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Ashton Mutyavaviri
IN a move meant to enhance the agro-biodiversity in the country, Zimbabwe is set to participate in the global twenty-sixth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA-26) and the fourth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI-04) meetings which would be running from today until May 29 in Nairobi, Kenya.
The SBSTTA-26 and SBI-04 meetings set to start today in Kenya, Nairobi will run until May 29 and will review the progress, reports and recommendations made by the Convention on Biological Diversity Conference of the Parties (CBD COP) 15 for consideration by the CBD COP 16, to be held in Cali, Columbia, from October 21 to November 1 this year.
Getting ready for the meetings, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) with European Union (EU) funding under African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries Multilateral Environmental Agreements 3 (ACP-MEAs3) project held a preparatory meeting for Zimbabwean stakeholders in Harare on May 6 and 7 towards the upcoming sessions of the SBSTTA-26 and SBI-04.
The preparatory meeting brought together thirty members from key Government Ministries that is the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development and the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, including Focal Points of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Focal Points of the Protocol of Cartagena on Biosafety and Focal Points of the Nagoya-Kuala-Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress.
The meeting was also attended by Luis de Torres Bonaechea, Programme Manager (Natural Resources) – European Delegation to Zimbabwe.
Meanwhile, the FAO International Biodiversity Expert and ACP-MEAs 3 project coordinator in Zimbabwe Dr Kudzai Kusena expressed his gratitude to all stakeholders who attended the meeting and noted the progress made thus far in the reviewing and aligning the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.
He also urged Zimbabwe to finalise its national targets and indicators in time to meet the submission timeline.
The meeting also provides a platform that enables the whole-of-society approach to review key policy documents on biodiversity in Zimbabwe, which is critical for national consensus and strengthening the national participation at SBSTTA-26 and SBI-04, added Kudzai Kusena.
He further urged meeting attendees to make sure that Zimbabwe’s priorities as defined in the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) and as re-emphasised by the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the Nagoya Protocol (Article 31) were considered during SBSTTA-26 and SBI-04.
Stakeholders assessed and reviewed the effectiveness of the Nagoya Protocol (Article 31) and the effectiveness of the processes under the Convention and its protocols.
As a way forward, stakeholders recommended the establishment of permanent coordinating units or committees for biodiversity, other environment conventions, mainstream biodiversity implementation plans, support, build capacity, strengthen the national focal points, manpower and institutions related to biodiversity.
They also considered promoting effective programmes and public awareness campaigns for proper management of biodiversity.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter