Nouakchott Declaration Adopted as West Africa Coastal Forum Calls for Stronger Biodiversity Protection

The 12th edition of the Regional Maritime and Coastal Forum concluded on Thursday in Nouakchott,with participants adopting the Nouakchott Declaration and urging intensified efforts to safeguard marine and coastal ecosystems across West Africa.

Hosted by Mauritania in collaboration with the Regional Partnership for the Conservation of Coastal and Marine Areas in West Africa,the forum brought together policymakers,experts and development partners at the Mokhtar Ould Daddah Conference Center.

In their final communiqué,participants called on member states and technical and financial partners to scale up both funding and expertise to protect biodiversity in the region’s vulnerable coastal and marine zones.

The Nouakchott Declaration underscored the need for strengthened institutional capacity to support the design and implementation of sustainable environmental policies. It also highlighted the urgency of supporting coastal communities facing climate-related pressures,enhancing resilience and ensuring inclusive participation in development processes.

Deliberations further emphasised deeper collaboration with civil society,the private sector and research institutions,positioning these actors as critical enablers of sustainable and inclusive growth.

In her closing remarks,Environment and Sustainable Development Minister Messaouda Mint Baham Ould Mohamed Laghdaf described the forum as a vital platform for advancing dialogue on coastal challenges in a region increasingly exposed to environmental risks. She disclosed that the government,at its meeting on April 29,approved a draft law on coastal areas aimed at modernising the 2007 legal framework to strengthen protection,planning and sustainable utilisation of coastal resources.

The minister also highlighted the strategic potential of the blue economy as a driver of job creation,sustainable growth and responsible resource management,advocating integrated planning approaches to balance competing interests and guide investment.

Participants additionally stressed the need for coordinated action against illegal,unreported and unregulated fishing,citing its detrimental impact on fisheries sustainability and regional economies. Executive Director of the regional partnership,Ahmed Ould Senhouri,noted that the forum reinforced a shared vision and strengthened alliances necessary to tackle maritime and coastal challenges,urging stakeholders to translate commitments into tangible outcomes.

Representing the World Bank,West Africa Environment Director Ellysard Baroudy welcomed the outcomes and reaffirmed support for initiatives aimed at preserving biodiversity in the region. The closing ceremony was attended by ministers from member states,alongside senior officials,experts and key stakeholders within the environmental governance space.