 |
The Rise of the Global Ocean Observing System in Africa (GOOS-AFRICA) Introduction to GOOS-AFRICA Based on several decades of experience, studies and sound expertise in oceanography and marine sciences, African institutions, marine scientists and stakeholders came to the conclusion that there is a need for integrated approach to operational oceanography in support of marine and coastal activities in Africa including fisheries, mining, oil and gas industries, port activities, maritime industry and safety, coastal tourism, the Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) and other stakeholders. The initial GOOS-AFRICA background document was presented to the African forum at the GCLME Seminar and Workshop in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire in early 1998. A core network of African scientists was established in 1998 to take forward the development of the Global Ocean Observing System for Africa. Upon the request of the Government of Mozambique, in the framework of the Pan-African Conference on Sustainable Integrated Coastal Management (PACSICOM), with the support of African countries and institutions, UNESCO and its IOC, the first GOOS-AFRICA workshop was organized in Maputo in Mozambique, 18-20 July 1998. This workshop entitled “Data for Sustainable Integrated Coastal Management, Global Ocean Observing System for Sustainable Integrated Coastal Management in Africa” laid the foundations for the rise of the Global Ocean Observing System in Africa (GOOS-AFRICA). The programme addresses the fact that Africa can be impacted by extreme events such as El Niño, and La Niña, which affect rainfall and crops, as well as by floods, drought and tropical cyclones that have various causes in the atmosphere and ocean. In addition the recent Indian Ocean tsunami also affected African countries on the East coast of the continent. A multidisciplinary approach to collecting observations needed to forecast such events becomes imperative because of the linkages between Ocean, Earth and Meteorological processes and Climate Change. GOOS-AFRICA recognises that what happens at the coasts is commonly a complex function of Earth, Oceanic and Atmospheric processes on regional and global Scales. Ocean processes can affect economic values of African investments in: (i) Offshore and Coastal oil and gas (ii) Shipping and Trade; (iii) Offshore and Coastal mining; (iv) Coastal and Offshore fisheries; (v) Integrated Coastal Zone Management; (vi) Monitoring and Predicting in Large Marine Ecosystems; (vii) Seaside tourism; (viii) Public safety/Health & protection of properties; (ix) Early Warning Systems. The GOOS-AFRICA mandate includes a provision of a common platform of coastal and ocean services for Monitoring and Predicting dynamics of the Large Marine Ecosystems through (i) Assessing, (ii) Hindcasting, Predicting and Forecasting, and (iii) Establishing Early Warning Systems. These will provide information on potential floods, sea level rise, regime shifts and their impacts on ecosystems and people dependent on them. Finally, GOOS-AFRICA is the African contribution to GOOS. It is also a solid contribution to the African Renaissance. A Pan-African Coordinating Structure for the Development and Promotion of GOOS in Africa GOOS-AFRICA Co-ordinating Committee The First Committee was established on the 20th July 1998 in Maputo, Mozambique following the successful adoption of GOOS-AFRICA as a Pan-African Framework for the development and promotion of Operational Oceanography in Africa. On the 23rd November 2001, the Committee met in Nairobi following the GOOS-AFRICA Project Development Meeting and decided a rotation of its membership. At the GOOS-AFRICA Review Meeting held in the framework of the Sixth Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Abidjan Convention on the Protection of Coastal and Marine Environment in Central and Western Africa, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, 06-14 May 2002, the Committee decided to enlarge its Coordinating Body to include a wide range of relevant stakeholders including the Representatives from the African Association of Remote Sensing of the Environment, the African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development and the African Union NEPAD programme. The representation of various stakeholders and disciplines in the Committee reflects the holistic and integrated approach to operational oceanography including satellite remote sensing, meteorological sciences, and other relevant disciplines. On the 31st December 2005, Dr. Kwame Koranteng step down from the Chairmanship and the Committee decided to elect Professor Geoff Brundrit as the new Chair as from 1st January 2006. In fact, Professor Brundrit is the living memory of GOOS-AFRICA in his capacity as the founding Chair.
Showing 1-10 of 27 people (ordered by role)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
