenges in the blue sector—including coastal erosion, acidification is affecting coral rates of calcification. Both drivers are enhancing biodiversity restoration and conservation, while diversifying livelihoods, especially for the benefit biodiversity loss, pollution, and overfishing—to unlock the full are threatening the survival of coral reefs, which provide vital of women. potential of the Blue Economy. habitat for many fish, sharks, crabs, and mollusk species that have important economic value for many countries. About 21 percent of the world’s mangroves are found in Africa. Coastal mangroves are unique ecosystems that provide Under a high carbon dioxide scenario, it is predicted that critical socio-economic benefits such as coastal protection, climate change will, by 2050, reduce the global maximum food security (through fishing and mariculture), ecotourism catch potential by 7.7 percent, decreasing revenues by opportunities, and carbon sequestration. Despite its 10.4 percent. (Maximum catch potential is a proxy measure importance, mangroves have been depleted, overharvested for the maximum sustainable yield.) Climate change could for firewood and charcoal, or transformed with the increase have a similarly significant impact on Africa’s marine fisheries, urbanization of coastal areas. with West African countries expected to be among the worst affected, while North African countries will likely be less Effective policies, patrolling, and surveillance efforts can affected. Some African countries could even see an increased improve the management, use, and protection of blue catch potential. Similarly, climate change will have different resources. The eradication of destructive fishing practices effects on the biomass and abundance of different marine such as blasting, beach seining, juvenile fishing, the use of ecosystems and species. cyanide, and bottom-trawling would also restore marine life for sustainable use under a Blue Economy. 2 I COASTAL AND MARINE BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEMS 4 © Freepik BLUE ECONOMY FOR RESILIENT AFRICA PROGRAM I 5 What is Needed Although weather shocks caused by typhoons, cyclones, species that have affected the local environment and native and coastal storms are familiar natural phenomena along the species, including Chilean mussels (Semimytilus algosus), African coast, climate change and related dynamics such as Pacific barnacles (Balanus glandula), and South American sea-level rise and coastal erosion will exacerbate the damage sunstar (Heliaster helianthus). brought about by these events. The deterioration of coastal habitats and coral reefs reduces the protection services and Better understanding and knowledge of marine biodiversity To fully seize the opportunities of the Blue Economy, Africa needs benefits they offer while increasing the risk of floods. Areas and coastal habitats is needed to enable African governments along the coast of Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Togo to better manage these risks to local economies. Support is a combination of improved governance; ambitious, innovative are subject to an average erosion of 1.8 meters each year. needed for initiatives that collect data and conduct research In 2017, erosion, flooding, and pollution cost these countries into how climate change is affecting the coastal regions, investments into scalable solutions to improve the resilience of about US$3.8 billion, equal to about 5.3 percent of their combined GDP for that year. causing sea level erosion as well as changes to the ocean’s biological resources and chemical and physical characteristics. marine natural capital; strengthened knowledge of the marine Not knowing the current status of marine species and threats environment; and better collaboration and enforcement. Invasive species, introduced through the release of ballast will impede the proper use of blue capital for economic growth. waters from foreign oceans by the maritime sector, are also Climate change will exacerbate the degradation of oceanic negatively affecting Africa’s marine ecosystems. Ships carry habitats, in turn threatening the continent’s nascent Blue Improved governance ballast water for stability on shipping routes, then release Economy. Strong commitment from governments and Effective action is frequently hindered by lack of coordination between the various entities responsible for this water (and whatever organisms it contains) into foreign investments from the public and private sectors will help governing coastal areas, territorial waters, and exclusive economic zones. Incentives to support sustainable ecosystems. About 10,000 species are carried in ships’ ballast reverse this trend, enabling a sustainable Blue Economy management of coastal and marine natural resources are also often inadequate. Marine spatial planning can be water tanks each day. Africa is not exempt from this issue in Africa that is better able to improve resilience towards an effective tool for improving coastal governance. To support such planning, policies and regulations need to be and attention is needed to reduce the negative ecological climate change risks and slow the loss of coastal and updated to: and economic effects of invasive species. South Africa, for marine biodiversity. example, is faced with the challenge of managing 45 invasive • Ensure that comprehensive environmental impact assessments are conducted on vulnerable coastal and ocean areas • Reduce pollution, including risks from maritime transport • Better manage coastal urbanization • Improve protections of critical marine habitats. The establishment of marine protected areas and other no-fishing zones could, as an example, support the restoration of mangroves and coral reefs, so creating space for overfished species to recover. Several African countries have supported the proposed post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, which aims to protect 30 percent of land and oceans by 2030. However, to date only 16.9 percent of the African shore and oceans are protected. Ambitious and innovative investments into solutions Many African nations have committed to various international agreements and conventions that seek to reduce © Freepik © Shutterstock greenhouse gas emissions while supporting adaptation, mitigation, and other measures to preserve the continent’s natural capital. These include the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Convention on Climate Change, Ramsar, and the Paris Agreement. To meet the conditions of these © Freepik commitments, which include the upcoming adoption of the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, countries will need to engage in meaningful actions to improve the protection and restoration of their blue natural resources. This includes managing coastal and marine ecosystems better, investing more into monitoring marine and coastal species populations, and controlling invasive species. © Shutterstock Achieving these commitments will also require increased and urgent investment into building the capacity of national and local © Willyam Bradberry / agencies in charge of marine and coastal ecosystems. Many African countries lack essential resources, knowledge, and skills © Peter Kapuscinski / © Freepik Shutterstock World Bank to meet their coastal and marine challenges, including addressing illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. © Freepik Strengthened knowledge of the marine environment © Vincent Tremeau / In Africa, as in across the world, information on coastal biodiversity and marine ecosystems is lacking. Knowledge World Bank on the status of species that are important for a Blue Economy and sustainable marine management needs to be © John Hogg / World Bank strengthened. For example, more data is needed about whales, dolphins, turtles, and sportfishing species to support © Shutterstock sustainable ecotourism, while data on yellowfin and skipjack tuna, snappers, mollusks, shrimps, lobsters, and sea cucumbers will support both fisheries and local food security. © Freepik Enforcement and collaboration Countries along the African coastline desperately need to regain control of their oceans and align interests in their Source: R. Tiffer-Sotomayor & C. Ramírez exclusive economic zones. Coastal and at-sea patrolling of open waters is needed to reduce enormous losses of blue capital. Coordination between national central agencies and coastal cities, districts, and counties is crucial. The development and nurturing of public partnerships with all involved actors, including non-government organizations, beach management units, and the private sector, is essential. 4 I COASTAL AND MARINE BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEMS 6 BLUE ECONOMY FOR RESILIENT AFRICA PROGRAM I 7 How the World Bank Group Contributes Building the knowledge and skills base to Solutions In addition to supporting activities to expand knowledge • Helped countries adopt a DNA-based tool to quickly of marine biodiversity and build the capacity of and inexpensively determine the diversity of species government fisheries agencies, the World Bank: present in a local marine ecosystem. The Kenya- Marine Fisheries and Socio-Economic Development • Brokered a partnership with the European Marine project will use the tool to increase knowledge Spatial Agency to provide African countries on the priority fisheries and the current © Adobe Stock with state-of-the-art spatial data that will help status of critical ecosystems as them understand how, for example, pollution is coral reefs. affecting corals, or how currents and warming temperatures can affect fish stocks and distribution. • Helped to establish regional coastal-marine platforms to share data and monitor biodiversity and climate- Halting the loss of biodiversity along Africa’s coastline will related changes such as shoreline retreat, erosion, sea- strengthen the continent’s resilience to the looming effects of level rise, and flooding in the coastlines and ocean. For example, the West Africa Coastal Areas Management climate change while improving outcomes for Blue Economy Program is developing a coastal observatory for 17 countries in the region. development, livelihoods, and nutrition security. In addition to addressing pollution, improving the management of fisheries, and other measures discussed in this series of briefs, the World Bank helps various African countries preserve their biodiversity and strengthen their marine habitats by providing technical advisory to support policy and program development, building the knowledge and skills base, Programs, projects, and initiatives and supporting financing projects and initiatives. © Freepik The World Bank supports various country and regional initiatives that aim to increase the resilience and adaptation of Africa’s coastal areas. To date, the World Bank has supported Financial, technical, and analytical support initiatives that: • Strengthen formal protections for coastal and • Draw on nature-based solutions to increase coastal marine areas. A multisectoral, integrated blue program resilience. In