The State of Biodiversity in Africa

Abstract

On the International Day for Biodiversity 2016, a major series of four regional reports entitled The State of Biodiversity – a mid-term review of progress towards the Aichi Biodiversity Targets of the Strategic Plan, were launched. This report offers a regional perspective of the Convention’s 2014 publication Global Biodiversity Outlook-4 (GB0-4) for the region of Africa.

Full text

THE STATE OF BIODIVERSITY
IN AFRICA
A MID-TERM REVIEW OF PROGRESS
TOWARDS THE AICHI BIODIVERSITY
TARGETS
3
1
© Neil Burgess

Preparation
This study was commissioned by the Division of Environmental
Law and Conventions (DELC) of the United Nations
Environmental Programme (UNEP) under the leadership
of Ms. Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, DELC Director, and the
direct supervision of Ms. Kamar Yousuf, Regional Biodiversity
Multilateral Environmental Agreement (MEA) Focal Point
for Africa. Additional funding has been provided by the
UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-
WCMC) and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological
Diversity (SCBD). The design, printing and distribution of
this report was enabled through the nancial contribution of
the European Union.
Citation
UNEP-WCMC (2016) The State of Biodiversity in Africa:
A mid-term review of progress towards the Aichi Biodiversity
Targets. UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge, UK.
The United Nations Environment Programme World
Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) is the
specialist biodiversity assessment centre of the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP), the world’s foremost
intergovernmental environmental organization. The Centre
has been in operation for over 30 years, combining scientic
research with practical policy advice.
Reproduction
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extent of reproduction, should be sent to the UNEP-DELC
Director, United Nations Environment Programme, P.O. Box
30552, Nairobi 00100, Kenya.
Disclaimer
The contents of this report do not necessarily reect the views
or policies of UNEP, contributory organizations or editors. The
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Published by the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP), May 2016
Copyright © UNEP 2016
ISBN: 978-92-807-3508-6
DEP/1924/CA

THE STATE OF BIODIVERSITY
IN AFRICA
A MID-TERM REVIEW OF PROGRESS
TOWARDS THE AICHI BIODIVERSITY
TARGETS

Acknowledgements
This report was developed by Hilary Allison, Neil D. Burgess,
Fiona S. Danks, Matthew Dixon, Brian O’Connor, Yara
Shennan-Farpon and Nanna G. Vansteelant (UNEP-WCMC).
We thank the additional authors who contributed specically
to Target 9: Nick Holmes (Island Conservation); Georey
Howard (IUCN); Shyama Pagad (IUCN ISSG/Auckland
University); and David Will (Island Conservation).
Contributions were received from Philip Bubb, Sarah Darrah,
Erin Dillon, Mike Harfoot, Jerry Harrison, Diego Jue-Bignoli,
Brian MacSharry, Lera Miles, Elina Väänänen, Judith Walcott
and Matthew Walpole (UNEP-WCMC); Ogwal Sabino Merino
Francis (National Environment Management Authority,
Uganda); and Ellen Shepherd (independent consultant).
Drafts were reviewed by Mohamed Abdel-Monem (UNEP-RO);
Tarek Ahmed (AFDB); Mohamed A.H. Al-Aawah (UNESCO);
Marco Barbieri (CMS); David Cooper (CBD Secretariat); Robert
Höft (CBD Secretariat); Lisa Ingwall-King (UNEP-WCMC);
Kieran Noonan Mooney (CBD Secretariat); Chris Reij (World
Resources Institute); Francisco Rilla (CMS); Frank Turyatunga
(UNEP-DEWA); Melanie Virtue (CMS); Marceil Yeater (CITES);
and Kamar Yousuf (UNEP-DELC). We thank the reviewers for
their comments and suggestions. We also acknowledge and
thank Abby Symes and Grace Eun Hye (UNEP-DELC interns)
for drafting the earlier versions.
We thank for their assistance in data and information
provision, interpretation and review: Thorsten Arndt (PEFC);
Roswitha Baumung (FAO); Albert Bleeker (International
Nitrogen Initiative); Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International);
Peder Engstrom (University of Minnesota); Alessandro Galli
(Ecological Footprint); Chandra Giri (USGS); Taylor Gorham
(MSC); Irene Homann (FAO); Marion Karmann (FSC);
Fridolin Krausmann (Alpen-Adria Universitat); Jan Legind
(GBIF); Gregoire Leroy (FAO); Jonathan Loh (WWF/ZSL);
Katie Longo (Ocean Health Index); Louise McRae (ZSL);
Thomasina Oldeld (TRAFFIC); Shyama Pagad (IUCN ISSG/
Auckland University); Tim Robertson (GBIF); Brooke Russell
(Aid Data); Yichuan Shi (UNEP-WCMC); and all others who
may have contributed to the process.
STATE OF BIODIVERSITY IN AFRICA

i
A REVIEW OF PROGRESS TOWARDS THE AICHI BIODIVERSITY TARGETS
CONTENTS
Foreword .........................................................................iv
1. Executive Summaries ...............................................................1
2. Key messages about the state of biodiversity in Africa ...................................13
State ...............................................................................13
Pressures ...........................................................................14
Responses ..........................................................................15
3. The Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and its review ..............................17
Summary of the ndings of the GBO-4 ..................................................17
4. Summary of progress towards Aichi Biodiversity targets in Africa ..........................19
Aichi Biodiversity Target Dashboard ....................................................21
5. Target by target analysis ...........................................................23
Target 1: Awareness of biodiversity increased..............................................24
Target 2: Biodiversity values integrated ..................................................26
Target 3: Incentives reformed ..........................................................29
Target 4: Sustainable consumption and production ........................................32
Target 5: Habitat loss halved or reduced..................................................35
Target 6: Sustainable management of aquatic living resources ...............................39
Target 7: Sustainable agriculture, aquaculture and forestry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Target 8: Pollution reduced ............................................................44
Target 9: Invasive alien species prevented and controlled....................................47
Target 10: Ecosystems vulnerable to climate change ........................................49
Target 11: Protected areas ..............................................................53
Target 12: Reducing risk of extinction....................................................57
Target 13: Safeguarding genetic diversity .................................................62
Target 14: Ecosystem services...........................................................64
Target 15: Ecosystem restoration and resilience ............................................67
Target 16: Access to and sharing benets from genetic resources..............................69
Target 17: Biodiversity strategies and action plans..........................................72
Target 18: Traditional knowledge........................................................76
Target 19: Sharing information and knowledge ............................................78
Target 20: Mobilising resources from all sources ...........................................80
6. Opportunities and recommendations for the future ......................................83
7. Conclusion ......................................................................86
8. References ......................................................................87

STATE OF BIODIVERSITY IN AFRICA
Distribution of main biomes and biogeographical realms (inset) on land in the Africa region (map produced by UNEP-WCMC
using data from Olson et al. 2001).
ii

