South Africa’s conservation is not decreasing, it is in fact on target to grow by 0,5% annually, according to Minister of Environmental Affairs, Forestry and Fisheries, Barbara Creecy.
“Our approved National Protected Areas Expansion Strategy provides an informed systematic approach on the expansion of the conservation estate with the rate of 0.5% increase annually. In line with this annual increase, South Africa will achieve a rate of 28% for its terrestrial space by 2036, and 10% in the same year for its marine space. We envisage that through this process we are likely to achieve the global 30 by 30 target by the early 2040’s.
She also referred to resources underway to support biodiversity initiatives. One is a biodiversity investment Portal which will provide some kind of progress regarding investment in biodiversity projects. “It is our intention to ensure that previously disadvantaged communities are able to use this platform to highlight their projects in the biodiversity value chain.”
She also referred to support and alignment with international partners.
“Last year, at the Convention on Biological Diversity an agreement dubbed “the new deal for people and nature,” or the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), was adopted.”
Picture: Botanical Society