The ocean is fundamental to our existence on the planet.
Oceans cover 72% of the surface of our blue planet and constitute more than 95% of the biosphere. Life originated in the oceans and they continue to support all life today by generating oxygen, absorbing carbon dioxide, recycling nutrients and regulating global climate and temperature.
Human development activities, however, have seriously taxed the resilience of the marine and coastal resource base. Available data indicates that 87% of global fish stocks are fully or over exploited.
While the international community recognises the role of oceans and seas to improve livelihood and to address the problem of food security, inland aquatic ecosystems such as wetlands, which guarantee livelihoods for the majority of Africans have received little commitment. Increasing pollution, unsustainable coastal development, and wetlands destruction further contribute to the loss of biodiversity, ecological function and the decline in provision of environmental services.
At HATOF, we work to bring out the interconnectedness and interdependency between wetlands, water security, and food security by providing information to the national governments and relevant stakeholders on the need to integrate and include inland aquatic ecosystem into the discussion on sustainable ocean and sea development.
We also support coastal resilience through a number of coastal management projects to help vulnerable communities adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Oceans, covering 72% of our planet and constituting over 95% of the biosphere, are crucial for supporting life, generating oxygen, absorbing carbon dioxide, recycling nutrients, and regulating climate, yet human activities have severely strained marine resources, with 87% of global fish stocks fully or over-exploited.
