Zanzibar banks on COP12 Conference to bolster conservation of marine in the Indian Ocean

DAR ES SALAAM: THE Secretary General of Zanzibar’s Ministry of Education and Vocational Training, Khamis Abdulla Said, has said the 12th Conference of the Parties to the Nairobi Convention (COP12), being held in Dar es Salaam, will provide an opportunity to assess progress in implementing resolutions adopted at previous meetings.

He said the conference will also establish new strategies to strengthen the conservation of marine and coastal environments in the Western Indian Ocean region, while coinciding with celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of the Nairobi Convention.

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Speaking ahead of the conference, Said said Tanzania’s hosting of COP12 reflects the country’s growing role in international diplomacy, while its marine, forest and broader environmental resources give it an important position in discussions on sustainable conservation.

He added that the conference is expected to produce new resolutions aimed at addressing existing environmental conservation challenges, stressing the importance of protecting the ocean as a vital economic resource that contributes to the well-being of citizens and the development of present and future generations.