A REVIEW OF PROGRESS TOWARDS THE AICHI BIODIVERSITY TARGETS
Map of countries and their Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ) in the Africa region, based on the UNEP Live regional
classification (UNEP 2015a).
iii

iv STATE OF BIODIVERSITY IN AFRICA
FOREWORD
Africa is immensely rich in biodiversity. Its living organisms comprise around a quarter of global biodiversity
and it supports the earth’s largest intact assemblages of large mammals, which roam freely in many countries.
Africa’s biomes extend from mangroves to deserts, from Mediterranean to tropical forests, from temperate
to sub-tropical and montane grasslands and savannahs, and even to ice-capped mountains. There are
many examples of success and innovation in the conservation of Africa’s biodiversity, yet Africa is also
experiencing unprecedented rates of population growth, urbanization and agricultural development, which
create immense challenges in reconciling human well-being with environmental and economic prosperity.
A strategic plan for biodiversity was adopted globally in 2010 by the Parties to the Convention on Biological
Diversity. The Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 is a ten-year framework for action by all countries
and stakeholders to conserve biodiversity and enhance its benets for people. It is comprised of a shared
vision, a mission, strategic goals and twenty ambitious yet achievable targets, collectively known as the Aichi
Biodiversity Targets. The Strategic Plan serves as a exible framework for the establishment of national
and regional targets and it promotes the coherent and eective implementation of the three objectives of
the Convention on Biological Diversity. A mid-term assessment of the implementation of the plan, at the
global scale, was published in the fourth edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook (GBO-4).
This second edition of The State of Biodiversity in Africa complements GBO-4 by analysing and assessing
the status and trends of biodiversity in Africa against the twenty Aichi Biodiversity Targets. The report is
a synthesis of existing material, though it does also include new analyses. It is a contribution towards the
suite of regional assessments recently initiated by the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and
Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and to the Sixth Edition of the Global Environmental Outlook.
The report identies opportunities and challenges in implementing the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity
2011-2020 in Africa and looks ahead to actions which need to be taken by national governments and other
decision makers to enhance and accelerate progress towards its attainment.
Responding to these opportunities and tackling these challenges, requires collaborative eort across
governments and many stakeholders within Africa. UNEP has a signicant role to play in catalysing such
action through stimulating trans-boundary action and collaborative eort across the region, building
capacity within governments and within organizations active in sustainable development in Africa. It also
can support planning for biodiversity through updating national biodiversity strategies and actions plans,
and facilitating policy coherence and mainstreaming of biodiversity within and across sectors, innovation
and piloting of new ideas and encouraging the mobilization of resources.
Juliette Biao Koudenoukpo Ph.D
Regional Director, United Nations Environment
Programme – Regional Oce for Africa
Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias
Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological
Diversity

1
A REVIEW OF PROGRESS TOWARDS THE AICHI BIODIVERSITY TARGETS
1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Global Biodiversity Outlook-4, the mid-term review of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020,
provided a global assessment of progress towards the attainment of the Plan’s global biodiversity goals
and associated Aichi Biodiversity Targets, but contained limited regional information. This report builds
on and complements the global GBO-4 assessment. It is the second edition of the State of Biodiversity in
Africa report and serves as a near mid-term review of progress towards the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity
2011-2020 for the African region.
This report draws on a set of regional indicators,
information from fifth national reports to the
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), other
government reports, case studies and published
literature, to provide a target by target review of
progress towards the twenty Aichi Biodiversity
Targets. As much as possible, global indicators for
Aichi Biodiversity Targets have been broken down
to regional level and some additional analyses of
existing global information have been undertaken.
However, limitations in data have meant that some
datasets which do not extend past 2011 have been
included to illustrate that relevant information exists,
but that further eorts to update this information
are needed.
Tracking regional progress can help identify
where regional eort is most needed to enhance
and accelerate progress towards its attainment.
Responding to the opportunities and challenges
requires collaborative eort; this report has been
produced to help inform regional dialogue across
national governments and many stakeholders
throughout Africa and the promotion of co-operation
and actions especially through legal and policy
frameworks at the regional scale.
The key messages about the state of biodiversity
in Africa, and the pressures upon it, which have
emerged from this assessment are:
● Overall, biodiversity in Africa continues to
decline, with ongoing losses of species and
habitats.
● Ongoing loss of biodiversity in Africa is driven
by a combination of human-induced factors.
● Africa’s freshwater ecosystems and their
biodiversity are especially threatened.
● Africa continues to experience deforestation and
forest degradation.
● The negative impacts of climate change on
species and ecosystems are exacerbating the
eects of all these pressures.
● Nonetheless the report identies a number of
important responses which have taken place
since 2011.
● African countries are working collaboratively to
address particular Aichi Biodiversity Targets.
● There is a growing portfolio of international
support for African countries to achieve the
Aichi Biodiversity Targets.
● African countries are using ecosystem service
valuation and investment in REDD+ to achieve
the Aichi Biodiversity Targets.
● Many African countries have already achieved
their 17% terrestrial protected area targets, and
many others are working towards this target on
land, as well as on the 10% marine protected
areas target on the sea.
● Africa is making increasing use of ecosystem-
based conservation and restoration of natural
resources.

2STATE OF BIODIVERSITY IN AFRICA
Overall progress toward achieving Aichi Biodiversity
Targets in African countries generally matches global
trends. A dashboard of progress towards each of the
targets has been developed, based on the analysis of
progress using regionally disaggregated datasets and
the fth national reports to the CBD. These reports
suggest that progress in Africa is lagging behind
global progress in terms of improving knowledge
(Target 19) and nancial resources (Target 20). But
over 80 per cent of countries in Africa do indicate
progress toward Target 17, particularly in terms of
updating National Biodiversity Strategies and Action
Plans (NBSAPs), with more focus needed in terms of
implementing and using them as policy instruments.
Commonly reported problems include: a lack
of institutional, financial and technological
resources and capacity to implement NBSAPs; a
lack of appropriate and harmonized biodiversity
indicators to assess conservation needs and NBSAP
progress; data and information deciencies; and
national budgetary constraints in a region with
many least developed countries. The reports also
identied a lack of readily available information
on Africa’s biodiversity, which presents a barrier to
accurately assess the status and trends, threats, and
conservation needs for biodiversity in Africa.
Despite these challenges, we can see that Africa as
a region is making progress in mainstreaming and
understanding the values of biodiversity (Target 1),
designating protected areas (Target 11), ratifying
the Nagoya Protocol on access and benet sharing
(Target 16) implementing values into national and
strategic plans, updating NBSAPs (Target 17), and
respecting the traditional knowledge and values
of indigenous peoples (Target 18). These targets
fall under strategic goals A and E of the Strategic
Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 indicating an overall
increased awareness for the values of biodiversity and
a willingness to integrate these in development plans.
Looking to the future, it is clear that attaining
most of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets will require
implementation of a package of actions typically
including legal and policy frameworks that are
coherent across government ministries and across
sectors, socio-economic incentives, monitoring,
enforcement, and public and stakeholder
engagement.
Proposed actions in the short and longer term
include:
● Use international mechanisms that support
sustainable use of ecosystems.
● Implement conservation actions on a greater
scale to avoid further biodiversity loss in Africa.
● Strengthen joint trans-boundary actions with
bordering nations.
● Strengthen engagement of local communities in
governance systems.
● Ensure enforcement of law.
● Implementation of the outcomes of the
conferences, which requires resource
mobilization and capacity building of African
countries.
● Increase awareness of the contribution of
biodiversity to people’s lives.
● Create positive incentives for sustainable land
management.
● Mobilize resources from private and global
funds.
● Address the information decit.
● Mainstream biodiversity across government
sectors.
● Build institutional capacity to implement the
biodiversity-related Conventions.

