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Convention on Biological Diversity

Swaziland signed the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 1992 and ratified it in 1994. Swaziland as a party to the Convention on Biological Diversity Swaziland Government has a duty to prepare a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan which aims to meet the concerns of the Convention and the decisions taken by the Conference of the Parties (COP).

As a consequence of local drive and initiative, supported by GEF funds, Swaziland initiated the drafting of her National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan in 1997 supported by financed by Global Environment Facility. The preparation of the NBSAP was completed in April 1999. However due to expert advice from the Global Environment Facility the report had to be revisited and the revised copy was finalized in April 2001.The NBSAP now awaits Cabinet approval in order to be fully implemented. Whilst awaiting final approval of the NBSAP, the Global Environmental Facility has once again granted the Swaziland Government finances to access Capacity Building Needs for implementing the NBSAP.

The NBSAP seeks to conserve agrio-biodiversity by identifying, collecting and conserving relevant genetic resources and develop breeding programmes for sustainable utilisation of genetic resources.

The focal points are as follows;

RAMSAR and Bonn Convention not yet ratified.

Swaziland has established a system of protected areas for the conservation of biological diversity. The guidelines for the selection, establishment and management and these areas these areas are contained in the protected area legislation.

 

Conference of Parties (COP)

Regional meetings that Swaziland participated in before COP meetings include:

  • Southern Africa Biodiversity Forum (sub- regional), since 1995 to the present
  • SADC Wildlife and Forestry Sector meetings (sub – regional) annually.
  • African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) regional every two years.
  • Regional preparatory meeting since 1994
  • CITES meetings annually.

Swaziland has promoted regional cooperation in applying the ecosystem approach across national boarders. Examples of such initiatives are:

  

Achievements

Our main achievements:

  1. Formulated the NBSAP
  2. Prepared National Reports (First and second report to COP)
  3. Prepared National Environment Action Plan
  4. Established a National Committee to oversee implementation of convention CBD (BPIC)
  5. Formulated the Forest Policy and in the process of finalising the preparation of the National Forestry Action Programme and Forestry legislation
  6. Acquired Block B funds from GEF to prepare a project on biodiversity conservation and eco-tourism development
  7. In a process if formulating a National Biosafety framework and legislation
  8. Identified the Protection Worthy Areas
  9. In a process of formulating a National Biosafety Framework and legislation
  10. Strengthening the National Plant Genetic Resources centre the National Herbarium and National Museum
  11. Established National Regulations on Environment Impact Assessment
  12. Carrying out Farm Animals Genetic Resources survey
  13. Instituted a national fish survey

 

Joint Initiatives with Other Parties

Joint intiatives includes:

  1. Biodiversity Conservation Participatory Development - (BCPD)
  2. Southern African Biodiversity Support Project - (SABSP)
  3. Lubombo Spatial Development Initiative - (LSDI)
  4. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network -(SABONET)
  5. Service for Biodiversity Conservation. and Sustainable Development -(SECOSUD)

Constraints

Swaziland attaches great significance to the CBD however there are serious constrains that limit its implementation. Some of the major constrains are: