Biodiversity Informatics: Meeting Sustainable Development Challenges in Africa Dr Tanya Abrahamse CEO SANBI With assistance from Ms Fatima Parker Allie & Ms Carmel Mbizvo : SANBI

CONTENTS TDWG SANBI – the case for biodiversity SDGs and Targets The Africa Rising story Challenges and pathways through

Biodiversity informatics and TDWG A group of passionate scientists – global community of practice 31 years of getting the foundations and unit standards right. Now “the place to be” Used by all in the ‘alphabet soup’ of institutions Creating the ability to understand biodiversity Allowing comparisons, analysis, and is universal Supporters eg. JRS allow the under-resourced to be here

South African Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) Public entity, created by an Act, in 12 places in SA Gardens, Research, Information, Planning, Tools to manage better, HCD Spans research network – agenda setting – policy - action Biodiversity Information Management (GBIF Africa Rising, BHL and BGIS) Biodiversity Planning Forum (12 years to get all reading off same song sheet!) Positioned to be the provider of information for the SEAs of the strategic infrastructure programme of SA Monitoring the state of Biodiversity (NBA 2012) Link with SA’s National Development Plan The case for biodiversity

WHAT WE INFLUENCE human wellbeing improved service delivery job creation harnessing biodiversity value investment in ecological infrastructure ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change streamlined environmental decision-making FOUNDATIONS OF BIODIVERSITY: collections| taxonomy | inventory | maps | classification of ecosystems and species BUILDING BIODIVERSITY KNOWLEDGE: assessments | status | trends | monitoring | modelling SCIENCE INTO POLICY / ACTION: information | planning | policy advice | models | tools HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT GARDENS windows on biodiversity WHAT WE DO 5

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) September 2015 Momentous occasion and time Built on the MDGs and the many multilateral agreements 17 Goals – audacious, ambitious, visionary Aspirations of the world – negotiated, panel beaten and finally agreed The aspirations of all of us for a future we want (and where funding is going to in the future!!!)

SDG’s & Biodiversity’s potential contribution Goal 1End poverty in all its forms everywhere Goal 2End hunger, achieve food security & improved nutrition & promote sustainable agriculture Goal 3Ensure healthy lives & promote well-being for all at all ages Goal 4Ensure inclusive & equitable quality education & promote lifelong learning opportunities for all Goal 5 Achieve gender equality & empower all women & girls Goal 6 Ensure availability & sustainable management of water & sanitation for all Goal 7 Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable & modern energy for all Goal 8Promote sustained, inclusive & sustainable economic growth, full & productive employment & decent work for all Goal 9 Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive & sustainable industrialization & foster innovation 7

SDG’s & Biodiversity’s potential contribution cont. Goal 10Reduce inequality within & among countries Goal 11Make cities & human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient & sustainable Goal 12Ensure sustainable consumption & production patterns Goal 13Take urgent action to combat climate change & its impacts* Goal 14Conserve & sustainably use the oceans, seas & marine resources for sustainable development Goal 15Protect, restore & promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, & halt & reverse land degradation & halt biodiversity loss Goal 16Promote peaceful & inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all & build effective, accountable & inclusive institutions at all levels Goal 17Strengthen the means of implementation & revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development 8

Biodiversity’s contribution to SDGs TARGETS Goal 2End hunger, achieve food security & improved nutrition & promote sustainable agriculture 2.4by 2030 ensure sustainable food production systems & implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity & production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding & other disasters, & that progressively improve land & soil quality 2.5by 2020 maintain genetic diversity of seeds, cultivated plants, farmed & domesticated animals & their related wild species, including through soundly managed & diversified seed & plant banks at national, regional & international levels, & ensure access to & fair & equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources & associated traditional knowledge as internationally agreed Goal 4Ensure inclusive & equitable quality education & promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 4.4by 2030, increase by x% the number of youth & adults who have relevant skills, including technical & vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs & entrepreneurship 9

Goal 4Continues… 4.5by 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education & ensure equal access to all levels of education & vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, & children in vulnerable situations 4.7by 2030 ensure all learners acquire knowledge & skills needed to promote sustainable development, including among others through education for sustainable development & sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace & non-violence, global citizenship, & appreciation of cultural diversity & of cultures contribution to sustainable development Goal 6Ensure availability & sustainable management of water & sanitation for all 6.6by 2020 protect & restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers & lakes 10 Biodiversity’s contribution to SDGs TARGETS