3
A REVIEW OF PROGRESS TOWARDS THE AICHI BIODIVERSITY TARGETS
1. RÉSUMÉ
La quatrième édition des Perspectives mondiales de la diversité biologique (GBO-4), évaluation à mi-parcours
du Plan stratégique pour la diversité biologique 2011-2020, fournit un examen des progrès accomplis à l’échelle
mondiale en vue d’atteindre les buts du Plan stratégique pour la diversité biologique et les Objectifs d’Aichi
qui y sont associés. Elle ne contient en revanche que très peu d’information au niveau régional. Le présent
rapport s’appuie sur et complémente l’évaluation globale du GBO-4. Il s’agit de la deuxième édition de
l’État de la biodiversité en Afrique. Ce rapport constitue une évaluation à (pratiquement) mi-parcours des
progrès accomplis dans la mise en œuvre du Plan stratégique pour la diversité biologique 2011-2020 pour
la région Afrique.
Ce rapport a été élaboré à partir d’un ensemble
d'indicateurs régionaux, d’informations émanant
des cinquièmes rapports nationaux présentés par
les Parties à la Convention sur la diversité biologique
(CDB) et d’autres rapports gouvernementaux,
d’études de cas et autres publications, afin de
fournir un examen, objectif par objectif, des progrès
accomplis vers la réalisation des vingt Objectifs
d’Aichi pour la biodiversité. Dans la mesure du
possible, les indicateurs mondiaux pour les Objectifs
d'Aichi ont été désagrégés à l’échelle régionale et des
analyses supplémentaires de l'information globale
existante ont été entreprises. Néanmoins, en raison
de limites inhérentes à certaines données, certains
jeux de données qui ne se prolongeaient pas au-delà
de 2011 ont été inclus an de mettre en évidence le
fait que des informations pertinentes existent, mais
que des eorts supplémentaires sont nécessaires pour
mettre à jour ces informations.
Le suivi des progrès à l’échelle régionale peut aider
à identifier là où les efforts régionaux sont les
plus nécessaires an d’améliorer et d’accélérer les
progrès vers la réalisation des objectifs. Réagir face
à ces dés et à ces opportunités requiert un eort
de collaboration. Ce rapport a été produit an de
contribuer à informer le dialogue régional entre
les gouvernements nationaux et de nombreuses
parties prenantes dans toute la région Afrique, et à
promouvoir la coopération et les initiatives au travers,
en particulier, de cadres juridiques et politiques
régionaux.Les messages clés ayant émergé de cette
évaluation de l'état de la biodiversité en Afrique et
des pressions qu’elle subit sont les suivants:
● Dans l'ensemble, la biodiversité en Afrique
continue à décliner, avec des pertes constantes
d'espèces et d’habitats.
● La perte continue de la biodiversité en Afrique
est entraînée par une combinaison de facteurs
anthropiques.
● Les écosystèmes d'eau douce de l'Afrique et leur
biodiversité sont particulièrement menacés.
● L'Afrique continue de connaître la déforestation
et la dégradation des forêts.
● Les impacts négatifs du changement climatique
sur les espèces et les écosystèmes aggravent les
eets de ces pressions.
● Néanmoins, le rapport identie un certain
nombre d’interventions importantes qui ont eu
lieu depuis 2011.
● Les pays africains travaillent de manière
collaborative an de traiter certains Objectifs
d'Aichi pour la biodiversité.
● Il existe un portefeuille croissant d’aide
internationale pour aider les pays africains à
atteindre les Objectifs d'Aichi.
● Les pays africains recourent à l‘évaluation
des services rendus par les écosystèmes et à
l'investissement dans REDD+ an d’atteindre les
Objectifs d’Aichi pour la biodiversité.
● De nombreux pays africains ont déjà atteint
leur objectif de 17 pour cent d’aires terrestres
protégées, et beaucoup d'autres travaillent à la
réalisation de cet objectif et de celui qui vise à
atteindre 10 pour cent d’aires marines protégées.
● L'Afrique recourt de plus en plus à la
conservation fondée sur les écosystèmes et à la
restauration des ressources naturelles.

4STATE OF BIODIVERSITY IN AFRICA
Globalement, les progrès vers la réalisation des
Objectifs d'Aichi dans les pays de la région Afrique
correspondent aux tendances mondiales. Un tableau
de bord des progrès accomplis vers chacun des
objectifs a été développé sur la base de l'analyse des
progrès réalisée à partir des ensembles de données
désagrégées au niveau régional et des cinquièmes
rapports nationaux présentés à la CDB. Ces rapports
suggèrent que les progrès en Afrique sont plus lents
qu’au niveau mondial en termes d'amélioration
des connaissances (Objectif 19) et de ressources
nancières (Objectif 20). En revanche, plus de 80
pour cent des pays d'Afrique font état de progrès
vers l’Objectif 17, notamment en termes de mise
à jour des Stratégies et plans d'action nationaux
(SPANB), bien que plus d'attention soit nécessaire
sur la mise en œuvre et l’utilisation de ceux-ci
comme instruments politiques.
Les dicultés communément signalées incluent
: le manque de ressources et de capacités
institutionnelles, nancières et technologiques pour
la mise en œuvre des SPANB; le manque d'indicateurs
de biodiversité appropriés et harmonisés pour
évaluer les besoins en matière de conservation et
les progrès réalisés dans la mise en œuvre des SPANB;
des manques de données et d'information; et des
contraintes budgétaires nationales dans une région
où se trouvent de nombreux pays parmi les moins
développés. Le rapport a également identié un
manque d'informations facilement accessibles sur la
biodiversité en Afrique, ce qui constitue un obstacle
à l'évaluation précise de l'état et des tendances,
des menaces et des besoins de conservation de la
biodiversité en Afrique.
Malgré ces dés, nous pouvons voir que l'Afrique
en tant que région a progressé en matière
d'intégration et de compréhension des valeurs de
la biodiversité (Objectif 1), de désignation d’aires
protégées (Objectif 11), de ratication du Protocole
de Nagoya sur l'accès et le partage des avantages
(Objectif 16), de mise en œuvre des valeurs dans
les plans nationaux et les stratégies nationales, de
mise à jour des SPANB (Objectif 17), et de respect
des connaissances et des valeurs traditionnelles
des peuples autochtones (Objectif 18). Ceux-ci
relèvent des objectifs stratégiques A et E du Plan
stratégique pour la biodiversité 2011-2020, indiquant
une sensibilisation accrue pour les valeurs de la
biodiversité et une volonté de les intégrer dans les
plans de développement.
Quant à l'avenir, il est clair que la réalisation de
la plupart des Objectifs d'Aichi exigera la mise
en œuvre d'un ensemble de mesures comprenant
notamment des cadres juridiques et politiques qui
soient cohérents entre les diérents ministères et
entre les diérents secteurs, des incitations socio-
économiques, le suivi, l'application des mesures et
l'engagement du public et des parties prenantes.
Les mesures proposées à court et à long terme
comprennent:
● L’utilisation des mécanismes internationaux
pour soutenir l'utilisation durable des
écosystèmes.
● La mise en œuvre de mesures de conservation
sur une plus grande échelle pour éviter une perte
de la biodiversité plus importante en Afrique.
● Le renforcement des mesures transfrontalières
conjointes avec les pays limitrophes.
● Le renforcement de l'engagement des
communautés locales dans les systèmes de
gouvernance.
● L'application eective des lois.
● La mise en œuvre des résultats des conférences,
ce qui nécessite la mobilisation de ressources et
le renforcement des capacités des pays africains.
● Une sensibilisation accrue quant à la
contribution de la biodiversité à la vie des gens.
● La création d’incitations positives pour la
gestion durable des terres.
● La mobilisation de ressources provenant de
fonds privés et mondiaux.
● La prise en compte du manque d'information.
● L’intégration (« mainstreaming » en anglais)
de la biodiversité dans tous les secteurs du
gouvernement.
● Le renforcement des capacités institutionnelles
pour mettre en œuvre les conventions relatives à
la biodiversité.

5
A REVIEW OF PROGRESS TOWARDS THE AICHI BIODIVERSITY TARGETS
1. RESUMEN EJECUTIVO
La Perspectiva Mundial sobre la Diversidad Biológica 4 (GBO-4, por sus siglas en Inglés), revisión realizada
en la mitad del período de implementación del Plan Estratégico para la Diversidad Biológica 2011-2020,
proporcionó un análisis global sobre el progreso realizado hacia los objetivos de biodiversidad del Plan, y
las Metas de Aichi para la diversidad biológica asociadas, pero su contenido regional era limitado.
Este informe se basa en una serie de indicadores
regionales, información sobre los Quintos Informes
Nacionales al Convenio sobre la Diversidad Biológica
(CDB), otros informes gubernamentales, casos de
estudio y literatura publicada, para aportar una
revisión meta a meta del progreso hacia las veinte
Metas de Aichi para la diversidad biológica. En la
medida de lo posible, se desglosaron al nivel regional
los indicadores globales para las metas y se realizaron
algunos análisis adicionales de información global
existente. A pesar de ello, limitaciones en los datos
disponibles han llevado a la inclusión de bases de
datos previos al año 2011, para poder ilustrar que la
información necesaria existe pero que se requieren
esfuerzos adicionales para actualizarla.
El seguimiento del progreso regional puede ayudar
a identificar aquellas áreas donde los esfuerzos
regionales son más necesarios para reforzar y
acelerar el progreso hacia el logro de las metas. Para
responder a las oportunidades y los retos se requiere
un esfuerzo colaborativo. Este informe ha sido
producido para contribuir con información que ayude
al diálogo regional a través de gobiernos nacionales y
partes interesadas en toda África, y para promover la
cooperación y acciones relacionadas especialmente a
través de esquemas legales y políticos a nivel regional.
En este análisis se destacan los siguientes mensajes
clave sobre el estado de la biodiversidad en África, y
las presiones sobre ésta:
● En general, la biodiversidad en África continúa
decayendo, con pérdidas continuadas de
especies y hábitats.
● La pérdida continuada de biodiversidad en
África está impulsada por una combinación de
factores antropogénicos.
● Los ecosistemas de agua dulce y su biodiversidad
están especialmente en peligro.
● África continúa experimentando deforestación y
degradación forestal.
● Los efectos negativos del cambio climático sobre
las especies y los ecosistemas están empeorando
los efectos de todas estas presiones sobre el
estado de la biodiversidad y el bienestar humano
en África.
A pesar de ello, el informe identica un número de
respuestas importantes que han estado ocurriendo
desde 2011.
● Los países africanos se encuentran trabajando
en forma colaborativa a n de abordar
determinadas Estrategias y planes de acción
nacionales en materia de diversidad biológica.
● Se ha incrementado el apoyo internacional a
países africanos para ayudarles a abordar las
Estrategias y planes de acción nacionales en
materia de diversidad biológica.
● Los países africanos están utilizando, por
ejemplo, la valuación de servicios ecosistémicos
y la inversión en REDD+ para conseguir las
Metas de Aichi para la diversidad biológica.
● Varios países africanos ya alcanzaron la meta del
17 por ciento de zonas terrestres conservadas a
través de áreas protegidas, mientras que otros
se encuentran trabajando en pos de dicha meta
así como sobre la meta del 10 por ciento de áreas
marinas protegidas.
● Se observa un creciente uso de la conservación
basada en ecosistemas y la restauración de
recursos naturales en África.
En general, el progreso hacia el logro de las Metas
de Aichi para la diversidad biológica en los países
africanos se asemeja, en términos generales, a las
tendencias globales. Un esquema de progreso hacia
cada una de las metas ha sido desarrollado basándose
en el análisis de progreso elaborado con los datos
desagregados a nivel regional y en los quintos
informes nacionales.

6STATE OF BIODIVERSITY IN AFRICA
Los Quintos Informes Nacionales sugieren que
el progreso en África en cuanto a la mejora de
información (Meta 19) y los recursos nancieros
(Meta 20) se encuentra por detrás del progreso
global. Más del 80 por ciento de los países africanos
indican progreso hacia la Meta 17, particularmente
en cuanto a la actualización de sus Estrategias y
planes de acción nacionales en materia de diversidad
biológica (EPANDB), aunque un mayor énfasis en la
implementación y utilización como de las mismas
como instrumentos políticos es requerido.
Entre los problemas reportados habitualmente se
encuentran: la falta de recursos institucionales,
financieros y tecnológicos y la capacidad para
implementar las EPANDB; la falta de indicadores
de biodiversidad armonizados y apropiados para
analizar las necesidad de conservación así como el
progreso de las EPANDB; las deciencias de los datos
y la información; y limitaciones en los presupuestos
nacionales de una región con muchos países menos
avanzados. El informe también identifica una
falta de información fácilmente disponible sobre
la biodiversidad de África, lo cual presenta una
barrera para analizar de manera precisa el estado
y las tendencias, los riesgos, y las necesidades de
conservación para la biodiversidad en la región.
A pesar de estos retos, podemos ver que África, como
región, está progresando en integrar y reconocer los
valores de la biodiversidad (Meta 1), designar áreas
protegidas (Meta 11), raticar el Protocolo de Nagoya
sobre acceso y participación en los benecios (Meta
16), implementar los valores en planes nacionales
y estratégicos, actualizar las EPANDB (Meta 17), y
respetar los conocimientos tradicionales y valores de
las comunidades indígenas (Meta 18). Estas metas
caen bajo los objetivos A y E del Plan Estratégico
para la Diversidad Biológica 2011-2020 indicando en
términos generales una mayor concienciación sobre
los valores de biodiversidad y voluntad de que los
mismos serán integrados en los planes de desarrollo.
De cara hacia el futuro, está claro que conseguir la
mayor parte de las Estrategias y planes de acción
nacionales en materia de diversidad biológica requerirá
implementación de un paquete de acciones que,
generalmente, incluye esquemas legales y políticos
que sean coherentes a través de ministerios y sectores,
incentivos socioeconómicos, monitoreo, observancia,
y participación del público y partes interesadas.
Entre las acciones propuestas a corto y largo plazo
se incluyen:
● Utilización de mecanismos internacionales que
apoyen el uso sostenible de los ecosistemas.
● Implementar acciones de conservación a
mayor escala para evitar mayores pérdidas de
biodiversidad en África.
● Reforzar las acciones transfronterizas conjuntas
con naciones vecinas.
● Reforzar la participación de las comunidades
locales en los sistemas de gobernanza.
● Asegurar la aplicación de la ley.
● Implementación de los resultados de las
conferencias, lo cual requiere la movilización
de recursos y desarrollo de capacidades en los
países africanos.
● Aumentar la concienciación sobre la
contribución de la biodiversidad a la vida de las
personas.
● Crear incentivos positivos para la gestión
sostenible de la tierra.
● Movilizar recursos de fondos privados y globales.
● Hacer frente a la falta de información.
● Integrar la biodiversidad a través de los distintos
sectores de gobierno.
● Desarrollar las capacidades institucionales para
implementar las convenciones relacionadas con
la biodiversidad.

