[Feature] Protecting Our Oceans

The oceans cover 71% of the Earth’s surface, hold 97% of its water, and play an essential role in protecting biodiversity, regulating the climate, providing resources, and producing oxygen. However, this delicate balance is being disrupted by human activity. To mark the United Nations Ocean Conference, held from June 9 to 13 in Nice, we take a deep dive into a world that we urgently need to better understand.

Oceans: AFD’s actions around the world

Having invested more than €4 billion in ocean-related projects since 2020, AFD works to preserve the oceans’ ecological health and reconcile their many uses by humankind.

Protecting the oceans: a vital challenge

[Video] In the face of growing threats to the oceans, AFD has stepped up its commitments. They cover both maritime projects and those in coastal areas or watersheds with an impact on marine environments.

French Overseas Territories: five key points on AFD Group’s operations

AFD Group’s financing helps improve the living conditions of people in Overseas France, by supporting local economies and authorities, as well as healthcare and environmental protection initiatives.

New Caledonia: protecting the ocean to save the planet

[Video] “Protecting the oceans and seas is probably the only way for humankind to continue living a healthy existence on this planet,” says Manuel Ducrocq, head of the Coral Sea Natural Park in New Caledonia.

Khadija Bourass: boosting biodiversity in Morocco through bird conservation

As head of GREPOM, a research group for bird conservation in Morocco, Khadija Bourass is a passionate defender of Moroccan biodiversity.

Sailing against the tide of waste: the ‘Plastic Odyssey’

The laboratory ship Plastic Odyssey has made numerous ports of call in the Indian Ocean, marking an unprecedented region-wide effort to reduce plastic pollution.

Preserving mangroves: a natural rampart against the ravages of climate change

Mangroves are under serious threat, and their ecological role remains largely undervalued. To address this issue, AFD supports projects to protect mangroves and integrate them into global climate strategies.

Boosting blue finance to protect the oceans

To mark the Immersed in Change ocean summit held in Costa Rica on June 7 and 8, Emmanuel Baudran, Executive Director for Sustainable Development at AFD, talks about why the Group’s involvement is so important, and reaffirms its commitment to protect the oceans.

AFD launches new program to protect marine ecosystems

AFD recently launched the “Blue Carbon Facility”, a new program to ensure the long-term preservation of marine ecosystems based on three key areas: improving knowledge, integrating these issues into public policy, and trialing new financing mechanisms.

The dangers facing the world’s small island states – and how we can help

Amid rising sea levels and geographic isolation, small island states are facing serious environmental, social and economic problems. Benjamin Coudert, an Economist in AFD’s Three Oceans Department, provides an update on the actions being taken to support them.

A smart app for sustainable fishing in Mexico

The Mexican NGO Cobi and local fishers have developed a new smart phone app that can be used to track and collect data on animal populations, including birds, sea mammals, fish, and crustaceans.