Latest news with #ConventiononBiologicalDiversity
Daily Maverick
08-06-2025
- General
- Daily Maverick
Coal mining fear sparks unexpected conservation boom in Mpumalanga
The ecologically rich grasslands in Mpumalanga's highveld have become a front line in the struggle between biodiversity and coal mining. Fearful of open-cast mining's devastating impacts, a growing number of South African landowners are turning to an unconventional shield: biodiversity protection. While their motives may not be entirely green, the outcome has been, in the words of Brian Morris, 'a blessing in disguise' for conservation and South Africa's biodiversity conservation goals. Morris heads the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency's biodiversity stewardship programme, which allows for the declaration of 'protected areas on land owned by private individuals, by communities, by companies and trusts'. Unconventional shield These landowners commit to 'long-term commitments to essentially manage these areas as private protected areas.' Crucially, when formal protected areas are declared, they are legally protected from mining developments. This makes them an effective defence against open-cast coal mining, which 'is steadily eating away vast tracts of conservation-worthy grasslands', said Morris. Notably, these grasslands hold high biodiversity value, but also happen to be where 'most of the mineral reserves, the coal, and so on' are located, said Morris. He said this 'inevitable conflict' was a microcosm of a larger national struggle. Conservation, he said, had often been 'cast as an elitist luxury, something that gets in the way of jobs and housing and food production and other needs'. In this context, the Mpumalanga Parks' initiative — even with its mixed motivations — offers a practical path toward a 'more inclusive and more holistic vision and implementation' of conservation, one that recognises that 'land holds multiple values — ecological, economic, spiritual — and that these values can coexist', said Morris. Morris was talking at the latest Tipping Points webinar, titled Conservation beyond Borders. Hosted by Oppenheimer Generations Research and Conservation (OGRC), the webinar tackled a pressing global question: How can countries such as South Africa protect biodiversity without sidelining development and human rights? Joining Morris on the panel were environmental historian and conservation biographer, Simon Pooley, and Natasha Wilson, the South African National Park's expansion manager. The discussions were facilitated by Kina Murphy, the chief scientist and Africa director for the Campaign for Nature, which focuses on protecting 30% of the planet by 2030 — a goal set as a key conservation benchmark at the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 2022 in Montreal, Canada. Murphy highlighted the urgency of the task. With up to two million species at risk of extinction this decade, she stressed that new, inclusive models of conservation were essential. South Africa, which helped shape the goal during the negotiations, has committed to protect 1.4 million hectares through formal reserves and another 10 million via so-called OECMs (Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures). These include community and privately managed lands that support biodiversity, even if not primarily for that purpose. There was consensus among the panellists that while these goals were laudable, turning that vision into reality was anything but simple. The obstacles are many: complex land ownership and community governance issues; conflicting government plans; few real incentives for landowners — and conservation agencies stretched thin. On-the-ground realities Then comes the issue of managing protected areas amid thorny on-the-ground realities. Setting the scene, Pooley brought a hard edge to the conversation through a sobering historical lens. 'I'm slightly Mr Bad News today,' he quipped, as he recounted the layered, unresolved struggles at Ndumo Game Reserve in northern KwaZulu-Natal — one of South Africa's oldest protected areas, now under siege, 101 years after its proclamation in 1924. Pooley grew up in Ndumo, describing it as 'a little pocket of extraordinary biodiversity nestled in the confluence of the Usuthu and the Pongola rivers … teeming with water, birds, fishes, harumphing hippopotamus and crocodiles basking on the grazing lawns'. Like many others, Pooley's childhood, immersed in this natural world, led to him becoming a conservationist. But this was not the case for many of his childhood playmates, whose parents had once lived inside the reserve. 'Many South Africans were evicted from this fenced reserve. This was to maintain a refuge on the country's most biodiverse floodplain for animals which are difficult to live with, like crocodiles, hippos, rhinos,' said Pooley. This gave rise to deep, unresolved tensions. 