First negotiated draft of the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Protocol for the Nairobi Convention for the Protection, Management and Development of the Western Indian Ocean region

At their seventh meeting (LTWG7) held in Maputo, Mozambique on 6 to 8 August 2012, the Ad hoc Legal and Technical Working Group on ICZM concluded the drafting of the protocol and prepared the Seventh Draft ICZM Protocol to the Amended Nairobi Convention. The experts recommended the draft text for consideration by the Contracting Parties to the Nairobi Convention during the Seventh Conference of Parties to the Nairobi Convention (COP7) for a decision on the next steps that will include negotiations, and adoption of the text negotiated text by a Conference of plenipotentiaries. The LTWG7 also considered and approved Draft Guidelines for Drafters and Negotiators of the Protocol on ICZM to the Nairobi Convention. The purpose of the guidelines is to assist drafters and negotiators to have common conceptual and textual understanding of the various issues covered in the proposed protocol. It is envisaged that the guidelines will support the remaining phases of consultation, drafting and negotiation of the Protocol. The draft guidelines are presented to the COP7 for noting.