Opening statement from African CSOs representatives during the African Union

First, we would like to applaud the African Union Commission for convening African expert on wildlife and biodiversity and to thank you for creating a space for civil society organisations (CSOs) to take part in these important discussions. Africa’s successes in conserving biodiversity are arguably greatest when diverse actors harness the range of their perspectives and approaches to advance a common agenda and African priorities.

Second, we highlight that this statement is presented on behalf of: 

  • The African CSOs Biodiversity Alliance (ACBA), which represents over 80 biodiversity CSOs from all regions of Africa; 
  • The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF); 
  • TRAFFIC; 
  • World-Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Regional Office for Africa


Third, we wish to articulate the following collective perspectives of these CSOs on the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) the convention on international trade in the endangered species of wild Fauna and Flora, and the work of the expert group on wildlife.


Convention on Biological Diversity


We commend the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) on Biodiversity for their representation of the African voice in the CBD, especially in the recently concluded meetings in Geneva. 

We offer the following perspectives on the key issues related to the Post- 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF): 

  • African parties need to reinforce commitment to halt and reverse the loss of biodiversity by 2030. Key drivers that must be effectively managed include: Ever increasing economic growth, and sustainable production and consumptions patterns, cooperate capture, and decontextualized technology driven approaches to solving Africa’s problems; 
  • Sustainable use and management of Biodiversity is key to conserving Africa’s biodiversity and supporting livelihood and addressing poverty, therefore, as the negotiations continue, it, must not be undermined and the post- 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) must ensure a balance between the three objectives of the convention 

Click here to read the full statement.