7
A REVIEW OF PROGRESS TOWARDS THE AICHI BIODIVERSITY TARGETS
1. РЕЗЮМЕ
В четвертом издании «Глобальной перспективы в области биоразнообразия», промежуточном обзоре
Стратегического плана в области сохранения и устойчивого использования биоразнообразия на
2011-2020 годы, приводилась глобальная оценка прогресса в достижении предусмотренных Планом
глобальных целей в области биоразнообразия и выполнении соответствующих целевых задач по
сохранению и устойчивому использованию биоразнообразия, принятых в Айти, однако региональная
информация содержалась там в ограниченном объеме. Настоящий доклад основывается на
глобальной оценке, приведенной в ГПОБ-4, и дополняет ее. Это второе издание доклада «Состояние
биоразнообразия в Африке», выступающее в качестве промежуточного обзора прогресса в осуществлении
Стратегического плана в области сохранения и устойчивого использования биоразнообразия на 2011-
2020 годы для Африканского региона.
В настоящем докладе используются набор
региональных индикаторов, информация из пятых
национальных докладов в рамках Конвенции о
биологическом разнообразии (КБР), других
правительственных докладов, тематических
исследований и опубликованной литературы
с целью проведения анализа хода достижения
каждой из двадцати Айтинских целевых задач в
области биоразнообразия. По мере возможности,
глобальные индикаторы по Айтинским целевым
задачам в области биоразнообразия были
представлены в разбивке по регионам; при этом
был проведен определенный дополнительный
анализ существующей глобальной информации.
Вместе с тем, ограниченный характер данных
означал, что были включены некоторые наборы
данных, не охватывающие период после 2011 года,
чтобы показать, что соответствующая информация
существует, но необходимы дополнительные
усилия для обновления такой информации.
Отслеживание прогресса на региональном
уровне может способствовать выявлению тех
областей, в которых наиболее востребованы
региональные меры по активизации и ускорению
его достижения. Реагирование на возможности и
проблемы требует совместных усилий; настоящий
доклад был подготовлен в целях обеспечения
информационной поддержки регионального
диалога между национальными правительствами
и множеством заинтересованных сторон во всей
Африке, а также в целях содействия сотрудничеству
и проведению практических мероприятий,
особенно посредством установления правовых
и политических рамок на региональном уровне.
Ниже приводятся полученные в результате
этой оценки основные выводы о состоянии
биоразнообразия в Африке и воздействующих
на него нагрузках:
● В целом, биоразнообразие в Африке
продолжает уменьшаться, что сопровождается
утратой видов и мест обитания.
● Продолжающаяся утрата биоразнообразия
в Африке обусловлена сочетанием
антропогенных факторов.
● Особой угрозе подвергаются пресноводные
экосистемы Африки и их биоразнообразие.
● В Африке по-прежнему наблюдаются
обезлесение и деградация лесов.
● Негативное воздействие изменения
климата на виды и экосистемы усугубляет
последствия всех этих нагрузок.
Несмотря на это, в докладе определен ряд важных
ответных мер, которые принимались с 2011 года.
● Африканские страны совместно работают
над выполнением конкретных Айтинских
целевых задач в области биоразнообразия.
● Расширяются масштабы международной
поддержки, оказываемой африканским
странам в выполнении Айтинских целевых
задач в области биоразнообразия.
● Африканские страны используют оценку
экосистемных услуг и инвестиции в
СВРОДЛ+ для выполнения Айтинских
целевых задач в области биоразнообразия.
● Многие африканские страны уже достигли своих
целевых показателей по включению в число
охраняемых районов 17 процентов суши, многие
другие страны работают над достижением этого
целевого показателя на суше, а также целевого
показателя по включению в число охраняемых
районов 10 процентов морских районов.
● В Африке все чаще используется
экосистемный подход к сохранению и
восстановлению природных ресурсов.

8STATE OF BIODIVERSITY IN AFRICA
Общий прогресс в выполнении Айтинских целевых
задач в области биоразнообразия в африканских
странах в целом совпадает с общемировыми
тенденциями. Была разработана информационная
панель, показывающая ход выполнения каждой
из целевых задач и основанная на анализе
достигнутого прогресса с использованием
наборов данных в разбивке по регионам и пятых
национальных докладов в рамках КБР. Согласно
этим докладам, ход выполнения в Африке отстает
от общемирового прогресса в плане углубления
знаний (Целевая задача 19) и мобилизации
финансовых ресурсов (Целевая задача 20).
Однако более 80 процентов стран в Африке все же
отмечают прогресс в выполнении Целевой задачи
17, в частности, в плане обновления Национальных
стратегий и планов действий по сохранению
биоразнообразия (НСПДСБ), хотя необходимо
уделять больше внимания их реализации и
использованию в качестве инструментов политики.
К числу наиболее часто отмечаемых проблем
относятся: отсутствие организационных,
финансовых и технологических ресурсов и
потенциала для реализации НСПДСБ; отсутствие
надлежащих и унифицированных индикаторов
биоразнообразия для оценки потребностей в
сохранении биоразнообразия и хода реализации
НСПДСБ; нехватка данных и информации; а также
ограничения, обусловленные национальными
бюджетами в регионе с большим числом
менее развитых стран. Кроме того, в докладе
было отмечено отсутствие прямого доступа
к информации о биоразнообразии в Африке,
что препятствует точной оценке состояния дел,
тенденций, угроз и потребностей в области
сохранения биоразнообразия в Африке.
Несмотря на эти трудности, мы видим, что Африка
как регион делает успехи во включении ценностей
биоразнообразия в основную деятельность и
их понимании (Целевая задача 1), назначении
охраняемых районов (Целевая задача 11),
ратификации Нагойского протокола регулирования
доступа к генетическим ресурсам и совместного
использования выгод от их применения (Целевая
задача 16), воплощении ценностей в национальных
и стратегических планах, обновлении
НСПДСБ (Целевая задача 17), а также уважении
традиционных знаний и ценностей коренных
народов (Целевая задача 18). Эти задачи относятся
к стратегическим целям A и E Стратегического
плана в области сохранения и устойчивого
использования биоразнообразия на 2011-2020
годы, предусмотренного КБД, свидетельствуя об
общем повышении осведомленности о ценностях
биоразнообразия и желании включать их в планы
развития.
Если заглянуть в будущее, становится ясно,
что для выполнения большинства Айтинских
целевых задач в области биоразнообразия
потребуется реализация комплекса мероприятий,
обычно включающего правовые и политические
рамки, согласованные с правительственными
министерствами и между секторами, социально-
экономические стимулы, мониторинг,
контроль за исполнением, а также привлечение
общественности и заинтересованных сторон.
Предлагаемые мероприятия в кратко- и
долгосрочной перспективе включают:
● Применение международных механизмов,
обеспечивающих устойчивое использование
экосистем.
● Расширение масштабов проводимых
природоохранных мероприятий с целью
предотвращения дальнейшей утраты
биоразнообразия в Африке.
● Активизация трансграничной деятельности,
проводимой совместно с соседними
государствами.
● Расширение вовлечения местных общин в
системы управления.
● Обеспечение исполнения законодательства.
● Реализация итоговых документов
конференций, которые требуют
мобилизации ресурсов и укрепления
потенциала африканских стран.
● Повышение осведомленности о
положительном влиянии биоразнообразия
на жизнь людей.
● Создание положительных стимулов для
устойчивого землепользования.
● Мобилизация ресурсов из частных и
глобальных фондов.
● Устранение дефицита информации.
● Включение вопросов биоразнообразия в
основную деятельность различных секторов
правительства.
●
Укрепление институционального потенциала
с целью реализации Конвенций, касающихся
биоразнообразия.

