Support to biodiversity assessment, prioritisation and spatial planning in Southern Africa

In the current context of global erosion of biodiversity and increasing pressures on ecosystems, having tools to map and to monitor biodiversity are vital to inform action strategies related to biodiversity conservation and spatial planning, both at national and international levels. The methodological process called SBAPP (Spatial biodiversity assessment, prioritization and planning) allows countries to: (i) monitor the status of threats and the level of protection of ecosystems and species within a country, (ii) geographically identify priority areas for the conservation of biodiversity, and (iii) inform decisions and policies on land use planning and biodiversity protection. 

However, less than 5% of African countries, that are parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), currently have adequate spatial data on biodiversity. In light of the growing challenges related to biodiversity degradation, the global commitment to halt biodiversity loss (which will be reinforced at the fifteenth Conference of the Parties on Biodiversity – CoP 15 / CBD 2022), it is essential that countries have and use the relevant tools to define and monitor their biodiversity commitments. This is particularly the case in Southern Africa which is the focus of this project, due to the rapid change that is occurring in this region.

The project aims to develop and enhance national spatial biodiversity assessments, planning and prioritization (SBAPP) processes and products in four Southern African countries (South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique and Malawi) in order to strengthen the national knowledge base on biodiversity, and ensure this knowledge informs land use planning and decision making, provides a basis for future biodiversity monitoring, and the development of environmental policy and strategies.

The project will improve the knowledge base of biodiversity and its use in order to (1) inform land use and development planning at the national and sub-national levels and (2) support the capacity of each government to sustainably manage its territories and meet its biodiversity commitments.

In addition, the project will contribute to high level monitoring of biodiversity, and support the development of effective environmental conservation and sustainable use policies and strategies. Consequently, the project is relevant to adaptation to climate change and mitigation of its effects and is typically in the category of projects with significant biodiversity and climate co-benefits.