1. Convention on Biological Diversity 3 Rio Conventions – UNFCCC, UNCCD and CBD The CBD is an international legally-binding biodiversity treaty with three main goals: – The conservation of biological diversity – The sustainable use of its components – The fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources Overall objective is to encourage actions which will lead to a sustainable future. There are 193 parties to the convention, SA became a party in Party since 31/01/1996 3 protocols have been adopted in the framework of the Convention: – Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety – Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety – Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing The NEMBA is aligned to CBD with same objectives

2. Highlights CBD Conference of Parties has met 12 times and adopted over 100 decisions COP 11 (October 2012, Hyderabad, India) marked the move from policy- making to implementation National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) are the principal instruments for implementing the Convention at the national level – South Africa published first NBSAP in 2004 and has just completed the updated NBSAP in line with the strategic plan. COP 13 will take place December 2016 in Cancun, Mexico

3. CBD COP13 COP 10 adopted the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets; progress in the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 at each of its meetings to 2020 – Serves as a flexible framework for the establishment of national and regional targets and it promotes the coherent and effective implementation of the three objectives of the CBD Vision By 2050, biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored and wisely used, maintaining ecosystem services, sustaining a healthy planet and delivering benefits essential for all people.” 5 Strategic Goals: – Address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss by mainstreaming biodiversity across government and society – Reduce the direct pressures on biodiversity and promote sustainable use – Improve the status of biodiversity by safeguarding ecosystems, species and genetic diversity – Enhance the benefits to all from biodiversity and ecosystem services – Strategic Goal E: Enhance implementation through participatory planning, knowledge management and capacity building

4. CBD COP13 key issues Interim review of progress towards the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the achievement of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, and related means of implementation; – Resource mobilization for the plan – 4 th Global biodiversity outlook from national reports indicates insufficient progress Marine and coastal biodiversity – The identification of ecologically or biologically significant marine areas and jurisdiction Synthetic biology – Potential for developed vs developing country interests, readiness to adopt the technology Biodiversity and climate change; – REDD+ and synergy with other conventions, additional burden to developing countries Protected areas and ecosystem restoration; – Setting of ambitious targets that require additional resources and capacity Mainstreaming of biodiversity across sectors, including agriculture, forests and fisheries

5. POLITICAL ISSUES Resourcing the Strategic Plan and biodiversity targets (financial and technical support) Enhancing compliance to obligations including payment of arrears for annual dues Administrative burden and targets that conflict with national priorities; Coordination of the Africa Group, providing leadership and addressing controversial issues such as genetically modified organisms, synthetic biology Ecologically or biologically significant marine areas in the context of marine protected areas expansion and ocean economy Climate change negotiations complicating CBD discussions and ensuring synergies in positions taken Balancing sustainable use and conservation

6. Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) In September 2015, the UN General Assembly adopted SDG 15 which reads “Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss”; and its target 15.3 reading “ By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation- neutral world”. At the 12th session of the Conference of Parties (COP 12) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), country Parties reached a breakthrough agreement by linking implementation of the Convention to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs). Achieving Land Degradation Neutrality will require a paradigm shift in land stewardship i.e. from “degrade-abandon-migrate” to “protect-sustain-restore” The LDN target will require an appropriate mix of policy instruments that will be monitored and assessed on the basis of the agreed upon indicators.

7. Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) con’d LDN would add value by providing a strategic framework for sustainable land management (SLM) policies; ensuring complementarity and coherence in addressing DLDD; ensuring predictability and concerted action; and stimulating action at all levels of governance. A Land Degradation Neutral World is simply a world where we: – prevent or avoid the degradation of healthy and productive lands through sustainable land management (SLM) and sustainable forestry management (SFM) practices, including agroforestry, sustainable agriculture and livestock practices, water management, and soil conservation, and – where feasible, regenerate land that is already degraded. What does LDN mean for South Africa The benefits of achieving LDN through integrated landscape approach will address the following amongst others: – Food security and hunger, – Poverty, – Resilience to drought and water stress, – Reduce carbon emissions, – Environmental induced migration, – Opportunities to invest for the people living in the degraded lands & provide alternative to Biomass, – Biodiversity loss through improvement of land ecosystems conditions as well as, – Promoting Synergies