The Western Indian Ocean Mangrove Network (WIOMN) is convening a three-day Regional Policy Advisory Group (RPAG) meeting in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, from 17th to 19th March 2025, to review and validate the draft Regional Mangrove Action Plan (RMAP). This initiative is part of the mandate from the Nairobi Convention’s 10th Conference of Parties (COP 10) and is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the Save Our Mangroves Now (SOMN II, now SOMN III) initiative, which initiated the process, and BENGO – “Sustainable Use of Mangroves in the WIO Region”, which has taken over and advanced it. The origin of this initiative traces back to COP 10, but it now operates under an updated and extended mandate from COP 11. The RMAP aims to provide a strategic framework for mangrove conservation and sustainable management across the region.
The meeting will focus on finalizing the draft RMAP and establishing a roadmap for its completion and launch. Participants will include RPAG members, WIOMN Board of Trustees, WIOMN Secretariat, country representatives, Nairobi Convention Secretariat, and other key stakeholders with expertise in mangrove conservation and management. This gathering underscore the importance of regional collaboration and knowledge-sharing to protect and sustainably manage mangroves, which are critical for biodiversity, coastal protection, and livelihoods in the Western Indian Ocean region
