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RRH team leader Michael Ngugi sharing about the RRH project with the participants during the conference.
Biodiversity plays a vital role in maintaining the health and stability of our planet's ecosystems. Recognizing the urgency of protecting and restoring biodiversity, the international community has set forth the Global Biodiversity Framework, a comprehensive plan to address the alarming decline in biodiversity by 2030. Angola, a country known for its rich natural heritage, has been making significant strides in its efforts to achieve Target Three of the framework. In this blog post, we will explore what it means for Angola to be at 10.75% in achieving this important target.
Overview of target three
Target Three of the Global Biodiversity Framework aims to increase the area of protected land and sea globally, ensuring that at least 30% of land and sea areas are conserved. This target recognizes the importance of safeguarding ecosystems and habitats to preserve biodiversity and enable the natural processes that support life on Earth. Achieving this target requires collective action, strong conservation measures, and sustainable land and sea management practices.
Angola's Progress
Angola, blessed with diverse ecosystems, including pristine coastal areas, lush rainforests, and expansive savannas, has been actively working towards meeting Target Three. The country's commitment to conservation is reflected in its efforts to establish protected areas and promote sustainable resource management.
1. Expansion of Protected Areas:
Angola has been making steady progress in expanding its protected areas network. By designating national parks, nature reserves, and other conservation areas, the country aims to safeguard critical habitats and promote the recovery of endangered species. The establishment of these protected areas contributes to the overall goal of achieving the 30% conservation target.
2. Marine Conservation Efforts:
Recognizing the importance of preserving its marine ecosystems, Angola has been proactive in promoting marine conservation. Through the creation of marine protected areas and the implementation of sustainable fishing practices, the country aims to safeguard its coastal biodiversity and ensure the long-term health of its marine resources.
3. Community Engagement and Sustainable Practices:
Engaging local communities and promoting sustainable practices are crucial aspects of achieving Target Three. Angola has been actively involving local communities in conservation initiatives, recognizing their role as stewards of the land and guardians of biodiversity. By promoting sustainable agriculture, responsible land use, and community-based conservation programs, Angola aims to ensure that biodiversity conservation goes hand in hand with the well-being of its people.
Challenges and the Way Forward
Despite the progress made, Angola faces several challenges on its path to achieving Target Three. These challenges include inadequate funding for conservation efforts, illegal wildlife trade, and the need for capacity building and technical expertise. To overcome these challenges, Angola must collaborate with international partners, strengthen its legislation, and invest in education and awareness programs.
Moving forward, Angola should focus on enhancing its monitoring and evaluation systems to track progress accurately. By leveraging technology and scientific research, the country can make informed decisions, allocate resources effectively, and adapt its strategies as needed.
Angola's progress at 10.75% towards achieving Target Three of the Global Biodiversity Framework is commendable. Through the expansion of protected areas, marine conservation efforts, and community engagement, the country has demonstrated its commitment to safeguarding its unique biodiversity. However, challenges persist, requiring continuous efforts and collaboration to overcome them. By working together with international partners, investing in sustainable practices, and raising awareness among its citizens, Angola can pave the way for a brighter future, where biodiversity thrives, ecosystems flourish, and the invaluable natural heritage is preserved for generations to come.
South Africa has a notable edge over her neighbors in Eastern and Southern Africa because of its diversified terrain and amazing biodiversity. South Africa stands out as a regional leader in conservation efforts thanks to its wide network of protected areas and definite boundaries. This blog intends to examine the benefits that South Africa receives from its effective system of protected areas, emphasizing the advantages for both people and wildlife.
Preserving Biodiversity
The remarkable biodiversity of South Africa is crucially preserved thanks to the country's extensive network of protected areas. These protected areas, which range from the well-known Kruger National Park to the rocky Table Mountain National Park, guarantee the preservation of distinct ecosystems and serve as a haven for numerous plant and animal species. South Africa efficiently protects vulnerable and endangered species by preserving their habitats, upholding a precarious ecological balance.
Ecotourism and Economic Growth
The proliferation of sustainable ecotourism is fueled by South Africa's availability of protected areas. The nation's unmatched natural wonders draw tourists from all around the world, bringing significant economic benefits. Ecotourism generates income that benefits local communities, encourages the creation of jobs, and promotes the preservation of cultural heritage. Additionally, the existence of protected areas supports the tourism sector by drawing adventurers and nature lovers, which boosts the country's overall economic growth.