Mauritania, for example, biological and The World Bank provides financial analytical and technical support to help governments and regional entities developed by the Government of Mozambique, with mechanical fixation methods were used to protect and craft enabling policies and regulations, while better tracking the value of blue natural capital against the cost the World Bank’s support, has contributed to important reinforce coastal dunes in Nouakchott, the country’s of challenges such as pollution. World Bank’s support has resulted in: policy and regulatory shifts and helped to secure on-the- capital. Priority beaches were also replenished to protect ground investments to develop the country’s blue sector. the city against marine submersion. In Benin, Togo, and • The development of Mozambique’s 2020 Marine Fisheries Regulations, including the introduction of To date, the program’s flagship contribution to biodiversity São Tomé e Príncipe, grey and green interventions were innovative new tools for the spatial co-management of fisheries in partnership with local communities. To date, restoration and conservation has been partnering with used to improve the state of beaches and coastal defenses, co-management plans have been developed in the key biodiversity hotspots of Moma and Pebane. Among local stakeholders to merge the Maputo Special Reserve so increasing these countries’ resilience to flooding and other measures, these plans include no-take and conservation zones. This analytical work was done through and Ponta do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve to create a coastal erosion. Both projects were implemented under the World Bank’s South West Indian Ocean Fisheries Governance and Shared Growth program (SWIOFish). new national park, the Maputo National Park, which is the West Africa Coastal Areas Management Program. surrounded by a new Maputo Environmental Protection • Better understanding of the cost of marine pollution to Tanzania. Analysis by the World Bank has estimated that Area (MEPA), also established through World Bank • Reduce harmful fishing practices. With World Bank marine plastic pollution in Dar es Salaam city and on Zanzibar’s Unguja Island is costing the country US$28.2 million support. National parks have stronger conservation support, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, and Madagascar (US$17.7 million for Unguja Island and US$10.5 million for Dar es Salaam) in lost revenue status in Mozambique, and this declaration has effectively have improved their fisheries stocks by strengthening the from tourism, fishing, and mariculture, while undermining other ecosystem services such as secured the habitats of coastal elephants and nesting monitoring, control, and surveillance of fishing activities food. This is a significant cost that needs attention from government. This analytical work was areas for several endangered marine turtle species. The both on shore and in the open seas. This has reduced done with the support of PROBLUE , a multi-donor trust fund managed by the World Bank. MEPA expands the conservation of ocean ecosystems overfishing and the bycatch of non-target species such from three nautical miles from the coastline (about as whales, porpoises, turtles, and birds. In Tanzania, • Improved accounting of marine and coastal wealth. The Wealth Accounting and the Valuation of Ecosystem 5.5 kilometers) to 18 nautical miles (33.3 kilometers), the World Bank supported improvements in monitoring, Services partnership (WAVES) is helping countries across the world implement natural capital accounting, which effectively safeguarding ecotourism and fisheries control, and surveillance through its South West Indian draws on internationally agreed standards to develop wealth accounts that properly consider ecosystem services resources for local communities in the area. The MEPA is Ocean Fisheries Governance and Shared Growth such as water. In Africa, WAVES has developed marine accounts for Zambia, Madagascar, and Botswana. The also joined to South Africa’s iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a program, SWIOFish. World Bank provides secretariat support to the partnership. hotspot of biodiversity and a World Heritage Site, creating the first transboundary marine corridor in Southern Africa. 8 I COASTAL AND MARINE BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEMS BLUE ECONOMY FOR RESILIENT AFRICA PROGRAM I 9 • Protect and restore threatened habitats. With the World Bank’s support, Kenya launched the Kenya-Marine Case study Fisheries and Socio-Economic Development project, which aims to, among other objectives, restore mangroves in the counties of Lamu, Kilifi, and Kwale. Mangroves provide LINKING CLIMATE CHANGE, BIODIVERSITY, AND critical habitats for fish, mollusks, and crustaceans, yet their trees are harvested for poles, firewood, and charcoal HUMAN WELLBEING © Freepik or transformed with the increase urbanization of coastal The World Bank-supported Blue Economy Program for Results in areas. In Gabon, the World Bank supported the government Morocco demonstrates the intricate linkages between biodiversity, in implementing its Sustainable Management of Critical • Support sustainable mariculture activities that economic development, and food security. Wetland Ecosystems project, which sought to conserve empower women. Through SWIOFish, the World and restore three important Ramsar-classified sites—Bas Morocco’s coastal areas contribute 59 percent of GDP and provide 52 percent of Bank has supported 15,859 seaweed farmers from 77 