admin
Sifelani Tsiko
Innovations Editor
Africa is the heart and lung of global biodiversity and more efforts should be made to push for greater financial mobilisation through the Global Biodiversity Fund to help the continent to protect its biodiversity, environmental experts say.
Kaddu Sebunya, CEO of the African Wildlife Foundation told a webinar ahead of the 16th UN Biodiversity Conference (COP16) in Cali, Colombia that Africa which holds more than 30 percent of the world’s biodiversity was a critical ‘frame’ for global biodiversity and all efforts to drive global action.
“Africa holds more than 30 percent of this global biodiversity. The rest of the world has destroyed this biodiversity,” he said.
“More than 30 percent of global biodiversity is here in Africa…the plants, big animal species are all here in Africa.
“Those two things are critical as to how Africa shows up at Cali. We are the frame holding this world together. More than 8 000 protected areas in Africa. We should tell the world that you are indebted to us.
“How do we manage biodiversity for the young generation? What is the value of the biodiversity ?to our economies? We need to look at the management of our biodiversity. We need to tell the world that we hold the biodiversity for the world and the world needs to pay for it.”
This week, leaders from around the world gather to discuss the state of life on earth, negotiating agreements to preserve biodiversity and stop the destruction of nature.
Representatives of 196 countries are gathering in Cali, Colombia, for the 16th UN Conference of the Parties summit (Cop16).
The AWF) held a special webinar ahead of the 16th UN Biodiversity Conference (COP16) to explore how the media can shape biodiversity narratives and drive global action.
“How do we maintain the level of food variety in our food system? When we go to the global stage, we need to show up as a country, as one country just like the EU. The EU shows up as a country and we need to do the same,” Sebunya said.
Said Edwin Tambara, AWF director of global leadership: “African countries have demonstrated political will on climate change issues. We need to integrate biodiversity on other critical areas and ask questions on how can mobilise funds for biodiversity from climate change.
“Everything really rests on financing. There is a lot of caution in the air around and Africa needs resources to preserve its biodiversity.”
Online Reporter