The importance of biodiversity is sometimes forgotten in the minds of many, not understanding that it is pivotal for life on earth and for the survival of mankind. We tend to forget that without the diversity of life, we will not have clean air, food, medicines, water and even climate regulation. Biodiversity is declining globally, more and more species is at risk of extinction. Seychelles has not been spared, 477 species occurring in Seychelles are considered as threatened on the IUCN Red list. Our ecosystems are being degraded by different threats such as Invasive Alien species, development, pollution and poaching. The climate change crisis is not only impacting humans but biodiversity as well.
This year’s theme for international biodiversity day “Harmony with Nature and sustainable development” reminds us that biodiversity, is not a sectoral issue, it is a national issue… a planetary issue. The world has only five years to implement both the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the sustainable development goals. Actions must be taken now, if we want to halt the loss of biodiversity and put nature on the path to recovery. The commitments made at international level must translate into actions at national level.
Seychelles recently developed its National biodiversity targets, which will guide us as a country to prevent further loss of biodiversity but also ensuring that nature contributes to people’s needs and to meet our obligation towards the convention on biological diversity. However, the process must continue to develop the National Biodiversity strategy and Action Plan. Seychelles has received funding through the GEF Umbrella Programme to support NBSAP update and Seventh National Reports’, with the support from UNDP. This will enable us to not only develop the NBSAP, but its monitoring framework and capacity gaps and needs assessment.
Coordination and collaboration is the key towards effective implementation. The National Biodiversity targets takes into consideration a whole of society and whole of government approach. Meaning it requires each and every one of us to ensure that it is successful. However, we must recognize that lack of adequate human resource, capacity and financial resources are often times the common barriers that is preventing us from achieving our desired outcomes.
Nevertheless, we must strive to overcome these barriers, as a small country we must use our resources more efficiently. One way we can achieve this, is to ensure that national policies and strategies are aligned. The development of a resource mobilisation strategy for biodiversity will provide the path towards mobilizing financing both at domestic and international level.
Building our institutional capacity is also essential, the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate change and Environment, has recently developed its strategic plan, a plan that will guide us in strengthening our internal capacity to help us deliver on our national and international commitments. This can be a starting point for us to try and address those barriers and strengthen the ministry’s commitments towards implementing the NBSAP.
Ladies and gentlemen, we still have the opportunity to effect change, let us not waste more time, instead let us put nature on a path to recovery for the benefit of nature and people, which is the true essence of living in harmony with nature.
Thank you.