South Africa’s sharing lessons of “mapping biodiversity priorities” at the 16th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP), in Cali, Colombia, this week.
Speaking at the auspicious event, Narend Singh, Deputy Minister of the Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, said on Monday, this COP provides a platform to celebrate Southern Africa’s achievements and launch an important guide.
Singh said South Africa has successfully followed the sequential processes of mapping, assessment, prioritisation and planning using IUCN standards.
This has led to significant benefits for conservation action and monitoring of key biodiversity indicators.
Several African countries, including Namibia, Malawi, and Mozambique, shared their experiences as well, along with Rwanda, Botswana, Ethiopia, and Ghana.
The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), in partnership with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) World Conservation Monitoring Centre, are leading the development of a guideline for the protection of biodiversity.
“Resource mobilisation is crucial to ensure the continuity of this work. Today, we also recognise France’s contributions through various projects that support this vital work in Southern Africa. This commitment from France towards scientific endeavours that underpin many of the Global Biodiversity Framework’s indicators and targets directly supports Target 19, which calls for a substantial and progressive increase in financial resources to implement national biodiversity strategies and action plans said the Deputy Minister.
The guide will require further collaboration and lessons shared among Regional scientists and technicians, to build capacity needed to achieve the goals and targets of the Global Biodiversity Framework.
Picture: Supplied