The Challenge

At the 2010 Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 was adopted. The Strategic Plan comprises a shared vision, mission, strategic goal, and 20 targets known collectively as the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. One of these targets, Target 17, urges Parties to revise, update and implement their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs).

The revision process is a key opportunity for countries to develop NBSAPs that are participatory, based on scientific evidence and effectively drive action for the sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity. However, revision efforts have been impeded by a lack of resources, capacity or coordination. Support and guidance materials are essential if the revised NBSAPs are to be successful.

Our solution & impact

Working with our project partners, we have developed a comprehensive, coordinated approach to supporting countries with their revision and implementation of NBSAPs as effective policy instruments. Working with the ministries and agencies that are responsible for NBSAP revision, our NBSAP programme of work is providing learning support and knowledge resources to foster the integration of biodiversity into policy debates and processes.

Our programme of work on NBSAPs is making a key contribution to the achievement of Aichi Biodiversity Target 17 at the global level, which requires each Party to the Convention on Biological Diversity to develop, adopt and begin implementing NBSAPs as effective policy instruments for biodiversity mainstreaming and improve outcomes for biodiversity and poverty.

We provide NBSAP revision and implementation support on the following key thematic areas:

• Setting targets and indicators
• Mainstreaming biodiversity in development sectors
• Ecosystem services assessment and valuation
• Climate change adaptation and mitigation
• Legal preparedness and multilateral environmental agreement (MEA) synergies
• Use of spatial data in problem analyses and target setting
• NBSAP monitoring and evaluation, progress reporting and information management.

Support is delivered through the following projects:

• Support to GEF Eligible Countries for Achieving Aichi Biodiversity Target 17 through a Globally Guided NBSAPs Update Process (2014-2016)
• Supporting NBSAP revision and the development of common regional indicators in the Pan-European Region (2015-2016).
• Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) supported project on Mainstreaming biodiversity into development planning in sub-Saharan Africa (2015 -2017)
• NBSAPs 2.0: From Policy to Practice (2015 – 2017)
• MEA Synergies and NBSAP Support Project (2014 -2015)
• NBSAP 2.0: Mainstreaming Biodiversity and Development Project (2012-2015)

Working in collaboration with other organizations, together these projects have:

• Co-developed the NBSAP Forum - the main platform for providing support to countries at the global level. This open and free community provides NBSAP practitioners and others with timely access to guidance, resources, support, and information on best practices. 
• Overseen the growth of the NBSAP Forum to more than 1,100 members.
• Provided direct technical support to 124 countries accessing GEF’s Biodiversity Enabling Activities funding through the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and reached out to an additional 54 non-UNEP/UNDP supported countries.
• Facilitated peer reviews and conducted expert reviews of 38 draft NBSAPs to improve their quality.
• Produced a set of guidance documents on setting targets and indicators, mainstreaming biodiversity in development sectors, ecosystem services assessment and valuation, legal preparedness and MEA synergies, use of spatial data in problem analyses and target setting, NBSAP monitoring and evaluation, progress reporting, and information management.
• Developed e-learning modules on developing biodiversity indicators for NBSAPs, target setting, and incorporating spatial data and mapping into NBSAPs.
• Organized, co-organized or contributed to more than 15 workshops and events to strengthen overall NBSAP capacity building at national and regional level.
• Produced and shared 120 Best Practices and Case Studies on the development and implementation of NBSAPS. 

Expertise & Team

John Tayleur, Philip Bubb, Matthew Ling, Abisha Mapendembe, Sarah Ivory, Sarah Walker and Katharina von Bieberstein work with colleagues from the CBD, UNEP, UNDP, and International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) to implement projects that fall under our NBSAP programme of work. The team has a range of skills that bridge both the environment and development sectors and the natural and social sciences, as well as broad experience of engagement with policy processes.

John Tayleur

Senior Programme Officer

Philip Bubb

Senior Programme Officer

Abisha Mapendembe

Programme Officer

Sarah Ivory

Programme Officer