Goal 8Promote sustained, inclusive & sustainable economic growth, full & productive employment & decent work for all 8.4improve progressively through 2030 global resource efficiency in consumption & production, & endeavour to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation in accordance with the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption & production with developed countries taking the lead 8.5by 2030 achieve full & productive employment & decent work for all women & men, including for young people & persons with disabilities, & equal pay for work of equal value Goal 13Take urgent action to combat climate change & its impacts* 13.1strengthen resilience & adaptive capacity to climate related hazards & natural disasters in all countries 13.2integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, & planning 13.3improve education, awareness raising & human & institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, & early warning 11

Biodiversity’s contribution to SDGs TARGETS Goal 13Continue…. 13.aimplement the commitment undertaken by developed country Parties to the UNFCCC to a goal of mobilizing jointly USD100 billion annually by 2020 from all sources to address the needs of developing countries in the context of meaningful mitigation actions & transparency on implementation & fully operationalize the Green Climate Fund through its capitalization as soon asap 13.bPromote mechanisms for raising capacities for effective climate change related planning & management, in LDCs, including focusing on women, youth, local & marginalized communities Goal 14Conserve & sustainably use oceans, seas & marine resources for sust.devt 14.1by 2025, prevent & significantly reduce marine pollution, particularly from land- based activities, including marine debris & nutrient pollution 14.2by 2020, sustainably manage & protect marine & coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, & take action for restoration, to achieve healthy & productive oceans 14.5by 2020, conserve at least 10% of coastal & marine areas, consistent with national & international law & based on best available scientific information 12

Biodiversity’s contribution to SDGs TARGETS Goal 15 Protect, restore & promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, & halt & reverse land degradation & halt biodiversity loss 15.1 by 2020 ensure conservation, restoration & sustainable use of terrestrial & inland freshwater ecosystems & their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains & drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements 15.3 by 2020, combat desertification, & restore degraded land & soil, including land affected by desertification, drought & floods, & strive to achieve a land-degradation neutral world 15.4 by 2030 ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their biodiversity, to enhance their capacity to provide benefits which are essential for sustainable development 15.5 take urgent & significant action to reduce degradation of natural habitat, halt the loss of biodiversity, & by 2020 protect & prevent the extinction of threatened species 15.6 ensure fair & equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources, & promote appropriate access to genetic resources 13

Biodiversity’s contribution to SDGs TARGETS Goal 15Continues… 15.7take urgent action to end poaching & trafficking of protected species of flora & fauna, & address both demand & supply of illegal wildlife products 15.8by 2020 introduce measures to prevent the introduction & significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species on land & water ecosystems, & control or eradicate the priority species 15.9by 2020, integrate ecosystems & biodiversity values into national & local planning, development processes & poverty reduction strategies, & accounts 15.amobilize & significantly increase from all sources financial resources to conserve & sustainably use biodiversity & ecosystems 15.cenhance global support to efforts to combat poaching & trafficking of protected species, including by increasing the capacity of local communities to pursue sustainable livelihood opportunities Goal 17Strengthen the means of implementation & revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development 17.9enhance international support for implementing effective & targeted capacity building in developing countries to support national plans to implement all sustainable development goals, including through North-South, South-South 14

A Mega-Diverse Continent – a natural asset for development but also at risk

Africa Rising What the world has been saying about Africa over the last 15 years

Potential development flashpoints & important biodiversity areas Map captures some potential flashpoints where there is spatial overlap of multiple sectors and cross-sectoral drivers of growth

How does Africa Growth meet SDGs? Unfettered growth and wealth creation with Power and Information asymmetries Inequality excarcerbated Unsustainable use of Natural Resources !!! The Golden Thread : Knowledge & Information

Sustainable development Increased Human CapitalInnovationEconomic Growth Capacity Enhancement to grow Biodiversity Informatics in Africa

Possible Paths to get there Empowering knowledge and understanding for all – democratising science Information that is relevant, accessible and compelling, using new ways, new tools, convergence, piggy backing. ‘ A World that Counts’, Big Data - possible with Internet 2.0 and extraordinary mobile connectivity! Data and information (evidence based), analysed and converted into tools for decision making (Mining & Biodiversity Guidelines for example) Human capacity development (key for critical mass – never enough) Institutional collaboration and strengthening (even rationalisation!!), power asymmetries, who teaches who!, who gets the money, Future Earth Participation of citizens – info providers, info and tool users, decision makers, ultimate guardians of biodiversity and natural assets Communication – tell the story, make the links to the lived experience of people, cut the ‘doom and gloom’, solutions not obstacles to development and growth.

Thank you for listening! Empowering citizens and democratising science and knowledge for the ‘Future we want’

Dr. Tanya AbrahamseTDWG Conference September Thank You