Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Absalom Shigwedha
Published on 2024-04-10 13:45:35
More than 80 representatives from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states, the environment and agriculture sectors, development partners, and the private sector convened in Cape Town, South Africa, this week to participate in the review and validation of the draft SADC Regional Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (SADC BSAP). The purpose of this gathering was to address the main drivers of biodiversity loss within the region, such as over-utilization, inappropriate use of external inputs in agriculture, and climate change, with the aim of benefiting the people of southern Africa.
The SADC BSAP plays a critical role in guiding the review and update of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans, which are essential for member states to fulfill their obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity and other related Multilateral Environmental Agreements. This strategy, developed through technical and financial support from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) under the European Union funded Capacity Building Related to MEAs in African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries Phase 3 (ACP-MEAs 3) project, aims to provide a framework for sustainable biodiversity management in the region.
Hosted from 8 to 10 April, the workshop was a collaborative effort between the FAO and the SADC Secretariat, emphasizing the importance of biodiversity initiatives within the region. Previous biodiversity strategies, such as the first SADC Regional Biodiversity Strategy in 2008 and the 2010 SADC Regional Action Plan, have laid the foundation for the current review of the SADC BSAP.
The revised SADC BSAP will span a 10-year period (2025-2035) and align with the African Union’s Biodiversity strategy and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. During the opening remarks, Aristofanes Pontes from Angola, the current SADC chair, highlighted the significance of the validation workshop in implementing a whole-of-society approach as outlined in the Global Biodiversity Framework.
KimAnh Tempelman, the FAO ACP MEAs 3 global coordinator, emphasized the importance of the SADC BSAP for integrating biodiversity into agriculture and accelerating the transformation of agrifood systems to enhance inclusivity, resilience, and sustainability. Sibongile Mavimbela, SADC senior program officer for the Environment and Climate Unit, expressed satisfaction that the review process of the SADC BSAP was near completion after more than two years of consultations with various stakeholders.
Furthermore, Mavimbela commended the inclusivity and rigorousness of the review process, resulting in a high-quality product that will enable member states to progress towards implementation. The SADC BSAP not only serves as a strategic roadmap for biodiversity conservation in the region but also aligns with global biodiversity frameworks to promote sustainable development practices.
In conclusion, the validation workshop for the SADC BSAP marks a significant milestone in the region’s commitment to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. With the collective efforts of stakeholders and partners, SADC member states are on track to implement comprehensive policies that safeguard biodiversity and address environmental challenges for the benefit of all.
Read the original article on The Namibian
