As the country supports the establishment of a global biodiversity fund and additional funds to least developed countries
Montreal, Canada- MINISTER of Lands and Natural Resources Honorable Elijah
Machine, MP says Zambia supports all efforts aimed at facilitating the adoption of an ambitious, well-balanced and practical post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.
Honourable Elijah Muchima was speaking in Canada, on Thursday, 15th December 2022 during the high-level segment of the 15th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) that is taking place from 15th to 17th December 2022 to provide political guidance to the adoption of a post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework which aims to halt and reverse global biodiversity loss by 2030.
Hon. Muchima was represented by Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources Permanent Secretary Ms. Daphne Chabu.
Honourable Elijah Muchima, MP said that to achieve this, a Global Biodiversity Fund should be established and that there should be additional funds channelled to least-developed countries for them to conserve and protect biodiversity
He informed the Conference that Zambia had achieved approximately 40% level of
protection and maintains its support for the global protected area target of 30% which should be a global target to be implemented according to each country’s capabilities.
“In this regard least developed countries such as Zambia, should be supported in
strengthening management effectiveness of protected areas and recognizing the rights and roles of local communities in the implementation of this target,” he said.
He reiterated that Zambia acknowledges that special provision is required to meet the needs of developing countries, including the provision of appropriate access to technologies, scientific cooperation and capacity building in awareness, uptake and mainstreaming of biodiversity and the Post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework into economic development sectors.
The Minister informed the High-Level Segment that to contribute to this noble cause, at country level, Zambia has and will continue to restore degraded ecosystems such as wetlands to restore their optimum level of providing goods and services while enhancing climate change adaptation of local communities that depend on them.
He further, said there should be an urgent international solution to address access and benefit sharing from the utilisation of Digital Sequence Information derived from genetic resources. “In this regard, the country calls for capacity building in regulating and promoting benefit sharing from the utilisation of tangible genetic resources and Digital Sequence Information.”
The 15th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological
Diversity was initially supposed to be held in China in 2020, but due to the COVID-19 global Pandemic, it was moved to Montreal, Canada. China continues to chair the Conference and maintains the COP Presidency. Other matters being discussed at the Conference include biosafety, health and biodiversity, invasive alien species, agriculture and biodiversity, and wildlife, to mention a few.
-ENDS-
ISSUED BY: Sandra Lombe (For/on behalf of the Ministry of Lands and Natural
Resources)
Contact: 0977854716
Email: [email protected]
