The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework is a worldwide agreement reached by the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in December 2022. The text, which took nearly four years to negotiate, articulates four goals and 23 targets that will guide the conservation agenda until 2030. It represents a crucial turning point in international efforts to combat rapidly increasing rates of biodiversity loss.
Among the 23 critical targets, is Target 5 on Sustainable Use which reads as follows: “Ensure that the use, harvesting and trade of wild species is sustainable, safe and legal, preventing overexploitation, minimizing impacts on non-target species and ecosystems, and reducing the risk of pathogen spill-over, applying the ecosystem approach, while respecting and protecting customary sustainable use by indigenous peoples and local communities."
Given that the framework is adopted, greater attention is now on implementation. As part of the FROM PAPER TO ACTION: YOUTH BUILDING BACK BIODIVERSITY campaign, led by the African CSOs Biodiversity Alliance (ACBA), Africa Chapter of the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN AFRICA) and African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), we asked 5 experts from the African continent, on what they think are the crucial ingredients for the success of Target 5. Experts included:
Lesle Jansen, currently the Head of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Resource Rights- Jamma International- From South Africa
Maxi Louis, Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organizations (NACSO)- From Namibia
Lucy Mulenkei, Executive Director, Indigenous Information Network and also the Co-chair of International Indigenous Forum for Biodiversity- an IPLCs constituency in the CBD- From Kenya
Ebrima Jarra- Executive Director, The Soil Solution- From Gambia
Bupe Banda, Conservation leader at Zambian CRB Association
According to them, for Target 5 to be successful:
Rights and roles of indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) should be respected and recognized in regards to their natural resources, culture and traditional knowledge.
Establish or where already existing, maintain effective governance systems that promote Sustainable Use of natural resources and ensure equitable sharing of benefits, this needs coordination among governments, local communities, and other stakeholders.
There is a need for monitoring systems of resources and adaptive management tools.
Any use or restriction must be Informed by science.
The legal mechanisms that have been put in place in different countries must be linked with other existing strategies and policies to ensure full and effective participation of IPLCs, women, youth, and other stakeholders.
Strengthening international cooperation: The trade in wild species is a global issue, and effective management will require cooperation and collaboration among countries. African countries will need to work with international bodies, such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), to ensure that the trade in wild species is legal and sustainable.
Supporting research and monitoring- Effective management of wild species requires reliable data on population sizes, distribution, and trends. African countries will need to invest in research and monitoring programs to gather this information and inform management decisions.
Capacity building is critical, this involves providing education and training to local communities, government officials, and other stakeholders about conservation techniques, biodiversity monitoring, and sustainable resource management.
Financial resources must be made available to support Target 5, including funding for research and development, infrastructure improvements.
Where sustainable, commercialization of resources/ trade should be respected and well regulated markets must be promoted