Ogooué, Setté Cama, and Petit Loango—while supporting jobs in the country. The fisheries sector alone contributes 1.5 percent of GDP and © Freepik communities in Zanzibar—74 percent of which were income-generating activities and improving monitoring to provides 700,000 direct and indirect jobs. But coastal erosion is threating more than half women—with equipment and training to boost production reduce illegal fishing and poaching. These wetlands are of Morocco’s shoreline. Sea level rise, storms, flooding, landslides, sandstorms, and heat and so reduce pressure on natural ecosystems. home to migratory birds, hippopotamus, and are important waves are increasing in frequency, which can cause economic loss through damage to coastal spawning, feeding, and breeding grounds for many fish of communities and lost tourism revenues. • Prevent the introduction of invasive species. Invasive economic value to the local communities. species can disrupt marine community structures, fisheries, and public health. Most invasive species are transported by THE WORLD BANK SUPPORTS THE GOVERNMENT OF MOROCCO WITH THE INNOVATIVE the maritime sector. The International Finance Corporation, BLUE ECONOMY PROGRAM FOR RESULTS TO ADDRESS THE GROWING IMPACTS OF the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, provided US$70 million in investments for the installation of 150 CLIMATE CHANGE AND DEVELOP AN INCLUSIVE AND RESILIENT BLUE ECONOMY. THIS ballast water-treatment facilities on board the ships of a PROGRAM INVESTS IN PROJECTS THAT AIM TO: large global shipment company to prevent the transport of invasive species in ballast water. This project enabled the company to comply with the International Maritime • Enhance coastal resilience by restoring 15,710 hectares (ha) of coastal forests by financing tree planting, Organization’s Ballast Water Management Convention, fencing, and the eradication of invasive species. Community participation in mangrove restoration efforts in Kenya. which has established standards for the management of Source: Kenya-Marine Fisheries and Socio-Economic ships’ ballast water. Development project. • Increase soil protection in 9,418 ha of pristine coastal forests, stabilizing of 1,060 ha of sand dune areas. • Implement biodiversity management plans in seven sites of biological and ecological interest for fisheries and tourism Case study • Invest in watershed management of coastal areas to reduce floods risks PROJECT SUCCESSFULLY REDUCES TOTAL NUMBER OF BLASTS FOR TANGA, DAR ES SALAAM, PWANI, • Implementing sustainable fish-stock management plans through community participation and through the BLAST FISHING IN TANZANIA LINDI AND MTWARA REGIONS establishing of three new marine protected areas, totaling 61,500 ha, for fisheries management. IN TANZANIA Blast fishing—once a common practice in Tanzania— is a highly destructive fishing method for habitats The program will also improve Morocco’s scientific knowledge of the coastal and marine ecosystems by 30,000 strengthening monitoring programs to track water quality, sediments, biota, sea- and land-based pollution, fish and biodiversity. This method, which involves using 27,971 stocks, and the shoreline. explosives to stun or kill fish, also destroys coral reefs, 25,000 leaving behind dead zones. 20,000 To respond to this challenge, the Government of 15,000 Tanzania—with World Bank support through 13,045 the South West Indian Ocean Fisheries 10,000 Governance and Shared Growth program— strengthened the monitoring, control, and 5,000 1,682 surveillance of fishing activities along its 3 0 3 2 coastline. This has resulted in a dramatic 0 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 decrease in blasting fishing since 2016 (Figure 2). To further manage protected Figure 2: Blast fishing trend in Tanzania’s marine habitat. Data sources: Blast Fishing Monitoring Network (2019) areas coral reef habitat, the project has and Ministry of Livestock and also supported the establishment of the Fisheries (2022) © Freepik coral reef benthic monitoring system. The gathered data informs ongoing marine protected areas management. 10 I COASTAL AND MARINE BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEMS © Freepik BLUE BLUEECONOMY ECONOMY FORRESILIENT FOR RESILIENTAFRICA AFRICA PROGRAMI I11 PROGRAM 9 The current What Success biodiversity loss will Look Like and climate change will © Freepik require global Addressing the current biodiversity loss and climate change will require global investments of between due to population growth, with consequences for health, trade, and food security, as well as land desertification and investments of between US$598 billion and US$824 billion per year. Countries will water security. need to draw on funding from both public and private sources if they hope to tackle the drivers of biodiversity loss, which To succeed, African countries need to intensify their focus on include ocean and coastal degradation, overfishing, and the Blue Economy. Specifically, they need to define strategies erosion, the effects of which are being multiplied by climate and investments that generate meaningful solutions for those US$598 billion and change-induced temperature changes, extreme weather who live in vulnerable coastal areas or depend on marine life events, and ocean acidification. This will be even more challenging for Africa, which faces additional pressures for their livelihoods. US$824 billion per year. 12 I COASTAL AND MARINE BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEMS © Andrey Kuzmin / Adobe Stock © Freepik