NCA is a transformative driver of change to better take into account biodiversity in different economic sectors, public policies and decision-making processes.
The participants were first asked to express their expectations, and perceptions of NCA, but also to identify the strengths and weaknesses of their countries.
The workshop participants debated on what could be NCA goals in the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, both at the national and regional levels.
Among the speakers:
- Xiaoning Gong, Chief, Economic Statistics and National Accounts Section African Centre for Statistics (ACS), United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)
- Ruud Jansen, Executive Secretary Gaborone Declaration for Sustainability in Africa
- Monica Lopez Conlon, Programme Management Officer Ecosystem Services Economic, Unit Ecosystems Division, UN Environment
- Jean-Louis Weber, Member of the Scientific Committee of the European Environment Agency
- Abina Abdoulkarim Bello, Environment consultant Sahara and Sahel Observatory, Tunisia
- Damien Lankoende Gountieni, Executive Secretary of Groupe de Recherche et d’Analyse Appliquées pour le Développement, Burkina Faso
- Solofo Rakotondraompiana, Professor at the University of Antananarivo, Madagascar
- Salim Monsuru, Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Republic of Ghana
- Davies Chogawana, District Environmental Officer Environmental Affairs Department Republic of Malawi
- Hannes Etter, Economics of Land Degradation – Natural Capital Officer Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Participants identified a number of opportunities and challenges in the region that could impact on the implementation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework and the realization of the 2050 vision of “living in harmony with nature”.
They also noted that the process of developing the post-2020 global biodiversity framework presented an opportunity to learn from previous experiences, promote best practices and avoid past mistakes. It also provided an opportunity to review and align the Aichi Biodiversity Targets with the Sustainable Development Goals and with other relevant global and regional processes and agendas, including the African Union Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want.1
Participants highlighted the need to go beyond mainstreaming to raising awareness and demonstrating the values and importance of biodiversity to other sectors. It was noted that natural capital accounting tools would be very helpful in these efforts