9
A REVIEW OF PROGRESS TOWARDS THE AICHI BIODIVERSITY TARGETS

10 STATE OF BIODIVERSITY IN AFRICA

11
A REVIEW OF PROGRESS TOWARDS THE AICHI BIODIVERSITY TARGETS
1. 执行摘要
第四版《全球生物多样性展望》是对执行《2011-2020年生物多样性战略计划》所取得进展的中期评估，
提供了对实现该计划中的全球生物多样性目标和与之相关的“爱知生物多样性目标”所取得进展的全球
评估，但包含的区域信息有限。本报告建立在全球第四版《全球生物多样性展望》评估的基础之上，并
对其进行了补充。这是第二版《非洲生物多样性状况》报告，也是对实现非洲地区的《2011-2020年生物
多样性战略计划》目标所取得进展的中期评估。
本报告借鉴了来自《生物多样性公约》（CBD）第
五次国家报告、其他政府报告、案例研究和已发表
文献的一套区域指标和信息，逐个审查了实现20
个“爱知生物多样性目标”取得的进展。本报告尽
可能地把爱知生物多样性目标的全球性指标分解到
区域层面，并对现有的全球信息进行了一些额外分
析。然而，数据的局限性意味着为了说明相关信息
的存在，已将2011年以前的某些数据集列入报告，
但更新此类信息还需进一步努力。
跟踪区域进展有助于发现最需要加强并加速努力的
区域，来实现目标。应对机遇和挑战需要协同努
力，而编制本报告有助于为非洲各国政府和众多利
益相关方的区域对话提供依据，特别是通过区域规
模的法律和政策框架促进合作和行动。
本次评估得出的有关非洲生物多样性状况及其所面
临压力的关键信息如下：
●
总体而言，非洲的生物多样性继续下降，物种和
生境持续减少。
●
综合的人为因素导致了非洲生物多样性的持续丧
失。
●
非洲的淡水生态系统及其生物多样性尤其受到威
胁。
● 非洲的毁林和森林退化仍在继续。
●
气候变化对物种和生态系统的负面影响正在加剧
这些压力带来的影响。
尽管如此，本报告梳理出了一些自2011年以来已经
采取的重要对策：
●
非洲各国正在携手解决特定的“爱知生物多样性
目标”。
●
对非洲国家的国际支持越来越多，以帮助它们实
现“爱知生物多样性目标”。
●
非洲国家正在使用生态系统服务评价和对“减
少发展中国家毁林和森林退化所致排放量，森
林保护和可持续管理的作用，以及提高森林碳
储量”（REDD+）的投资，以实现“爱知生物
多样性目标”。
● 许多非洲国家已经实现了17%的陆地保护区目
标，且还有许多其他国家正在努力实现这一陆
地目标，以及10%的海洋保护区目标。
●
非洲正在越来越多地使用基于生态系统的保护和
自然资源的恢复。
非洲各国实现“爱知生物多样性目标”的总体进展
与全球趋势大体相当。在使用根据区域分类的数据
集和《生物多样性公约》第五次国家报告分析进展
的基础上，开发了衡量实现每个目标进展情况的“
仪表板”。这些报告认为非洲在提高知识（目标19
）和资金资源（目标20）等方面取得的进展落后于
全球进展。但超过80%的非洲国家确实在实现第17
项目标上表现出了进展，尤其是在更新其《国家
生物多样性战略和行动计划》（NBSAP）方面，
尽管它们需要对执行和把它们作为政策工具使用
给予更多重视。

12 STATE OF BIODIVERSITY IN AFRICA
所报告的常见问题包括：缺乏执行《国家生物多样
性战略与行动计划》的机制、资金和技术资源和能
力；缺乏评估保护需求和《国家生物多样性战略和
行动计划》进展情况的恰当的、协调一致的生物多
样性指标；数据和信息缺陷；许多欠发达国家在某
个地区的国家预算存在限制。
尽管存在这些挑战，但我们可以看到非洲作为一
个地区正在以下方面取得进展：理解生物多样性
并使之为多数人接受（目标1）、指定保护区（目
标11）、批准关于获取和利益共享的《名古屋议
定书》（目标16）、将生物多样性价值观纳入国家
和战略计划及更新《国家生物多样性战略和行动计
划》（目标17），以及尊重传统知识和的价值观（
目标18）。这些归入CBD《2011-2020年生物多样性
战略计划》的战略目标A和战略目标E，表明对生物
多样性价值，以及将其纳入发展计划的意愿的认识
的整体提高。
展望未来，实现大部分“爱知生物多样性目标”显
然将需要实施一揽子行动，通常包括在各政府部门
和行业的协调一致的法律和政策框架、社会经济激
励、监督、执法，以及公众和利益相关方的参与。
建议采取的短期和长期行动包括：
● 使用支持可持续利用生态系统的国际机制；
●
实施更大规模的保护行动，以避免非洲生物多样
性的进一步丧失；
● 加强与周边国家的联合跨境行动；
● 加强当地社区对治理体系的参与；
● 确保执法；
●
执行会议的结果，它需要非洲各国调动资源和进
行能力建设；
● 增强生物多样性对人类生活所做贡献的认识；
● 创建可持续土地管理的积极激励措施；
● 动员来自私人和全球基金的资源；
● 解决信息不足问题；
● 使生物多样性在各政府部门被多数人接受；
● 建立实施与生物多样性有关的公约的制度能力。

13
A REVIEW OF PROGRESS TOWARDS THE AICHI BIODIVERSITY TARGETS
2. KEY MESSAGES ABOUT THE STATE
OF BIODIVERSITY IN AFRICA
The second edition of the State of Biodiversity in
Africa is a near mid-term review of progress towards
implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity
2011-2020 and the associated Aichi Biodiversity
Targets for African countries. It builds on and
complements the assessment undertaken in the
fourth edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook
(GBO-4) (Leadley et al. 2014). This report draws on a
set of regional indicators, information from the Fifth
National reports to the Convention on Biological
Diversity, other government reports, case studies as
well as published literature. The key messages of this
assessment have been arranged under the headings
of the state of biodiversity, the pressures on it, and
the impacts to society of its loss.
STATE
Biodiversity in Africa continues to decline,
with ongoing losses of species and habitats.
Africa contains remarkable biodiversity, including
the most intact assemblages of large mammals on
Earth. However, species abundance is in decline and
the threats to species are increasing. In 2014, 6,419
animals and 3,148 plants in Africa were recorded
as threatened with extinction on the IUCN Red
List. Of all freshwater species in Africa 21 per cent
are recorded as threatened (Darwall et al. 2011)
and 45 percent of freshwater sh and 58 percent
of freshwater plant species are over-harvested
(IUCN 2014). Further the IUCN Red List index for
African birds shows a decline over the past 25 years,
meaning that African birds are increasingly at risk of
extinction (BirdLife International unpublished data).
Trends for other groups also likely to be negative
(IUCN 2014). Overall the combined population of
African vertebrate species where data are available
is calculated to have declined by around 39 per cent
since 1970 (WWF 2014). Declines are more rapid
in Western and Central Africa, than in Eastern or
Southern Africa (Craigie et al. 2010). Population
trends in smaller species are generally unknown.
Many habitats are subject to tremendous pressure
from resource use and development, and expanding
human populations. Mangroves, moist and
seasonally dry forests and wetlands have all declined
signicantly over the past twenty years, with the
declines typically being in the range of one per cent
loss per annum. An analysis of African ecoregions
in 2004 showed that a number were regarded as
‘Endangered’ or ‘Critically Endangered’ (Burgess
et al. 2004), and although there has been no more
recent continental scale analysis, this status is
unlikely to have improved since then.
© Neil Burgess

