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The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO hosted a workshop for African Marine Scientists at the Kenya College for Communications Technology (KCCT) in Nairobi, Kenya from 19-23 November 2001 to enable them develop proposals for the establishment of an African component of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS-Africa). The focus of the workshop was building up of a regional operational observing, monitoring, and forecasting system integrating remote sensing technology, sea level observations and monitoring for the development and protection of the coastal and marine environments in Africa. The results of the workshop will form the basis of proposals to be submitted to the Partnership conference which is planned for 2002.

The participants who attended the workshop included scientists from Angola, Australia, Benin, Cameroon, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, France, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Spain, United Republic of Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia. The following international organizations and projects were also represented at the workshop: United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nation Development Programme (UNDP), UNESCO/BILKO Project, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), European Space Agency (ESA), Ocean of Naval Research International Field Office (ONRIFO), Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVO) and the Organization of African Unity (OAU).

Kenya's Assistant Minister for agriculture, the Honourable Colonel (rtd) Ronald Kiluta officially opened the workshop. The Assistant minister highlighted the issues facing the coastal and marine environment in Africa and outlined the initiatives that had been undertaken to address them, including: the Nairobi and Abidjan conventions on the protection and preservation of the marine and coastal environments, d follow up activities to the convention as well as two meetings of the contracting parties and similar meetings in Western Africa regarding the Abidjan Convention; the Pan-African Conference on Sustainable Integrated Coastal Management (PACSICOM) which was held in Maputo, Mozambique in July 1998 and the follow up meeting held in November-December 1998 in Cape Town, South Africa to promote intra-African Co-operation in implementation of conventions, programmes and action plans. He also underscored the importance close collaboration between the different organisations working on the marine and coastal areas in the region to ensure optimal use of resources.

The first two days of the meeting were plenary sessions in which invited speakers gave lectures that provided the background information necessary for the discussions that followed. Three technical working groups for GOOS-AFRICA project packages were identified for:

• Remote sensing systems;
• Assessment and monitoring of the impacts of sea level rise through improvement/reinforcement of the tide gauge network and
• Coupling mathematical/physical and biological models for the assessment of coastal and marine environments in Africa.

The reports of the working groups are provided below:

GROUP I: REMOTE SENSING

JUSTIFICATION: Remote sensing is a powerful, under utilized tool in Africa that can help address some issues within the MAPUTO themes: Sustainable living resources, coastal erosion, tourism, pollution, management of key habitat and ecosystems.

1. OBJECTIVES
A. Improve access and use of remotely sensed data systems for sustainable marine and coastal management. (Networking and infrastructure - both hardware and software)
B. Training and education in remote sensing systems (students, managers, professionals and, operational groups) (Training and human capacity)
C. Application of remote sensing techniques in GOOS-AFRICA.

2. TASKS DISCUSSION FOCUS
1. How to get remote sensing data streams into Africa?
2. How to get this remote sensing data, once in Africa, to the users?
3. What capacity is needed for these purposes?
4. TASKS should focus on MAPUTO and PASICOM themes.
5. How should capacity be built up?
6. What is the present capacity and what are the priority areas for strengthening?
7. How should we link Remote sensing to the other WG?
8. What are the blockages preventing the use of RS in Africa?

3. DETAILED TASKS TO ACHIEVE OBJECTIVES A & B

A.1 We need to strengthen and build the communications within Africa (e.g., ODIN-AFRICA, internet, satellite links, fax etc.). This is important because RS data sets are so large and difficult to obtain. This is the major blockage to using RS data in Africa.

A.2 We need to network the International, regional and, local RS centres together (E.g., Met Centres, NODC, ODIN-AFRICA etc). This is important to manage the RS effort in Africa and ensure reliable access to RS data access.

A.3 We need to purchase, install and sustain new hardware and software for the effective acquisition, archive and, dissemination of RS data (e.g., receiving stations, archive facility, ftp servers etc.). This is important because many centres do not have adequate infrastructure blocking the use of RS data.

A.4 We need to build awareness of what RS is capable of providing, where these data are, how to get them and how to use them. (e.g. What and where are the free RS data sets that are useful for GOOS-AFRICA)

A.5 To ensure that RS data in used by modeling groups and hence integrated into the wider marine and coastal community. Modeling requires specific data e.g., Altimeter and colour observations, including impact assessment of models).

B.1 To provide comprehensive training to use remote sensing data in the marine and coastal environment. (e.g., use of training and commercial software systems, education in Remote Sensing to masters and PhD level)

B.2 To provide comprehensive training in the acquisition, management and dissemination of RS data and data products.

B.3 To strengthen the academic training to ensure a sustainable trained human resource for using RS data.

B.4 We need to provide suitable hardware and software at all levels to support training efforts. This is a major blockage to

C.1. Use of baseline RS data sets (e.g., SST, Chlorophyll, wind speed, currents etc..) applied to fisheries, coastal zone management, tidal forecasting, modeling, oil spill monitoring etc…..)

C.2. Develop the socio-economic importance of RS activities in Africa (e.g., operationalisation of products and services, etc.)

4. DELIVERABLE:
DEL.1 A sustainable archive of RS data sets that are applicable to the GOOS-AFRICA priorities. This includes the capacity to extend this archive
DEL.2 A skilled human resource capable of handling and using remote sensing data.
DEL.3 Operational oceanographic products using RS data
DEL.4 Demonstrable use of RS data in the GOOS-AFRICA project.
DEL.5 Contribution of African RS data and services to global environmental monitoring and climate change projects.

Proposed writing team:

Affian Kouadio (Chair)
Kwame Koranteng
Mohamed Ould El Mahfoudh
Craig Donlon
Birame Samb

GROUP II: SEA LEVEL MONITORING

OBJECTIVES

Development Objective

To achieve a regional coverage of tidal data for sustainable exploitation and exploration of marine resources, environmental protection and management as well as for research and development.

Specific Objectives

1. Reinforce tide gauge network across the Africa sub-region.
2. To build adequate capacity for collection, analysis and management of sea-level data as well as equipment.

In pursuit of the first objective the following issues were identified:

¨ Regional coverage is not complete.
¨ Not all existing gauges in the region are operational.
¨ Not all stations are multi-parameter gauge stations.
¨ Not all gauge stations are GLOSS stations.
¨ There are differing types of gauges in the region.
¨ Not all countries in the region have the same communication facility for data transmission.
¨ Maintenance capacity for tide stations in the region is low.
¨ No gauge has a GPS in Africa.

What should be done?

¨ Ensure installation of gauges at identified sites.
¨ Upgrading existing stations (to measure both meteorological and other oceanographic parameters).
¨ Replacement of damaged stations.
¨ Ensure that each country has at least one tide gauge station.
¨ Improve communication facilities existing in the countries for gauge information transmission.
¨ Ensure standardisation of equipment.
¨ Determine the relevance of tide gauge information for national purposes.
¨ Improve maintenance capability for tide stations in the region.

How should this be done?

¨ Tide gauges and support for installation should be provided.
¨ Encourage the installation of multi-parameter sea-level stations.
¨ Procurement of new gauges.
¨ Identify countries without tide gauges.
¨ Provide standardisation equipment for countries in the region.
¨ Upgrade communication facilities at gauge stations.
¨ Conduct internal surveys on relevance of tide information.
¨ Enhance maintenance capability of national technicians in participating countries.
¨ Provide PCs and software.

The following issues were identified in relation to the second objective:

¨ Need for training in data collection.
¨ Need for technician training on gauge installation, maintenance and repair.
¨ Need for training in analyses and management of tidal information.
¨ Need for training of trainers.

What should be done?

¨ Create training opportunities.
¨ Build institutional capacity.

How should this be done?

¨ Strengthen regional capacity through existing institutions.
¨ Design courses.
¨ Equipe institutions.
¨ Ensure an easy supply of spare parts.

TASK 1

The following potential users have been identified :

¨ Government agencies
¨ Private agencies
¨ Research community
¨ Local community
¨ Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs)

Tidal information is needed for addressing the following :

¨ Coastal erosion
¨ Flooding
¨ Salt water intrusion
¨ Sea-level topographic map production with satellite calibration
¨ Assessment of ecosystem health
¨ Satellite calibration exercices
¨ Coastal navigation
¨ Oil exploration and exploitation activities

TASK 2

It was suggested that the PMSSL list of GLOSS contacts be updated and be revised on a yearly basis.

