Biodiversity action in South Africa

11 December 2009, South Africa. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) and IUCN have embarked on a process of developing the Southern Africa Regional Biodiversity Action Plan following the biodiversity strategy developed in 2006.

“IUCN through its Countdown 2010 initiative has mobilized resources to support SADC on this important endeavour which will be a key achievement towards meeting the 2010 Target and
post-2010 targets,” said Hastings Chikoko, Head of the IUCN South Africa Office.

The plan will among other things aim to minimize adverse impacts on biodiversity, eliminate significant adverse impacts; and encourage and promote beneficial effects on biodiversity. The Action Plan is aimed at enhancing the regional and national capacities to implement the Convention on Biological Diversity
(CBD) provisions, through addressing institutional and human capacity gaps, and adopting a more integrated approach to biodiversity conservation.

In an effort to further the conservation of biodiversity in the region, the SADC region prepared its Regional Biodiversity Strategy in 2006 with technical support from IUCN. The strategy provides a framework for cooperation on biodiversity issues that transcend national boundaries.

In the framework of these endeavours, a consultation workshop on the post-2010 targets has been recently held in South Africa in collaboration with Countdown 2010.

For more information contact cathrine.mutambirwa@iucn.org.