Environmental Education and Research
The protected regions in South Africa offer priceless chances for scientific study and environmental education. These areas act as real-world schools, providing educational programs to both local residents and visitors. These projects encourage people to take on environmental responsibility by spreading knowledge about sustainability and conservation. Additionally, protected areas serve as living laboratories for academics and researchers, supporting research on ecosystem dynamics, biodiversity, and climate change. Effective conservation strategies are developed using the information gleaned from such study, not only in South Africa but also elsewhere in the area.
Mitigating Climate Change
Protected areas are important carbon sinks that contribute significantly to reducing climate change. The protected regions of South Africa, which are abundant in wetlands, grasslands, and forests, absorb and store enormous amounts of carbon dioxide, aiding in the worldwide effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Along with maintaining the availability of clean water supplies, lessening the effects of natural disasters, and enhancing ecosystems' general resilience in the face of climate change, these regions also assist in regulating local and regional climatic trends.
An outstanding advantage for both South Africa and the larger region of Eastern and Southern Africa is the country's broad network of protected areas with distinct boundaries. These protected areas have numerous advantages, including the preservation of biodiversity, promotion of sustainable ecotourism, facilitation of environmental research and education, and the reduction of climate change. South Africa's dedication to conservation not only safeguards its natural heritage but also promotes community development, economic progress, and human welfare. South Africa's successful model of protected areas serves as a light of hope and inspiration for the preservation of our planet's priceless natural resources while other nations in the region work to improve their conservation efforts.
Conserving biodiversity in Eastern and Southern Africa is crucial for the region's sustainable development and the well-being of its people. Here are some key actions that countries in Sub-Saharan Africa can take to conserve biodiversity:
Identify and manage protected and conserved areas
Governments should effectively designate and manage protected and conserved areas, such as national parks and nature reserves, to safeguard critical habitats and species. These areas should be adequately funded and equipped with trained personnel for effective conservation.
Enforce anti-poaching measures
Poaching poses a significant threat to wildlife populations. Governments should strengthen anti-poaching efforts by deploying well-trained rangers, implementing stricter law enforcement, and imposing harsh penalties for illegal wildlife trade.
Regional Resource Hub pulls the protected and conserved areas data from the world database on protected areas (WDPA). Therefore, the data submitted to the RRH must conform to the WDPA data standards. WDPA data standards are outlined in the WDPA_WD-OECM_Manual.
Four requirements to meet the Protected Planet data standards
1. All sites must meet the IUCN definition of a protected area or CBD definition
of an ‘other effective area-based conservation measure’
2. Spatial data from Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and an associated
list of attributes must be provided
3. Source of information must be provided
4. The WDPA Data Contributor Agreement must be signed
The WDPA is stored as a file geodatabase comprising two geospatial feature classes and one source table
Each of the Protected Areas in WDPA is assigned a WDPAID.
The WDPA ID is the globally unique identifier for each protected area in the WDPA. It is specific to a protected area in a specified geographical space, and does not change over time unless the designation for that protected area changes. If a protected area is degazetted, it is deleted from the WDPA and its WDPA ID is not reused.
Who can provide data?
• Governments: these include national governments and sub-national agencies that manage protected area data.
• International secretariats: secretariats from international conventions and agreements such as the Ramsar Convention, World Heritage Convention or UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme.
• Regional entities: these include organizations that manage data on regional protected area networks such as the European Environment Agency who manage Europe’s Natura 2000 database.
• NGOs: these include data providers that manage protected areas designated by the NGO itself, or in collaboration with another governance type, such as a private landowner or government agency, where the NGO also maintains some or all of the intellectual property in the data.
• Other entities or individuals: this category includes the range of other actors that govern or manage protected areas, including indigenous peoples, local communities and private actors other than NGOs.
Benefits for countries of submitting data
UN List of Protected areas and calculation of indicators for international processes: In addition to the creation of the UN List of Protected areas, the WDPA is used to calculate indicators related to several international processes. This includes indicators for the Convention on Biological Diversity, Sustainable Development Goals and IPBES
Inventory of national data: At the national level, protected areas and OECMs might be managed by different institutions and/or governmental agencies, including community groups and private actors. If data on these areas are not stored in a centralized national database, providing data to the WDPA and OECM database may provide countries with a clearer picture of their protected area network as a whole. Furthermore, the data can be viewed on a single map through www.protectedplanet.net and downloaded.
Capacity building: Help is provided to countries through capacity building to ensure the accuracy and completeness of their protected areas data and information. Training can be provided by UNEP-WCMC to strengthen skills on database management, the basics of GIS, or in any other relevant areas if needed and requested by the data provider.