14 STATE OF BIODIVERSITY IN AFRICA
PRESSURES
Ongoing loss of biodiversity in Africa is driven
by a combination of human-induced factors
The population of Africa surpassed one billion
people in 2009 and is set to grow at 2.3 per cent
every year during 2010-2015 (World Bank 2011). This
has led to a growing demand for natural resources,
resulting in land use change and the unsustainable
use of species. These changes place great pressure
on natural areas, biodiversity and ecosystem service
provision from natural habitats.
Africa’s freshwater ecosystems and their
biodiversity are especially threatened
Unsustainable harvesting of sh and inappropriate
shing methods, as well as wetland drainage for
agriculture are putting increasing pressure on
African freshwater systems. Other major, albeit
localized, threats to inland water ecosystems include
water pollution from excess nutrients, domestic
and industrial organic loads, pesticides and heavy
metals, and the impacts of invasive species. These
pressures are resulting in biodiversity degradation
in freshwater ecosystems, especially in East Africa’s
Lake Victoria, the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts
of Morocco, and many major African rivers (Darwall
et al. 2011).
Africa continues to experience deforestation
and forest degradation
Over three million hectares of natural habitat are
converted for other uses each year in Africa. The
major causes of deforestation and forest degradation
come from subsistence and commercial agriculture,
timber extraction, urbanization and the rise of
biofuel plantations (UNEP 2012a). However, there
are examples where forest loss has slowed, such as
in the Congo Basin, partly due to the network of
protected areas and the reductions in commercial
agriculture by the ten Central African countries
that are members of the Central African Forest
Commission (COMIFAC).
The negative impacts of climate change on
species and ecosystems are exacerbating the
effects of all these pressures
Available evidence from computer modelling and
eld observation suggests that climate change is
starting to aect the biodiversity of Africa, with
species moving their ranges as climates shift
(Foden et al. 2007). Although predictions for
climate change impacts are dramatic in some of
the drier parts of Africa (for example in North-East
Africa, Western Sahel and parts of South-Western
Africa), especially for migratory species dependant
on seasonal wetlands, other factors (especially
agricultural expansion) are more important drivers
of biodiversity loss at the present time.

15
A REVIEW OF PROGRESS TOWARDS THE AICHI BIODIVERSITY TARGETS
RESPONSES
Good progress is being made on some
elements of The Strategic Plan for Biodiversity
2011-2020 and its Aichi Biodiversity Targets
Information from the fth national reports to the
CBD indicates that progress towards many of the
Aichi Biodiversity Targets is currently limited in
many African countries. For the Aichi Biodiversity
Targets to be met by 2020 eorts will need to be
signicantly increased. Three Targets are showing
stronger progress and are likely to be achieved in
Africa. As of December 2015, 30 African countries
have ratied the Nagoya Protocol on Access and
Benefit Sharing (Target 16). A number of other
countries in the region are also preparing to do so.
In addition, 44 African Parties have submitted at
least one National Biodiversity Strategies and Action
Plan (NBSAP) (Target 17). Finally, nineteen African
countries have surpassed the rst component –
seventeen percent coverage of terrestrial protected
areas – of Target 11 (Protected Areas), while fourteen
countries have achieved the second component –
ten percent of coastal and marine protected areas
– of the Target.
African countries are working collaboratively
to address particular Aichi Biodiversity Targets
Collaborative actions include launching the
African 10-Year Framework of Programmes (10-
YFP) on Sustainable Consumption and Production
(Sustainable Consumption and Production);
demarcation of trans-boundary protected areas,
such as the Sangha Tri-National-Landscape, trans-
boundary conservation measures such as the
Regional Action Plan for the Conservation of the
Cross River Gorilla and other initiatives.
There is a growing portfolio of international
support for African countries to achieve the
Aichi Biodiversity Targets
The CBD and its partners are supporting countries
to move towards the achievement of the Aichi
Biodiversity Targets, including through the provision
of guidance in support of NBSAP updating, as part
of the NBSAP Forum (www.nbsapforum.net) with
UNEP and UNDP. Biodiversity-related multilateral
environmental agreements (MEAs) are also assisting
African countries through capacity-building
workshops to integrate biodiversity-related issues
into countries’ national legislation and development
strategies. Support is additionally provided through
bilateral and other multi-lateral donors, such as the
Global Environmental Facility.
African countries are using ecosystem service
valuation and REDD+ to help achieve the
Aichi Biodiversity Targets
Many African countries are increasingly expressing
interest in conducting valuation of ecosystem
services, and developing national ecosystem
accounting. Such information will contribute
to better assessments of the importance of
biodiversity and ecosystem services to African
society and economies. It is hoped that increased
awareness will in turn motivate increasing actions
for biodiversity conservation and sustainable
use, as well as investment in the institutional
capacity and information production for these
actions. Another emerging trend is national
and international investment in preparation to
undertake Reducing Emissions from Deforestation
and Forest Degradation (REDD+) activities. African
forests serve as a major carbon sink and are even
accumulating carbon in undisturbed areas. This
investment is resulting in increased institutional
and technical capacity to achieve conservation and
sustainable use of biodiversity in forest ecosystems.
Africa is making increasing use of ecosystem-
based conservation and restoration
Africa has been making considerable eorts to build
ecosystem resilience as a contribution to climate
change mitigation and adaptation. In many cases
these eorts build from the traditional practices of
African peoples who have developed land and water
management strategies that facilitate conservation
outcomes.

16 STATE OF BIODIVERSITY IN AFRICA
© unsplash

17
A REVIEW OF PROGRESS TOWARDS THE AICHI BIODIVERSITY TARGETS
3. THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR
BIODIVERSITY 2011-2020
AND ITS REVIEW
The Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 was
adopted at the tenth meeting of the Conference of
the Parties (COP-10) to the Convention on Biological
Diversity (CBD) in Nagoya, Japan, in October 2010.
The Strategic Plan is comprised of a shared vision,
a mission, strategic goals and twenty ambitious yet
achievable targets, collectively known as the Aichi
Biodiversity Targets. The Strategic Plan serves as a
exible framework for the establishment of national
and regional targets with the overall aim of saving
biodiversity and enhancing its benets for people.
The strategic plan contains ve interdependent
Strategic Goals (CBD Decision X/2) (CBD 2010):
● Address the underlying causes of biodiversity
loss by mainstreaming biodiversity across
government and society
● Reduce the direct pressures on biodiversity and
promote sustainable use
● To improve the status of biodiversity by
safeguarding ecosystems, species and genetic
diversity
● Enhance the benets to all from biodiversity and
ecosystem services
● Enhance implementation through participatory
planning, knowledge management and capacity
building
The fourth edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook
(GBO-4), its underlying reports (SCBD 2014; Leadley
et al. 2014), and an associated paper in the Journal
Science (Tittensor et al. 2014), provided a mid-term
review of progress towards the Aichi Biodiversity
Targets, with a detailed assessment of trends,
status, and projections of biodiversity worldwide.
Some other biodiversity conventions, such as the
Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), have
also used the Aichi Biodiversity Targets as a basis
to develop their own strategic plans, thus ensuring
that actions under such conventions also support
the Aichi Biodiversity Targets.
SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS OF THE GBO-4
Global Biodiversity Outlook 4 (GBO-4) brought
together multiple lines of evidence derived from
a wide range of sources. It drew upon targets,
commitments and activities of countries as reported
in NBSAPs and national reports, as well as Parties’
own assessments of progress towards the Aichi
Biodiversity Targets. It took into account information
on the status and trends of biodiversity reported
by Parties and in the scientic literature, and made
use of indicator based statistical extrapolations to
2020 (Figure 1) as well as longer term model based
scenarios.
The statistical extrapolations for a range of indicators
suggest that, based on current trends, pressures
on biodiversity will continue to increase at least
until 2020, and that the status of biodiversity will
continue to decline. This decline is despite the fact
that society’s responses to the loss of biodiversity
are increasing dramatically and, based on national
plans and commitments, are expected to continue
to increase for the remainder of this decade. This
may be partly due to time lags between taking
positive actions and discernible positive outcomes.
However, it could also be because responses may be
insucient relative to pressures, such that they may
not overcome the growing impacts of the drivers of
biodiversity loss.
© unsplash
© Martin

