The Tu’anga Taporoporo National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) that was endorsed in 2002 has many gaps, is out of date and has not been reviewed or updated for 22 years.

Last week, the Tu’anga Taporoporo (National Environment Service) hosted the two-day workshop for non-government-organisations (NGOs) and government agencies to “capture national biodiversity priorities” and align this with the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) that will shape a revised and updated Strategy and Action Plan.

Karen Silk, NBSAP project coordinator, said bringing the agencies and NGOs together was a great starting point to take in the framework of the three global themes – reducing threats to biodiversity, meeting people’s needs through sustainable use and benefit-sharing, tools and solutions for implementation and mainstreaming.

“There are 23 targets and a lot to achieve and we need to know how it’s going to work together,” said Silk.

The biodiversity global goals for 2030 are: protect and restore, prosper with nature, share benefits fairly, invest and collaborate.

Objectives of the workshops included:

• engaging with government and whole-of-society (NGOs and CSOs)
• introduce the NBSAP project and its components, as well as the Global Biodiversity Framework;
• alignment of national policies and plans with the GBF
• identify priority GBF targets and
• identify priority GBF targets to localise for the updated Cook Islands NBSAP national targets.

Current NBSAP objectives are to conserve endangered species, develop a system of protected areas, reduce the harmful effects of endangered species and prevent further invasion, use biodiversity in a sustainable manner, preserve knowledge related to biodiversity and ensure an equitable sharing of the benefits of biodiversity.

The gaps and challenges include a lack of review since its endorsement, pollution, health issues, climate change, cultural, gender and other pressing thematic matters requiring priority, funding, data, research, benefit sharing, awareness and education.

NBSAP’s success stories in the past 22 years include data base, surveys, biosecurity, the Marae Moana multiple-use marine park project and its translation into Cook Islands Māori.