abcg, Author at Africa Biodiversity Collaborative Group (ABCG)

ABCG 2022 Highlights and Events Roundup

This news roundup is a compilation of the Africa Biodiversity Collaborative Group (ABCG) 2022 highlights. We feature ABCG’s engagement at the major fora that characterized 2022 such as the inaugural IUCN Africa Protected Area Congress (APAC), and the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP 15). We also feature our podcast series, BREATHE, that illuminates discussions around conservation by highlighting the work of individuals and organizations across Africa who are changing the planet for the better one day at a time.

2022 was a critical year for the environment as the global community convened in various major fora to address environmental degradation. Among the key events was the inaugural IUCN Africa Protected Area Congress (APAC) held in Kigali, Rwanda in July, providing an exceptional opportunity for Africa to have critical dialogues on the future of protected areas for the millions of Africans. The 27^th session of the Conference of Parties of the UNFCCC (COP27) resulted in breakthrough agreements to provide “loss and damage” funding for vulnerable countries devastated by climate disasters. Finally, in December the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP 15) was held in Montreal Canada, culminating with the adoption of The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

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ABCG at COP15 Side Event: The Future of The Protected Areas in The Congo Basin

ABCG Director, Rubina James participated in a panel organized by the Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP) and Central African Forest Commission (COMIFAC) to discuss the future of protected areas in the Congo Basin, during the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP 15), that was held in Montreal Canada in December 2022.

What are the Expectations for a Strong COP15 Outcome?

The United Nation biodiversity conference – COP15 is currently ongoing in Montreal, Canada. Taking place under the warm hospitality of the people of Quebec, from 7-19 December 2022, the event has convened governments and leaders from nearly 200 countries around the world to agree on the post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, dubbed the 30 by 30 framework. The framework is an agreement to protect at least 30% of the world’s biodiversity by the year 2030.

Speaking while opening the conference on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, said that, “the event needs to include the ambition needed to ensure that we halt the loss of biodiversity”.

“It needs to take the commitments we have heard for months and years and turn them into actions that will take us to the 2050 Vision of the Convention: living in harmony with nature”, Mrema added.

There is a united agreement in the discussions going on in Montreal that 30% is the bare minimum target needed to protect biodiversity and not the ceiling of what is needed to truly transform biodiversity. The last past years have shown that humanity cannot exist on earth with the continued degradation of nature. That, we cannot exists in this world if we continue to degrade nature at the rate at which we are. It is therefore imperative that this COP delivers an ambitious and actionable plan for nature.

Expectations for Strong COP15 Outcomes

Watch the discussion below as participants discuss this, or click to watch

COP15 Demands for Action from World Leaders

The following are Wednesday December 07, 2022 highlights from ongoing UN Biodiversity Conference (COP 15), in Montreal Canada. Highlights originally summarized in the, What’s Buzzing in Montreal: Wednesday 7 December 2022, WWF newsletter.

pexels-pixabay-460621_Waterfalls in Forest

ABCG at the Conference of Parties #COP15 Montreal Canada

The fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 15) will be taking place in Montreal, Canada, December 7-19, 2022. This important meeting of the decade has three objectives, the conservation of biodiversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources.

Human response survey by TNC, Makame, Tanzania

BREATHE Podcast Episode 2: Dreams from our Fathers

Indigenous knowledge is key to help humanity adapt and mitigate to climate change. This podcast episode explores the connection between indigenous knowledge and solutions to climate change.

COP 26 Promises Verses Realities

World leaders and individuals across the world are gearing for the 27th Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC to be held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt from 6 – 18 November 2022. The meeting will see world leaders agree on measures to tackle climate change to mitigate the harsh consequences that we have been experiencing as result of rising temperatures.

ABCG LAUNCHES BREATHE PODCAST

ABCG has today, October 19 2022, launched a new podcast series called BREATHE. BREATHE is a podcast series looking to have illuminating discussions around conservation by highlighting the work of individuals and organizations across Africa who are changing the planet for the better one day at a time

Findings From the Assessment of Forest Cover Change in Community Forests in Five African Countries

A study by ABCG on community forestry, has found that many communities face governance challenges and need help managing the forest in sustainable ways. This study focuses on how community forestry contributes to improved forest management in Africa using a case study approach in five countries in Africa:

ABCG Shares Innovative Solutions for Safeguarding Nature at APAC

The inaugural Africa Protected Areas Congress (APAC) provided ABCG an opportune platform to share and promote its innovative tools and approaches that have been developed by this collaboration of conservation organizations who are dedicated to jointly tackle conservation issues for greater results and impact.