BIODEV2030 in gear at the IUCN Africa Protected Areas Congress

Awareness and commitment grow among private-sector stakeholders
concerning biodiversity issues

The first IUCN Africa Protected Areas Congress (APAC) took place in Kigali (Rwanda) from 18 to 23 July. The event gathered representatives from various countries, public administrations, civil society, regional bodies, the private sector and research institutions. Altogether, Kigali welcomed over 2500 participants from 92 countries, including 52 African states.

The BIODEV2030 team shifted into high gear for the event, organising four sessions that set the pace of the Congress. Goals: to promote biodiversity mainstreaming, highlight the project’s specificities – namely its scientific approach and multi-actor dialogue – and speak up for the private sector.

Over fifty government, NGO and private-sector representatives attended the BIODEV2030 sessions. The plan was to bring the enlightenment of the public and private stakeholders and exchange national experiences.

Speakers included CBD focal points from Gabon, Guinea, Madagascar and Uganda, who shared their countries’ engagement and dynamics in BIODEV2030.

Presentations by three sector representatives (specifically from agriculture) illustrated the private sector’s growing commitment towards BIODEV2030. Benin’s former Minister for the Environment applauded their rising awareness of the need to change practices.

The Congress meant an opportunity for project managers from nine African countries to present the BIODEV2030 project and its national implementation and to consolidate the project community, especially by building on the lessons to be learned from BIODEV2030.

“We are all jointly responsible for the depletion of biodiversity and it is by working together that we will find the solution.”

Joseph Koutchika, Coordinator of the Rice Farmers Consultation Council of Benin

The BIODEV2030 project team at the IUCN Africa Protected Areas Congress in Kigali

4 KEY BIODEV2030 SESSIONS AT THE CONGRESS

All four sessions organised by BIODEV2030 were public and included in the APAC programme. They provided an opportunity for the public authorities and private sector stakeholders involved in the project to present the BIODEV2030 approach applied in each of their countries and exchange experiences. Aside from these four sessions, a learning workshop was held to draw on the takeaways from previous stages of the project.

  • Mr. SAMOURA (CBD-NFP Guinea)
  • Mr. ONYAI (CBD-NFP Uganda)
  • Mr. MOUBA (CBD-NFP Gabon)
  • Mr. OUSSOU (Director of Agriculture, Gabon)
  • Mr. MENGISTU (Executive Director, Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Association)

This session addressed the key role institutions play in mainstreaming biodiversity into economic activities, particularly CBD national focal points, drawing on the experience gained in Gabon, Uganda and Guinea. It was also an opportunity to hear about what motivates two sector in Ethiopia and Gabon to keep biodiversity in mind in their activities.

BIODEV2030 Conservation Clinic APAC – Presentation 

 

  • Mr. MOUBA (CBD-NFP Gabon)
  • Mrs. RANTO (CBD-NFP Madagascar)
  • Mr. ONYAI (CBD-NFP Uganda)
  • Mr. OUSSOU (Director of Agriculture, Gabon)
  • Mr. KOUTCHIKA (Benin Rice Producer Concertation Council Coordinator)
  • Mr. MENGISTU (Executive Director, Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Association)

All 16 pilot countries involved in the BIODEV2030 project have developed a common vision on mainstreaming biodiversity and how best to include this topic in the future worldwide agreement under discussion. This session revolved around reports by four BIODEV2030 countries (Ethiopia, Gabon, Benin and Madagascar) regarding the links between their BIODEV2030 experience and the future global biodiversity framework post-2020.

BIODEV2030 APAC table ronde – Presentation

  • M. OUEDRAOUGO (AT Burkina-Faso)
  • Mme NYARE (AT Gabon)

This session was held to hear reports from two BIODEV2030 project managers in Burkina Faso and Gabon: Mr Oueddraougo and Ms Nyare. They discussed the factors at play in the project’s success and what pitfalls to avoid, whilst also highlighting the specifics of implementing the project in these two countries.

  • Mr. ONYAI (CBD-NFP Uganda)
  • Mrs. RANTO (CBD-NFP Madagascar)
  • Mr. KOUTCHIKA (Benin Rice Producer Concertation Council Coordinator)

The workshop was an opportunity to underline the core role that CBD national focal points play in moving stakeholders to action in Benin, Madagascar and Uganda. Another matter addressed and discussed by attendants was the process of building voluntary sector engagements.

BIODEV2030 APAC Workshop – Presentation

BIODEV2030 APAC workshop – Mr Koutchika’s presentation

 

Documents to download

Other – BIODEV2030 journey during IUCN Africa Protected Areas Congress

08/07/2022 pdf 13.93MB

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