How CSOs Can Contribute to the National Strategy on Biodiversity?

Transcription

1 How CSOs Can Contribute to the National Strategy on Biodiversity? Report submitted by Lantuna and BIOS.CV to the Critical Ecosystem Partnership fund July 2017, Praia, Cabo Verde

2 Introduction The CEPF investment in Cabo Verde started early 2013, focusing on the strategic direction of integrated coastal zone management in all priority key biodiversity area (KBA), and currently a new investment phase, covering the period of , will start. CEPF s investment will be guided by an investment strategy, known as an ecosystem profile. In order to ensure the next phase of CEPF funding is most effective, there was a need for civil society organizations (CSOs) to understand how they can contribute to the national priorities and understand the new CEPF investment strategy, thus it was organized a workshop on May 11, 2017, at Hotel Vulcão (Cidade Velha, Ribeira Grande de Santiago, Cabo Verde). Lantuna and BIOS.CV were the local organizations to convene the national workshop that helped CSOs to share their conservation lessons learned, discuss national issues and to update them on the next phase of CEPF funding. The workshop also included an overview of the National Biodiversity Strategy and action plan NBSAP priorities, an overview of the CEPF phase 2 investment priorities, and the potential linkages between the NBSAP priorities and the CEPF investment priorities. This report will provide an overview of the potential linkages based on the research conducted by the consultant, Ms. Celeste Benchimol on both priorities in addition to the points discussed in the National Conservation Outcome Workshop. How CSOs can contribute to the National Strategy on Biodiversity? This session was led by Ms. Celeste Benchimol, who made a brief presentation about the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) She outlined the strategic objectives and the goals, the global importance of Cabo Verde s biodiversity and the national priorities. Then she presented the alignment of CEPF and NBSAP strategies that can be seen in the following table: CEPF Investment strategy NBSAP Strategic direction Strategic objetives

3 1: Support civil society to engage stakeholders in demonstrating integrated approaches for the preservation of biodiversity in coastal areas. 2: Support the sustainable management of water catchments through integrated approaches for the conservation of threatened freshwater biodiversity. 3: Promote the maintenance of traditional land use practices necessary for the conservation of Mediterranean biodiversity in priority corridors of high cultural and biodiversity value. 4: Strengthen the engagement of civil society to support the conservation of plants that are critically endangered or have highly restricted ranges. 5: Strengthen the regional conservation community through the sharing of best practices and knowledge among grantees across the hotspot. 6: Provide strategic leadership and effective coordination of CEPF investment through a regional implementation team. A. Address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss through the integration of biodiversity at all levels of government and civil society. C: Improve the biodiversity state, safeguarding ecosystems, species and genetic diversity. B. Reduce direct pressures on biodiversity and promote its sustainable use. C: Improve the biodiversity state, safeguarding ecosystems, species and genetic diversity. C: Improve the biodiversity state, safeguarding ecosystems, species and genetic diversity. D. Enhancing the benefits of biodiversity and ecosystem services for all. A. Address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss through the integration of biodiversity at all levels of government and civil society. D. Enhancing the benefits of biodiversity and ecosystem services for all. E. Increase implementation through participatory planning, knowledge management and capacity building. E. Increase implementation through participatory planning, knowledge management and capacity building.

4 Then it was presented the alignment of the CEPF and NBSAP priorities: CEPF priorities 1.1: Engage local stakeholders in conservation actions that address threats to key elements of biodiversity in priority KBAs in the coastal zone. 1.2: Engage private sector stakeholders to adopt sustainable practices that deliver positive impacts for conservation in priority KBAs in the coastal zone. 1.3: Support civil society to engage with local or national governments to mainstream biodiversity conservation into integrated coastal zone management, land-use and development planning processes. 2.1: Enhance the knowledge base on freshwater biodiversity and the importance of freshwater ecosystem services. 3.1: Support local communities to increase the benefit they receive from maintaining and enhancing traditional, biodiversity-friendly land-use and agricultural practices. 3.2: Promote awareness of the value of traditional, biodiversity-friendly land-use practices among local community and government decision makers, to secure their recognition and support. 4.1: Increase knowledge and skills to support assessment and planning for the conservation of plants, and foster the emergence of a new generation of young professionals in plant conservation. NBSAP priorities 1. Involvement of the whole society in biodiversity conservation (population, public and private organizations, NGOs and associations). 4. Conservation of priority habitats and sustainable management of natural resources. 1. Involvement of the whole society in biodiversity conservation (population, public and private organizations, NGOs and associations). 3. Reduction of pressures and threats on marine and terrestrial biodiversity. 2. Integration of the biodiversity importance in strategies, plans, policies and action programs. 4. Conservation of priority habitats and sustainable management of natural resources. 6. Increase the knowledge, monitoring and biodiversity evaluation. 5. Valorisation and increase the ecosystems resilience. 6.Increase the knowledge, monitoring and biodiversity evaluation. 5.Valorisation and increase the ecosystems resilience. 6. Increased knowledge, monitoring and biodiversity evaluation.

5 4.2: Support integration of plant conservation into the management of protected areas. 5.1: Support regional and thematicallyfocused learning processes for CSOs and stakeholders. 5.2: Support grantees to understand and engage with international conventions and processes. 4. Conservation of priority habitats and sustainable management of natural resources. 5.Valorisation and increase the ecosystems resilience. 6. Increase the knowledge, monitoring and biodiversity evaluation. 7. Mobilization of funds. Ms. Benchimol has highlighted some opportunities for CSOs included on the NBSAP: Implementation of training programs / thematic training Environmental education activities and dissemination of the information related to the biodiversity Implementation of biodiversity conservation and valorization projects Participatory management of protected areas Management of coastal zones and wetlands Ms Benchimol has also presented for each NBASP strategic objective some activities, she highlighted some that could be an opportunity for the strategy and that could be integrated on the CEPF program: Develop and implement capacity-building programs to strengthen knowledge on biodiversity and its conservation (public and private sectors, local communities, NGOs, media); Promote the adoption of the integrated area management approach; Develop mechanisms to encourage investments and interest of economic operators in the implementation of projects that integrate the rational use of natural resources and its conservation; Develop and implement plans for the exploration and monitoring of priority marine resources; Promote the insertion and valorization of protected areas in the context of the national development; Develop and implement in situ conservation programs for priority endangered species;

6 Develop and implement an invasive species control program; Strengthen projects and programs for participatory management of protected areas to the benefit of local communities, and in particular of the women; Implement participatory management training programs for Government staff and for local communities. The main comments made during this session were: - Cabo Verde has not yet done studies that prioritize different types of habitats. The NBSAP identifies the habitats in general but do not prioritize them. - Every document that needs to be approved by the Government must be in accordance with the national objectives and priorities identified on the NBSAP. Conclusion The new CEPF investment strategy, the Ecosystem Profile, goes in accordance with the NBSAP priorities. The new CEPF investment phase in the Cabo Verde Archipelago, will be a good opportunity for the CSOs to apply for grantees for the conservation of protect areas and endangered species, promoting the sustainable development through local communities, training, and can be a magnet for more funds through the empowerment of several civil society groups and local government.