'Locals had been living alongside the wildlife from the proclamation of the reserve in 1924 up until 1966,' Pooley noted. But during apartheid, animal conservation was prioritised over people's rights. When remittances failed to arrive back from the mines, 'mothers and children entered the reserve to catch animals for food. What had been subsistence use was now classified as poaching,' said Pooley. Rangers, he added, were caught between enforcing the law and sympathising with the hunger and hardship around them. In recent years, the reserve was handed to a new provincial authority, and a land claim was settled in 2008. Although 'co-management with communities commenced' and 'the era of fortress conservation was over,' Pooley said the practical management plans for the reserve were never clearly defined, and the terms of the land claim were disputed — and still are. Politicians' promises Then, 'during fierce political campaigning in national elections, politicians made rash promises to give locals land in the reserve,' said Pooley. These pledges to return land crossed the bounds of legality and were later abandoned. All of this, combined with high unemployment and the lack of much promised development, fuelled anger among the local population, leading to fence cutting and illegal occupation. The Ndumo Game Reserve — the most prominent local symbol of provincial authority — became 'a lightning rod for frustration', said Pooley. Today, despite the dedicated work of generations of conservationists, Ndumo is under serious threat. Its eastern region is under occupation by farmers, fishermen and cattle herders. It has suffered the loss of all its rhinos and a 'shocking decline' in crocodile and hippo numbers. Now, mineral prospecting applications are in progress. In conclusion, Pooley acknowledged that while it was important to find new land to conserve to achieve the 30×30 targets, a lot more could be done to better manage and preserve existing protected areas. 'Let's not forget to protect the land we've already got,' said Pooley. Morris agreed. 'We're kind of neglecting what we already have, and I see this as a serious challenge.' Morris acknowledged, too, that the process of declaring a protected area was 'by no means easy'. 'It takes time,' he said, 'anything from 12 months to two years.' He said over the past 15 years, Mpumalanga had added 162,859 hectares to its protected area estate, but at this rate, it would take 'another 68 years to reach the 30% target. ' He said while progress was being made in encouraging landowners to conserve their land, better incentives could be offered to counter the 'indiscriminate granting of mining rights even within some of our protected areas.' And unfortunately, 'areas of high biodiversity value virtually always lose out' in strategic land use planning debates. He cited as an example the massive expansion of wind energy facilities in the grassy biomes of Mpumalanga, driven by the country's weak grid capacity. This, he said, posed significant threats to birds and bats, potentially impacting on biodiversity in the region. Looking to the future, Natasha Wilson said South Africa's 'remarkable biodiversity' demands a rethink of how conservation is done — and who it's for. Historically, SANParks has worked 'very much within our fences and within our boundaries,' but the organisation is now undergoing a 'radical departure' from this model. The future, she said, lay outside the fences, in partnerships that recognised the need to balance people and nature. New approaches A good example, said Wilson, was a new national park being declared in the grasslands near Maclear in the north-eastern Eastern Cape. 'Here, we are working with a range of landowners who are willingly contributing their land to conservation,' she said. 'And we've taken quite a different stance — we're looking at livestock as a driver in the ecosystem, as part of the park.' The initiative reflects a broader SANParks strategy rooted in the idea of 'mega living landscapes' — places where conservation supports, and is supported by, the people who live there. Wilson acknowledged this was 'very difficult work' and often a process of 'learning as you're doing', but said there was growing momentum, with 'just over 10,000 hectares' in the pipeline for declaration later this year. Essential to the success of this inclusive, landscape-level approach was building social legitimacy through power-sharing and respect for people's rights and dignity, said Wilson. And this involved collaborating with diverse landholders, from communal farmers to private landowners, and using legislative tools such as biodiversity stewardship to scale up conservation beyond protected areas. Beyond monetary value As the discussion wrapped up, it moved to the very essence of why conservation was pursued, moving beyond purely economic justifications. Pooley argued that if conservation was forced to 'pay its way' and measured only by 'rand value', it would 'lose every single time that the mining, or whatever the latest scheme to grow cotton, comes along'. He also said many conservationists often forgot that there was 'homegrown local, indigenous interest in conservation'. Therefore, it shouldn't be seen as 'a sort of battle to convert people to something entirely new'. Murphy agreed, stressing that modern conservation efforts should support and empower existing, long-standing practices of land stewardship deeply embedded within indigenous cultures. 'The land is invaluable, priceless actually, we cannot put a price tag on it,' said Murphy. And for indigenous people, 'it's not a new thing to conserve their land'. According to the World Bank, about 476 million indigenous people, including those in Africa, hold tenure rights to about a quarter of the world's surface area, accounting for a significant portion of the world's biodiversity. DM Fred Kockott is the director of the environmental journalism training agency, Roving Reporters. This article was produced with assistance from Jive Media Africa, science communication partner of Oppenheimer Generations Research and Conservation.
