USEFUL LINKS
| Click on the highlighted links below to access recommended websites of a variety of non-governmental organizations, international conventions, and associations focusing on marine, pollution and sanitation management. Submit useful links to bwhittington-jones@uwc.ac.za. |
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A new portal providing information and Internet links relevant to Africa's oceans. Requires registration.
Benguela Current Large
Marine Ecosystem Programme
A regional initiative involving Angola, Namibia and South Africa, aimed at enhancing national and regional efforts towards sustainable and integrated management of the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem.
The Blue Flag works towards sustainable development at beaches/marinas through strict criteria dealing with water quality, environmental education and information, environmental management, and safety and other services. The Blue Flag is an exclusive eco-label awarded to over 3100 beaches and marinas in 36 countries across Europe, South Africa, Morocco, New Zealand, Canada and the Caribbean in 2006.
Conducting world-class, directed interdisciplinary research and technological innovation, with partners and stakeholders, in the fields of natural resources and the environment to contribute to the social, economic and environmental improvement of South Africa and Africa.
Eastern African
Coastal Database
This is a UNEP database that has been designed to facilitate access to environmental information in the region. Here you will find background information on the Nairobi and Abidjan Conventions as well as documents, contacts, pictures, illustrations and maps concerning the region.
Eastern African Action Plan (Nairobi Convention)
Is an action plan for the protection, management and development of the marine and coastal environment of the Eastern African Region.
Global Ballast Water Management Programme
The broad development objectives of the programme are to assist developing countries to reduce the transfer of harmful organisms from ships’ ballast water, to implement the International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) ballast water guidelines and to prepare for implementation of the new IMO Ballast Water Convention.
South Africa is one of six initial pilot countries selected for implementation of the Global Ballast Water Management Programme. The programme is being implemented under the auspices of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism in South Africa.
International Maritime Organisation
The IMO seeks o provide machinery for cooperation among Governments in the field of governmental regulation and practices relating to technical matters of all kinds affecting shipping engaged in international trade. It encourages and facilitates the general adoption of the highest practicable standards in matters concerning maritime safety, efficiency of navigation and prevention and control of marine pollution from ships.
International
Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association
IPIECA is a voluntary non-profit organisation whose membership includes both petroleum companies and associations at the national, regional or international levels. IPIECA works actively in the field oil spill preparedness and response and produces useful publications on the subject, many of which are available at their website.
International Tanker Owners
Pollution Federation
ITOPF is a non-profit making organisation, funded by the vast majority of the world's shipowners. They focus on a wide range of technical services, the most important of which is responding to oil spills.
Promotes the effective control and prevention of all sources of marine pollution through regulation of dumping into the sea of waste materials.
Mauritius Oil Spill Emergency Response
The Ministry of Environment of Mauritius has set up a National Oil Spill Contingency Plan, with the main objective of ensuring the constant readiness of Mauritius to respond to oil spill incidents.
OceanExpert (or the Global Directory of Marine and Freshwater Professionals ) is a database, developed and maintained by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC), containing information on individuals involved in all aspects of Marine or Freshwater Research and Management. It is intended to be a tool for scientists, policy makers and anyone who needs to contact a marine or freshwater professional.
ODINAFRICA is a data and information project working towards establishing a lasting network of marine and aquatic institutes in Africa, and to provide marine scientists in Africa with the necessary bibliographic and scientific literature.
Sanitation Connection is an Internet-based resource providing access to up-to-date information on technologies, institutions and financing of sanitation systems around the world. It hosts InterWATER, a comprehensive list of organizations in the water and sanitation sector in developing countries, IRCDOC, a bibliographic database on water supply and sanitation in developing countries, and maESTro II, a free searchable directory of environmentally sound technologies.
The Water Page is an independent initiative dedicated to the promotion of sustainable water resources management and use. A particular emphasis is placed on the development, utilisation and protection of water in Africa and other developing regions.
The UNEP Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities (UNEP-GPA) is designed to be a source of conceptual and practical guidance to be drawn upon by national and/or regional authorities for devising and implementing sustained action to prevent, reduce, control and/or eliminate marine degradation from land-based activities.
UNEP-GPA
Global Marine Oil Pollution Information Gateway
The Global Marine Oil Pollution Information Gateway is one of nine pollutant source category nodes of the UNEP-GPA Clearing-House mechanism, serving as a referral system to relevant information and data on oil pollution.
UNEP-GPA Global Marine Litter Information Gateway
This node of the Clearing-House mechanism provides extensive information on marine related pollution issues.
UNEP/GPA
UNESCO-IHE Training on Sanitation and Wastewater Management
This site describes the work of a unit that has been established between UNESCO-IHE, UNEP/GPA and the TRAIN-SEA-COAST Programme, to jointly offer training as a supplement to existing capacity building initiatives in the water and sanitation fields. The website contains useful information about the course content and training programmes being developed by the unit, and provides news on developments within the project.
West and Central Africa Action Plan (Abidjan Convention)
Is an action plan and protocol concerning cooperation in combating pollution in cases of emergency.
West Indian Ocean Marine Science Association
WIOMSA promotes the educational, scientific and technological development of all aspects of marine sciences throughout the West Indian Ocean region. It provides a forum for communication and information exchange in ways that promote and foster inter-institutional linkages within and beyond the region.