Sustaining Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Through Pollution Reduction and Sustainable Blue Economy Initiatives
Guildance Community Development Foundation, Charitable Youth for Nation Building Initiative, Ummah Upliftment Initiative
(
Non-governmental organization (NGO)
)
#OceanAction57242
Description
Description of Voluntary Commitment
The Guildance Community Development Foundation, in collaboration with its partners, is committed to addressing critical marine and coastal issues through a multi-faceted approach. This voluntary commitment focuses on mangrove conservation, sustainable fisheries, marine pollution reduction, and fostering a sustainable blue economy to enhance marine biodiversity, improve livelihoods, and promote long-term environmental sustainability.
Key Areas of Focus:
1. Mangrove Conservation
- Objective: To restore and conserve mangrove ecosystems, which play a crucial role in coastal protection, carbon sequestration, and supporting marine biodiversity.
- Activities:
- Reforestation projects in degraded mangrove areas.
- Community education programs on the ecological and economic importance of mangroves.
- Partnerships with local communities to create sustainable livelihoods, such as eco-tourism and mangrove-based products.
2. Sustainable Fisheries
- Objective: To promote responsible fishing practices that ensure the sustainability of fish stocks while supporting the livelihoods of fishing communities.
- Activities:
- Training programs for fishers on sustainable fishing techniques and the use of eco-friendly equipment.
- Establishing community-led fishery management systems to prevent overfishing.
- Supporting aquaculture projects that reduce pressure on wild fish populations.
3. Marine Pollution Reduction
- Objective: To minimize marine pollution, particularly from plastics, industrial waste, and agricultural runoff, to protect marine life and ecosystems.
- Activities:
- Organizing coastal clean-up drives and waste management initiatives.
- Awareness campaigns on reducing single-use plastics and promoting recycling.
- Collaboration with industries to adopt eco-friendly waste disposal practices.
4. Sustainable Blue Economy
- Objective: To develop economic activities that sustainably utilize ocean resources, ensuring long-term benefits for coastal communities.
- Activities:
- Supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) engaged in marine-based industries like eco-tourism, renewable ocean energy, and sustainable aquaculture.
- Providing technical training and capacity-building programs for local communities to participate in the blue economy.
- Promoting public-private partnerships to fund sustainable marine projects.
Expected Outcomes:
1. Restored and thriving mangrove ecosystems, contributing to biodiversity conservation and climate resilience.
2. Enhanced livelihoods for coastal communities through sustainable fishing practices and blue economy initiatives.
3. Reduced levels of marine pollution, leading to healthier marine ecosystems.
4. Increased community participation in ocean conservation and sustainable resource utilization.
This commitment aligns with global efforts to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water), fostering collaboration among stakeholders to ensure a healthier and more productive marine environment for current and future generations.
Partners and Beneficiaries
Partners
1. Guildance Community Development Foundation (Lead Partner)
- Entity Type: Non-Profit Organization
- Role: Overall coordination, project oversight, and implementation of mangrove conservation, sustainable fisheries, marine pollution reduction, and sustainable blue economy initiatives.
2. Charitable Youth for Nation Building Initiative (CYNBI) (Partner)
- Entity Type: Non-Profit Organization
- Role: Community mobilization and capacity-building support for sustainable livelihoods and pollution reduction campaigns.
3. Ummah Upliftment Initiative (Partner)
- Entity Type: Non-Profit Organization
- Role: Advocacy and public awareness on marine conservation, sustainable fisheries, and the ecological importance of mangroves.
4. Local Coastal Communities (Collaborators)
- Entity Type: Community-Based Organizations (CBOs)
- Role: Key stakeholders in the implementation of mangrove conservation, community-led fisheries management, and participation in blue economy initiatives.
5. Government Agencies on Environment and Fisheries (Collaborators)
- Entity Type: Government Entity
- Role: Policy support, regulatory oversight, and technical assistance in project implementation and sustainability.
6. Private Sector Organizations (Collaborators)
- Entity Type: Private Sector Entities
- Role: Provision of funding, technical expertise, and support for eco-friendly marine initiatives, including waste management and sustainable aquaculture.
7. Academic and Research Institutions (Collaborators)
- Entity Type: Academic and Research Entities
- Role: Research and monitoring of project impacts on marine biodiversity, fisheries sustainability, and the blue economy.
Beneficiaries
1. Coastal Communities and Fisherfolk
- Direct beneficiaries of sustainable fishing practices, alternative livelihoods, and training programs.
2. Local Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
- Participants in the sustainable blue economy through eco-tourism, aquaculture, and marine-based industries.
3. Marine and Coastal Ecosystems
- Indirect beneficiaries through restored mangrove habitats, reduced pollution, and sustainable resource utilization.
4. Youth and Women in Coastal Areas
- Empowered through training, employment opportunities, and involvement in conservation and blue economy initiatives.
5. Global Environmental Community
- Indirect beneficiaries from the contribution of this initiative to global marine conservation and climate resilience efforts.
This collaboration ensures a holistic approach by leveraging expertise and resources from diverse sectors to achieve sustainable marine and coastal ecosystem management.
SDGS & Targets
Goal 14
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
14.1
By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
14.1.1
(a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density
14.2
By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
14.2.1
Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas
14.3
Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels
14.3.1
14.4
By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics
14.4.1
14.5
By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information
14.5.1
14.6
By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation
14.6.1
Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing
14.7
By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism
14.7.1
Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP in small island developing States, least developed countries and all countries
14.a
Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries
14.a.1
14.b
Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets
14.b.1
Degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small‐scale fisheries
14.c
Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"
14.c.1
Number of countries making progress in ratifying, accepting and implementing through legal, policy and institutional frameworks, ocean-related instruments that implement international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources
SDG 14 targets covered
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| 14.1 | By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution |
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Kabiru , President General