Observer
08-06-2025
- Science
- Observer
Oman committed to protection of marine biodiversity
MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman is highlighting its leading role in protecting the marine environment and promoting sustainability as a leading country in this field. The Sultanate of Oman boasts a long coastline of nearly 3,165 km, making it home to a rich biodiversity that includes coral reefs, seabirds and fish as well as rare and endangered species such as sea turtles. The Sultanate of Oman seeks to conserve its marine environment by adopting well-thought-out initiatives and policies. The Environment Authority (EA) was established to develop environmental strategies particularly those related to ocean and coastal protection. The EA also conducts scientific studies and research aimed at understanding environmental challenges facing the marine environment including pollution, overfishing and climate change. As part of its efforts to promote marine sustainability, the Sultanate of Oman is implementing various projects, most important of which is the Artificial Coral Reefs project which aims to rehabilitate damaged coral reefs, enhance biodiversity, support sustainable fishing and protect coastal areas. The Sultanate of Oman has also established several marine reserves, such as the Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve, the Daymaniyat Islands Nature Reserve which provide a safe environment for endangered marine species. Oman's efforts are not limited to policies and projects alone, but also raising community awareness and promoting community participation through awareness campaigns and workshops aimed at educating citizens and residents about the importance of preserving the marine environment. These initiatives contribute to enhancing environmental awareness among members of society, especially the younger generations, and encourage them to actively engage in marine conservation efforts. It also attaches great importance to international cooperation in the field of marine environment protection. It participates in several global environmental agreements and programmes including the Convention on Biological Diversity which aims to conserve biodiversity and ensure its sustainable use. Through its participation in World Oceans Day, the Sultanate of Oman reaffirms its commitment to preserving the oceans and ensuring their sustainability for posterity, thus contributing to the conservation of marine resources and the enhancement of biodiversity. — ONA
The Star
07-06-2025
- Science
- The Star
30 per cent global ocean protection target not enough for marine giants, says study
CANBERRA/MANILA (Xinhua): The global goal to protect 30 per cent of the world's oceans by 2030 will not be sufficient to ensure the survival of marine megafauna such as whales, sharks, turtles, and seals, international scientists have warned. An international study has mapped the world's most critical ocean habitats for marine megafauna, revealing that even ambitious global protection targets will fall short of safeguarding these threatened species, according to a release from the Australian National University (ANU) on Friday. In December 2022, the Convention on Biological Diversity parties agreed to conserve 30 per cent of Earth's land and seas by 2030, but the United Nations Environment Program notes that biodiversity is unevenly protected: while a quarter of ecological regions meet the 30 pe rcent target, some have no coverage, leaving many species and ecosystems insufficiently conserved. The UN-endorsed MegaMove project, involving nearly 400 scientists from over 50 countries, tracked more than 100 marine megafauna species to identify where conservation efforts should focus, the release said. The study, published in Science, found that only 8 percent of oceans are currently protected and warns that the UN High Seas Treaty's 30 per cent target, though supported by 115 countries, will not fully safeguard key habitats for threatened marine giants. ANU Associate Professor Ana Sequeira, the study's lead author and MegaMove founder, explained that the research mapped areas where marine megafauna engage in essential behaviors such as foraging, resting, and migration. These species serve as top predators with crucial roles in marine ecosystems but face mounting threats from human activities, she said. "We found that the areas used by these animals overlap significantly with threats like fishing, shipping, warming temperatures, and plastic pollution," Sequeira said, adding the 30-percent protection goal is helpful but not enough, so further measures are needed to reduce threats beyond protected areas. The study identifies specific mitigation measures beyond protected areas, including modifications to fishing gear, different lighting systems in nets, and ship traffic management schemes. - Xinhua
IOL News
23-05-2025
- General
- IOL News
Can SA balance development and conservation? Insights from the National Biodiversity Offset Conference
CEO of SANBI, Shonisani Munzhedzi, DG of DFFE, Noma Tshabalala, Deputy Resident Representative at the UNDP South Africa Country Office, Gloria Kiondo and CEO of SANParks, Hapiloe Sello at the DFFE's environmental conservation conference at the DBSA on May 22, 2025. Image: Supplied, Michael Mokoena DFFE The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) on Thursday embarked on the first day of two-day-long National Biodiversity Offset conference at the Southern African Development Bank (DBSA) in Midrand, Gauteng. This conference was held in collaboration with the DBSA, South African Biodiversity Institute, and aimed to facilitate engagement among stakeholders and communities. During her remarks at the conference, Director General of the DFFE, Nomfundo Tshabalala, said: "We as DFFE, working with our entities, understand that we have to strike a balance between development and conserving the biodiversity and ecosystem of our country." DFFE director General, Noma Tshabalala addressing the DFFE's environmental