The establishment of a network for coastal monitoring of a basic set of oceanographic parameters on a continuous basis is important in ensuring access to long time series coastal data needed for research and resource management. The plans for the network will be finalized in the framework of the African component of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS Africa).

The project ‘Adaptation to Climate Change, Responding to Coastline change in its human dimensions in West Africa through Integrated Coastal Area Management’ (ACCC) focuses on reducing the threat of coastal erosion, while increasing biodiversity and strengthening the adaptive capacities of local communities and ecosystems at selected pilot sites in Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, and Cape Verde will end in 2012. One of the key outputs is the first Adaptation Guide produced for and by African coastal experts, published in December 2011. The possibility of replication of the ACCC project in other interested countries in Western Central Africa will be explored during the current biennium.