Side Event PRCM – COP17

Hosting IMPAC6 in Africa in 2027: an opportunity to accelerate the implementation of West African countries’ 30×30 commitments

Format: high-level side event
Organiser: PRCM – Regional Partnership for the Conservation of the Coastal and Marine Zone in West Africa

High-level speakers

• Mr Aliou Gori Diouf, Minister of Environment and Ecological Transition of Senegal
• Mr Carlos Henrique de Jesus Pinto Pereira, Minister of Environment and Climate Action of Guinea-Bissau
• Mr Ahmed Zein, Special Adviser, representing the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of Mauritania, and President of the Conference of Ministers of the Abidjan Convention

Moderator: Dr Ahmed Senhoury, Executive Director of PRCM

Background and objectives

West Africa’s marine and coastal areas play a vital role in biodiversity conservation, food security, the livelihoods of coastal communities and resilience to climate change.

Building on the commitments made by West African States at the 12th PRCM Forum in Nouakchott, and as Senegal prepares to host IMPAC6 in Dakar from 22 to 27 March 2027 — a first for the African continent — this high-level policy round table will bring together representatives of governments, regional and international organisations, technical and financial partners, scientists, marine protected area (MPA) managers and civil society actors.

It aims to reaffirm States’ commitment to the 30×30 target and to the implementation of the BBNJ Agreement on marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, to build on the outcomes of the Our Ocean Conference held in Kenya and of the PRCM Forum, and to strengthen the international visibility of IMPAC6.