| In recent years a coral reef ecosystem shared between the coastal states B and C has become severely degraded. It is difficult to pinpoint one factor that has led to the degradation of the coral reef, but likely causal factors include excessive sediment, nutrient, toxins, and pathogen loads. State A, a land-locked country, is heavily reliant on agricultural practices. State A has also in recent years exploited its forests for additional income. As well as its contribution to pollution loads, these upstream activities have resulted in high levels of sedimentation – which is acknowledged as one of the primary causes of coral reef ecosystem degradation. While states B and C are parties to an agreement that seeks to protect the coral reef ecosystem, there is no provision for allowing additional states to become party to the agreement. States B and C therefore amend the agreement to allow in-land states to become party to it, where the activities of those states impact on the status of the coral reef. State A then become a party to the wider agreement and its activities are aligned with that of Article 23 of the UN Watercourses Convention. |
Regional Sea Conventions Addressing Land-based Pollution
- Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea Against Pollution (adopted 16 February 1976, entered into force 1978), and Protocol on Land-Based Sources (adopted 17 May 1980, entered into force 17 June 1983)
- Kuwait Regional Convention for Cooperation on the Protection of the Marine Environment From Pollution (adopted 24 April 1978, entered into force 1 July 1979), and Protocol for the Protection of the Marine Environment Against Pollution from Land-based Sources (adopted 1990, entered into force 2 January 1993)
- Convention for Cooperation in the Protection and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the West and Central African Region (adopted March 1981, entered into force 5 August 1984)
- Convention for the Protection for the Marine Environment and Coastal Area of the South-East Pacific (adopted 12 November 1981, entered into force 19 May 1986), and Protocol for the Protection of the South-east Pacific Against Pollution from Land-based Sources (adopted 23 July 1983, entered 21 September 1986)
- Regional Convention for the Conservation of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Environment (adopted 14 February 1982, entered into force 20 August 1985)
- Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region (adopted 24 March 1983, entered into force 11 October 1986), and Protocol on the Prevention, Reduction and Control of Land-based Sources and Activities (6 October 1999, entered into force 13 August 2010)
- The Convention for the Protection, Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Eastern African Region (adopted 21 June 1985, entered into force 1986)
- Convention for the Protection of Natural Resources and Environment of the South Pacific Region (adopted 24 November 1986, entered into force 22 August 1990)
- Conventino on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution (adopted 21 April 1992, 15 January 1994), and Protocol on Protection of the Black Sea Marine Environment Against Pollution from Land-based Sources (adopted 17 April 2009, not yet in force)
- Convention for Cooperation in the Protection and Sustainable Development of Marine and Coastal Environment of the Northeast Pacific (adopted 18 February 2002, not yet in force)
- The Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (adopted 22 September 1992, entered into force 25 March 1998)
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No Significant Harm Rule
Protection and Preservation of Ecosystems |