TASK 3 : PROPOSAL DRAFTING COMMITTEE

1. Dr. Sachooda Ragoonaden
2. Dr. Alphonse Dubi
3. Dr. Angora Aman
4. Mr. Charles Magori.

GROUP III: MODELING AND FORECASTING SYSTEMS AND NEEDS IN AFRICA

Justification

For sustainable integrated coastal ocean management it is necessary to create and sustain a forecasting coastal protection system. This system will identify coastline change areas and times thus improving the ability to decrease the damage from coastal erosion. The transport of pollutants e.g oil spills, contaminant outfalls. Harmful algae, blooms etc will be able to be predicted and tracked enabling clean-ups and preventive measures to be effectively carried out and key habitats protected. Tourism is very sensitive to the above factors and the ability to predict these threats will allow for protecting the tourism areas. Living marine resources are impacted by the ocean transfer of eggs and larvae and pollution can disrupt these resources. The long term understanding of the ocean that numerical modeling gives will improve the information needed to achieve sustainability. These predictions will mitigate the negative socio-economic impacts of these stressors and thus address poverty conditions. The financial investment for the modeling effort will result in significant savings over the costs necessary to address the damages from these environmental stressors.

Objective

Main Objective

Create and sustain monitoring and forecasting coastal protection systems for better management of: Coastal erosion: Pollution transport for the protection of sustainable living resources tourism and pristine ecosystems.

Particular Objectives

· Building capacity in dynamical modeling of the coastal oceans
· Adapt models that can be customized for the coastal ocean environment
· Identify 2 or 3 centres of excellence within Africa and convert them to regional centers of excellence by improving their data processing capacity for coastal and marine modeling relevant to the region.
· Enhance ocean data collection in the region for the coupled ocean-atmosphere global models whose output forms a vital input for the regional and local models
· Create awareness on the issues of the coastal ocean environment to the public policy makers and the stakeholders.
· Link to Ocean Data Information Network (ODIN-Africa) for data management and archiving.

Tasks

1) Creation of Regional Centres of Excellence (to build and maintain capacity)

a) Strengthen the national centers to effectively use products of regional centers
b) To develop experts
c) Improve Data processing and communication facilities and infrastructure
d) Provide Adequate operating conditions
e) Network of Regional and national centers

2) Identification and Evaluation Performance of Models

a) Status Quo of modeling in Africa
b) Identification of relevant models
c) Assessment of model performance
d) Evaluation of suitability of the models to regional environment

3) Implementation of Regional and Local Models

a) Ensure the provision of high quality digital bathymetry for African Coastal Oceans
b) Identification of relevant models
c) Ensure the provision of meteorological forcing
d) Improve the relevance and performance of Global and Regional models through validation and assimilation
e) Enhance data collection/Link with ODINAfrica
f) Effective utilization of remote sensing data.

4) Dissemination and Products

a) Collaboration with ODINAfrica to share website, newsletter and CD-ROMS
b) Customer-tailored products: Climatologies: inventories: extreme values: atlases: value-added specialized forecast.

5) Awareness Strategy

a) National meetings organized regionally e.g Canaries, Gulf of Guinea, Benguela, Agulhas, Somalia, Read Sea and Mediterranean
b) Electronic and print media for public and stakeholders education
c) Information seminars for Policy Makers and key stakeholders
d) National commitment meetings (for the future)
e) Public awareness campaign and education

Deliverables

1) Prototype Forecasting Coastal protection system
2) Enhanced capability of Regional Centres of Excellence for African Coastal Modelling and National Oceanographic centers to address:

a) Coastal erosion
b) Pollution
c) Key habitat and ecosystem
d) Tourism
e) Living Resources

3) Expertise in modeling of the Coastal Ocean Environment
4) Enhanced collection of regional oceanographic data and validation
5) Model results available to the public policy managers and stakeholders

TASK 3 : PROPOSAL DRAFTING COMMITTEE

Alejandro J. Souza
Michael Nguli
Abdelkader Benabdeljelil
Sankare Yacouba
Geoff Brundrit
Mika Odido
Bradford E. Brown
Reginald Beach
Joseph Mukabana