Cabinet recently approved the mandates for the tenth meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP10) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the fifth Meeting of the Parties (MOP5) to be held in Nagoya, Japan between 18 and 29 October 2010.
The Department of Environmental Affairs is coordinating and leading South Africa's participation at these meetings.
As part of the preparation of the Nagoya meeting in October, Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Rejoice Mabudafhasi will be leaving for Gabon tomorrow as part of the consolidation of South African and the African positions at a political level.
Key areas of strategic importance to South Africa in these negotiations to be held in Nagoya are the following:
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post 2010 biodiversity strategy targets and the means of implementation
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the international regime on access and benefits sharing
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protocols on biosafety, liability and redress
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biodiversity science policy platforms
The CBD is anchored on three key objectives namely the conservation, sustainable use of biological diversity, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilisation of these resources.
South Africa subscribes to the three key objectives of the CBD and is a signatory to the convention. Sustainable utilisation of natural resources is at the forefront of South Africa's approach to development as articulated in the national strategy for sustainable development and other legislative and strategic frame woks.
The CBD's programme of work is organised around thematic programmes of works which set out key issues for consideration, identify potential outputs, and suggest a timetable and means for achieving these objectives.
With regards to the draft strategic plan 2011 to 2020, South Africa believes that the strategy is comprehensive and ambitious enough to address the gaps that resulted in the 2010 targets not being met.
However, the lack of commitment to adequate, timely and increased funding or resources would pose a major constraint on the implementation of the post 2010 strategy. South Africa would support the adoption of a Strategic Plan with identified funding mechanism for its implementation by parties.
South Africa supports the African position calling for the development of a protocol to give effect to the objective of the CBD of ensuring the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge, which has hitherto not been effectively implemented.
South Africa will also support recommendations that articulate the role of biodiversity in climate change mitigation and adaptation. However, throughout the discussions, South Africa will take care not to confound the biodiversity discussions with the greater global negotiations on climate change.
In all South Africa will strive to ensure that the biodiversity response to the climate change crisis is effective and that all political and financial implications are taken into account before the final decisions are taken and the global community moves into further action.
In view of the South African government's commitment to a new growth path in the form of a green economy, South Africa will advance positions that support a move towards implementation of economic instruments, including where appropriate, market-based mechanisms for biodiversity conservation.
For media queries contact:
Albi Modise
Tel: 012-310 3123
Cell: 083 490 2871
E-mail: AModise@environment.gov.za
