The Comorian government, in collaboration with key sectors, is working to strengthen the consideration of natural capital in economic decisions and development policies. A workshop was held on September 25 at the Retaj hotel as part of the Blue and Green Island project. The event aimed to raise awareness among national stakeholders on the importance of accounting for natural capital. The project seeks to integrate environmental resources into economic and public decisions.
The workshop was conducted in conjunction with a study on natural capital accounting led by the National Herbarium of the University of Comoros. The study aims to enhance the capacity of national institutions to account for and monetarily evaluate natural resources. This will enable the country to better understand, measure, and value its natural heritage. The initiative is crucial for informed decision-making in development planning.
Charafouddine Djamal Eddine, Director of Cabinet at the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, emphasized the significance of the workshop. He stated that it marks an important step in how the country considers the value of its natural resources in development choices. Djamal Eddine highlighted the essential role of forests, mangroves, coral reefs, water resources, and biodiversity in the economy and for the population.
These natural resources contribute significantly to agriculture, fishing, coastal protection, and tourism development. The Director of Cabinet stressed the need to strengthen the link between environmental protection and tourism development. He noted that the country's tourist attractiveness relies on its beautiful landscapes, water quality, and biodiversity richness. Preserving and valorizing natural capital is a direct investment in the economy's future.
Mhoumadi Soihibou, national coordinator of the Blue and Green Island project, outlined the objective of establishing a system that associates the National Herbarium, the Sonede, and other concerned institutions. The goal is to have information that allows for the evaluation of natural resources, such as forests and the ocean, and to integrate this into public decisions.
Soihibou explained that this approach ensures that government decisions consider the presence of natural resources, enabling the preservation and sustainability of these resources. The project aims to provide a framework for informed decision-making that takes into account the value of Comoros' natural heritage.
The initiative is expected to have a positive impact on the country's development and economy. By integrating environmental resources into economic decisions, Comoros can ensure sustainable development and preserve its natural resources for future generations.
Key points
- Comoros workshop focuses on integrating environmental resources into economic decisions
- Initiative aims to enhance capacity of national institutions to account for natural resources
- Project seeks to preserve and valorize Comoros' natural heritage for sustainable development
