Eastern African coasts are characterised by intensive use of coastal resources, threatening biodiversity, ecosystem functions and services. Despite various efforts and some successes in marine resource management and biodiversity conservation over the past two decades, the status of biological resources and the rate of ecosystem change often remain unclear, due to limited reliable information. The NeDiT project addressed the lack of data and information on the status of marine biodiversity and resource use and supported the use of new and innovative digital technologies for policymaking in marine resource management in Eastern Africa. More than 3,300 species have been collated in a database which is made available to policymakers in Tanzania and the wider Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region. Therefore, the project has successfully improved the specificity and resolution of marine biodiversity data in East Africa.
NeDiT New Digital Technologies for Marine Biodiversity Data Handling in East Africa – Data Linking People
1st Call
Project Duration: November 2018 to June 2022
Project Summary
Related Themes
Key Impacts
CAPACITY
DEVELOPMENT
The project facilitated a pilot training on the assessment, analysis, communication, exchange, and management of marine biodiversity data in the region for scientists, decisionmakers and students.
SCIENCE-POLICY
TRANSFER
The project impacted the Nairobi Convention by submitting a publication on biodiversity data handling resulting in a draft of an information management strategy for the Western Indian Ocean region.
DIGITAL
INNOVATIONS
The project developed a standardized and unified mechanism to manage marine biodiversity data to be implemented as an open access tool for publishing and sharing biodiversity data.
