EPA up date parliamentary committee on environment and climate change

EPA organizes two-day consultative engagements with the Parliamentary Committee on Environment and Climate Change, and the Focal Points of Biodiversity Conservation, Climate Change, Pollution, and Chemical Conventions and relevant institutions on the review of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) 2017-2026 to align with the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) that was adopted in December 2022, in Montreal, Canada. The engagement commenced with the Parliamentary Committee on Environment and Climate Change on the 7th of February 2024 and continued with the focal points of Biodiversity Conservation, Climate Change, Pollution, and Chemical Conventions and relevant MDAs ( Ministries of Youth Affairs, Gender and Children’s Affairs, Agriculture and Food Security, Local Government and Community Affairs) on the 8th February 2024, at the Agency’s headquarters, Dundas Street, Freetown. Day one was chaired by Mr Momodu Alrashid Bah, who gave an overview of the development and implementation of the National Biodiversity Strategy Actions Plan (NBSAP), describing it as a landmark instrument aimed at halting extinction, maintaining genetic diversity and enhancing biodiversity. He appealed to the parliamentarians to diligently oversee the activities of relevant institutions to ensure that biodiversity is sustainably managed and preserved. Mr Joseph Sapunka Turay, Deputy Director of Natural Resources Governance, provided a context for the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), stating that the convention is a multilateral treaty with three main goals: conservation, wise use, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from biodiversity. He further stated that implementing the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) will require political will and recognition at the highest level of governance and cooperation from all sectors. Honourable Yusuf Mackery, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on the Environment and Climate Change, noted that Parliament recognizes the importance of biodiversity and is committed to preserving it with the collaboration of all key stakeholders. He stated that the NBSAP must align with the Medium-term National Development Plan, EPA’s Transformation Strategy, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other existing environmental plans. Honourable Yusuf Mackery assures the Agency that the outcome of the discussions with key stakeholders would be considered and that such consultations should be extended to other MDAs to make the process more inclusive. The consultative engagement will continue with other relevant and technical environmental institutions to identify opportunities to strengthen collaboration among MEAs focal points and institutions in reviewing the NBSAP. @Directorate of Natural Resources Governance, Environment Protection Agency (EPA-SL).