IUCN and ODISEA partner for ocean conservation solutions in the Western Indian Ocean

ODISEA will be partnering with IUCN on a joint expedition to explore and protect biodiversity in the Western Indian Ocean, IUCN’s Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office announced at the COP29 in Baku today. The joint work is aimed at strengthening the Great Blue Wall – a network of conserved and restored ecosystems that shelter communities from the impacts of climate change, and help biodiversity recover – and documenting conservation success stories in the Western Indian Ocean.  

The expedition will bring together local researchers, community members, and government officials to monitor biodiversity baselines, explore remote seamounts, and identify key habitats for threatened species. Together, they will develop innovative financial solutions and share conservation successes with local stakeholders. This collective effort aims to protect marine biodiversity, which is essential to the health of our planet and the well-being of all people.  

“This exciting expedition is a unique opportunity to unite the strength of governments & civil society, the wisdom of communities, and the insight of researchers. This expedition seeks to foster collaboration and innovation in safeguarding the treasures of the West Indian Ocean for future generations," said Luther Bois Anukur, Regional Director for IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa Region.

“ODISEA’s mission is to uncover and share impactful marine conservation success stories, and the community-centric Great Blue Wall initiative stands as an incredibly successful movement that provides a model for the regenerative blue economy. We are honored to provide ODISEA as a research platform that enables local researchers and coastal community leaders to amplify their voices, deepen our understanding of the drivers behind successful conservation management, and serve as a catalyst for the expansion of marine protected areas,” said Tom Sparke, Head of Impact at ODISEA. The expedition’s research work will be led by a regional scientific advisory board, while communication will be led by award-winning producer Filipe DeAndrade and National Geographic Explorer Ghaamid Abdulbasat.  

Ghaamid, who is also the IUCN´s regional Ocean Communications Officer for the Great Blue wall Initiative, said: “It’s crucial that our scientific insights reach the hearts of those who shape policies and steward these ecosystems. Through this expedition we’re not only documenting the incredible biodiversity of the Western Indian Ocean but also creating narratives that resonate with communities and decision-makers alike. As we connect science with stories, we hope to inspire sustainable actions that safeguard these marine environments for generations to come in the Western Indian Ocean and beyond.”  

“The 20th century should have been the century of sustainability. It wasn’t. Now, the21st century must be the century of regeneration. If the industrial revolution is what led us to where we are today, then a new kind of revolution is what will lead us to the world of tomorrow. The Great Blue Wall partnering with the ODISEA expedition is about giving a voice to the unheard and bringing a light to the unseen. It's about telling their stories. It's about enabling them to produce the science that will inform their decisions and unveiling the local knowledge that will guide their actions. This expedition  will bear witness and be an actor in what will be remembered as the Rise of our Blue Guardians.” said Thomas Sberna, IUCN Regional Head Coastal and Ocean Resilience Eastern and Southern Africa.

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