Contribute to scientific research/Highlight gaps: Through the use of the WDPA in scientific research, gaps in protected area and OECM networks can be identified and highlighted. Using knowledge on the distribution of areas important for biodiversity and ecosystem services and threats to them, alongside spatial information on aspects of the national infrastructure such as roads, cities and planning zones, systematic conservation planning can be undertaken to identify the most suitable places for the establishment of new protected areas or OECMs in the country. This may enable countries to better implement certain important elements of Aichi Biodiversity Target 11 such as representativeness and connectivity.
Regional observatories: Improve provision of protected area information at the regional level, through the creation of regional observatories, such as the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, the European Environment Agency and the BIOPAMA Regional Observatories in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific. This has the additional benefit of building partnerships between countries in a region and building capacity through knowledge transfer.
Step that should be followed by data providers:
The process of providing data will vary depending on the type of data-provider and whether a
relationship with the data provider already exists, but generally, steps that should be followed by the data provider are as follows:
1) Review the current data online at www.protectedplanet.net or at https://esahub.rcmrd.org/en/
2) Prepare a new dataset that complies with the Protected Planet Data Standards. Data providers can use the WDPA/OECM database schemas and subset of data to complete this step as well as adding any new or updated data to the schema in place of the old data. Click here to download a WDPA/OECM database schema.
3) Send the following data to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
· Spatial data and associated attributes: either a polygon boundary or the central latitude and longitude point for each protected area or OECM.
· The Source Table must be completed to identify who provided the data, and any basic details on the quality and currency of the data at the time it was provided.
· The WDPA Data Contributor Agreement must be signed.
Data verification
All records must be verified by an authoritative source. An exception is some older records that were added before the verification processes were developed. Facilitating the verification of these older currently unverified records is a priority in this workshop
‘Verification’ (VERIF) field allows three values: State Verified, Expert Verified, and Not Reported (for unverified data that was already in the databases prior to the inclusion of the ‘Verification’ field).
Data verification in the RRH follows the standards of the Protected Planet Initiative, outlined in this table (from http://wcmc.io/WDPA_Manual)
Data submitted by governmental sources
The WDPA is underpinned by a United Nations mandate (Appendix 6) that invited state parties to provide information on protected areas. Similarly, the OECM database is underpinned by a CBD mandate, which invited state parties to provide information to UNEP-WCMC. Thus, data submitted by governmental sources are considered ‘State Verified’ and are included in the WDPA or OECM database after data formatting and quality control.
Data submitted by non-governmental sources
Incoming data from non-government data providers undergo a verification process before being added to the WDPA or OECM database. Data can be verified either by state verifiers or by expert verifiers, depending on the wishes of the data provider. The VERIF field differentiates between “State Verified” and “Expert Verified” data. If neither party can verify the data, they do not enter the WDPA or OECM database.
Resolution of conflicts
Where there is conflict between the opinions of the data provider and data verifier (for example, disputes over the correct boundary of a site), this is discussed with both parties in an attempt to reach a solution. Data providers are made aware of the verification process before submitting data, and are kept informed of its progress. In cases where no resolution can be found, data cannot enter the WDPA.
Frequency of data verification
Although updates are invited at any time, RRH/UNEP-WCMC aims to update data at least once every five years. During this process, the data provider is contacted and asked to confirm that the data remain accurate. If the data provider cannot be reached, the data verifier is contacted. If there is a negative response, or if no response is received within five years, then UNEP-WCMC reserves the right to remove the data from the WDPA or OECM database.
Integrating Data into the WDPA or OECM database
Once a dataset has been formatted, verified and conforms to all aspects of the Protected Planet Data Standards, it is integrated into the WDPA or OECM database, as appropriate.
If there are records in either database that are not included in the update, RRH/UNEP-WCMC confirms with the data provider that these records should be removed before deleting them. This does not usually apply to data previously verified by sources other than the data provider.
The final dataset to be integrated into the WDPA/OECM database is sent to the data provider for final approval. Data providers are encouraged to retain WDPA IDs in their own datasets as this significantly improves the frequency of future updates.
Click Here to Download the WDPA Data Submission Excel Template
Click Here to Download the GD-PAME Data Contributor Agreement Form
Download Instructions
- Click on the download Link.
- You will be directed to the document in Google Drive.
- Go to file, click download and select the download format.
- Fill the downloaded file and submit.