conservation conference Image: Supplied, Michael Mokoena, DFFE Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Tshabalala emphasised that people, entities, and businesses should follow protocol when dealing with land and the environment to avoid violating the regulations and causing harm to the environment. "We have a website which will show the geographic landscape of South Africa, showing where there is development, and what it is that you're investing in as you develop an area, to ensure that you offset and you don't deplete conservation in that area," Tshabalala remarked The department's spokesperson, Michael Mokoena, said: "Biodiversity offsetting is one of the ways in which South Africa's Protected and Conservation Areas can be expanded, thereby promoting conservation. It also helps to secure ecologically sustainable development as it mitigates the adverse impact of economic and social development on biodiversity." According to the Convention on Biological Diversity, South Africa's biodiversity is in great danger of extinction, with the National Red List assessments indicating that 10% of South Africa's birds and frogs, 20% of mammals, and 13% of plant species are threatened. The DFFE has attributed this to pollution, climate change, global warming, and the expansion of residential and industrial land. The Convention on Biological Diversity warned: "The loss and degradation of South Africa's biodiversity has serious implications for society and the economy. Natural ecosystems provide many essential services, such as the provision of clean water and air, prevention of soil erosion, pollination of crops, provision of medicinal plants, nutrient cycling, provision of food and shelter, as well as meeting spiritual, cultural, aesthetic, and recreational needs." IOL NEWS
Kuwait Times
22-05-2025
- General
- Kuwait Times
Biodiversity protection a shared responsibility for sustainability: EPA
KUWAIT: The Environment Public Authority (EPA) reaffirmed Thursday that the protection of biodiversity is a collective responsibility and a moral and humanitarian obligation, requiring unified national and global efforts to secure a prosperous present and a sustainable future for generations to come. Acting Director General of the EPA Nouf Behbehani made the remarks during a ceremony marking the International Day for Biological Diversity (IBD), organized by the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET), Kuwait Oil Tanker Company (KOTC), and the National Committee of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In her address, Behbehani noted that IBD, observed annually on May 22, commemorates the adoption of the Convention on Biological Diversity during the landmark 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. The summit, she said, marked a pivotal moment in global environmental governance with the adoption of three major conventions: the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), forming the foundation of international environmental sustainability efforts. Behbehani highlighted that this year's celebration is held under the theme 'Be Part of the Plan,' which calls for harmonizing development with nature and underscores the urgent need to redefine humanity's relationship with the environment. She emphasized that safeguarding biodiversity is vital to ensuring food and water security, climate stability, and public health. She outlined four key pillars of the national biodiversity campaign: raising public awareness on the importance of biodiversity; updating national strategies in alignment with international frameworks; strengthening cross-sectoral collaboration to fulfill obligations under global environmental treaties; and encouraging development initiatives that prioritize environmental protection and long-term sustainability. Representing KOTC's Acting CEO Sheikh Khaled Ahmed Al-Malik Al-Sabah, Acting Director of the Health, Safety and Environment Group Mohammed Mirza reiterated the company's longstanding commitment to environmental stewardship. He affirmed KOTC's active role in promoting sustainable practices and supporting national initiatives aligned with Kuwait's environmental vision. Mirza highlighted the company's achievements, including the full operation of its LPG filling branches in Shuaiba and Umm Al-Aish using solar energy. He also pointed to the environmental compliance of the company's fleet, which adheres to international maritime regulations such as ballast water treatment systems and emission reduction measures. KOTC, he added, remains engaged in various environmental initiatives, including coastal cleanups, awareness campaigns, tree planting, recycling, and climate change mitigation. Meanwhile, Dr Wijdan Al-Oqab, Chairperson of the IUCN National Committee and President of the Kuwait Environment Protection Society (KEPS), emphasized Kuwait's international commitment to biodiversity through its ratification of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the submission of national reports. She called for a serious re-evaluation of the current environmental situation in the country and advocated for a shift from an exploitative relationship with nature to a balanced and cooperative approach. Dr Al-Oqab lauded the EPA's executive role in implementing environmental legislation and monitoring adherence to global agreements, in addition to the contributions of the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research and civil society organizations in advancing environmental awareness. She further praised KEPS' pioneering efforts in public education, including the production of Arab-recognized environmental documentaries such as 'Every Day a Bird' and 'Every Day a Plant,' which have documented Kuwait's wildlife and now serve as valuable scientific and educational resources across the Arab world and within Kuwaiti schools. The event underscored a unified call for action to protect biodiversity as a cornerstone of sustainable development and environmental resilience. — KUNA