18 STATE OF BIODIVERSITY IN AFRICA
The overall conclusion from GBO-4 was that
while there has been signicant progress towards
meeting some components of the majority of the
Aichi Biodiversity Targets, for example conserving
at least seventeen per cent of terrestrial and inland
water areas, in most cases this progress will not be
sucient to achieve the targets set for 2020 and
therefore additional action by governments and
others is required to keep the Strategic Plan for
Biodiversity 2011–2020 on course.
Figure 1: Trends in normalized indicators from 2000 and projected to 2020 for the five different Strategic Plan for
Biodiversity 2011-2020 goals; State measures are coloured orange, Pressure measures are coloured red, and Response
measures are coloured green. The horizontal dotted line represents the modelled indicator value in 2010. For state and
response indicators, a decline over time represents an unfavourable trend (falling biodiversity, declining response) whereas
for the pressure indicators a decrease over time represents a favourable trend (reducing pressure). A dashed coloured line
represents no significant trend, whereas a solid coloured line represents a significant projected change between 2010
and 2020. Values are normalized by subtracting the modelled mean then dividing by the modelled standard deviation. For
individual extrapolations on their original scale see target by target chapter in GBO-4 (SCBD 2014). Note that many time
series continue prior to the year 2000; the x-axis has been limited to this date.
20202015201020052000
+100%
-100%
20202015201020052000 20202015201020052000
+100%
-100%
20202015201020052000
+100%
-100%
20202015201020052000 20202015201020052000
+100%
-100%
20202015201020052000
+100%
-100%
20202015201020052000 20202015201020052000
+100%
-100%
20202015201020052000
+100%
-100%
20202015201020052000 20202015201020052000
+100%
-100%
20202015201020052000
+100%
-100%
Strategic Goal A: Address underlying causes
20202015201020052000 20202015201020052000
Strategic Goal B: Reduce direct pressures
Strategic Goal C: Improve status
Strategic Goal D: Enhance benefits to all
Strategic Goal E: Enhance implementation
+100%
-100%

19
A REVIEW OF PROGRESS TOWARDS THE AICHI BIODIVERSITY TARGETS
4. SUMMARY OF PROGRESS
TOWARDS AICHI BIODIVERSITY
TARGETS IN AFRICA
The global assessment and data provided by GBO-
4 gives an overall picture of the world’s progress
towards the implementation of the Strategic Plan
for Biodiversity. However, it contains limited regional
information. This second edition of the State of
Biodiversity in Africa gives a more specific and
detailed assessment of the changes in biodiversity
state, pressures and human responses within the
context of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets in the
African region.
Fifth National Reports to the Convention on
Biological Diversity
The fth national reports to the CBD show that
progress toward achieving Aichi Biodiversity Targets
in African countries generally matches global trends.
(Figures 2a and 2b).
Africa is lagging behind global progress in terms
of improving knowledge (Target 19) and nancial
resources (Target 20).
Commonly reported problems are a lack of
institutional, financial and technological
resources and capacity to implement NBSAPs;
lack of appropriate and harmonized biodiversity
indicators to assess conservation needs and NBSAP
progress; data and information deciencies; and
national budgetary constraints in a region with
many least developed countries. The reports also
identied a lack of readily available information
on Africa’s biodiversity, which presents a barrier to
accurately assess the status and trends, threats, and
conservation needs for biodiversity in Africa.
Despite these challenges, Africa as a region is making
progress in mainstreaming and understanding
the values of biodiversity (Target 1), designating
protected areas (Target 11), ratifying the Nagoya
Protocol on access and benet sharing (Target 16)
implementing values into national and strategic
plans, updating NBSAPs (Target 17) where over 80 per
cent of countries indicate progress has been made,
and respecting the traditional knowledge and values
of indigenous peoples (Target 18). These fall under
strategic goals A and E of the CBD’s Strategic Plan for
Biodiversity indicating an overall increased awareness
for the values of biodiversity and will to integrate
these in development plans.
Of the 54 African countries, 46 country reports have
been analysed and six countries had not submitted
reports as of January 2016; reports for Cabo Verde
(submitted 25/11/15) and Ghana (submitted 31/12/15),
but are not included in the CBD summary (and
therefore are missing from this analysis). Angola,
Central African Republic, Gabon, Lesotho, Libya,
and South Sudan have not submitted fth national
reports (CBD 2015) (Figure 2a).
© Arnout van Soesbergen

20 STATE OF BIODIVERSITY IN AFRICA
100%
90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%0%
Target 1
Target 2
Target 3
Target 4
Target 5
Target 6
Target 7
Target 8
Target 9
Target 10
Target 11
Target 12
Target 13
Target 14
Target 15
Target 16
Target 17
Target 18
Target 19
Target 20
No information
Moving away from target
No progress
Progress but at insufcient rate
On track to meet the target
On track to exceed the target
111 28 60
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
31 14 25 3
12 2 18 14
42 19 21
412 15 14 1
51 20 20
42 20 18 2
66 14 19 1
61 24 14 1
15 6 14 10 1
3336 4
14 15 26
74 10 22 3
62 13 24 1
91 8 26 2
5821 11 1
1529 9 2
418 19 5
415 25 2
519 22
100%
90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%0%
Target 1
Target 2
Target 3
Target 4
Target 5
Target 6
Target 7
Target 8
Target 9
Target 10
Target 11
Target 12
Target 13
Target 14
Target 15
Target 16
Target 17
Target 18
Target 19
Target 20
No information
Moving away from target
No progress
Progress but at insufcient rate
On track to meet the target
On track to exceed the target
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
6
11
38
19
15
23
16
27
21
51
9
16
26
29
28
24
5
33
11
23
1
4
3
27
2
3
16
2
12
10
5
4
2
0
3
16
33
47
45
44
49
38
44
52
38
6
42
30
35
24
34
17
34
27
40
113
99
65
90
63
77
90
64
79
53
108
84
85
86
98
67
85
70
101
77
24
15
5
2
10
8
12
8
5
5
35
7
13
5
7
32 2
45 7
21 1
1
20
16
Figure 2: Synthesis of progress towards the achievement of the 20 Aichi Biodiversity Targets (a) (a) by African nations
(n=46) and (b) globally (n=159) (CBD 2015).
(a)
(b)

21
A REVIEW OF PROGRESS TOWARDS THE AICHI BIODIVERSITY TARGETS
AICHI BIODIVERSITY TARGET DASHBOARD
We have developed a dashboard of progress towards
each of the targets, based o a consideration of
the analysis of progress outlined below and the 5
th
national reports to the CBD. The stars indicate the
level of condence in the assessment based on the
available evidence.
Table 1: A dashboard of progress towards the Aichi Biodiversity Targets in Africa.
The table below provides an assessment of progress made towards each of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets as
well as the level of condence (***) based on the available evidence. It aims to provide summary information
on whether or not we are on track to achieve the targets. The assessment uses a ve-point scale.
On track to exceed target
(we expect to achieve the
target before its deadline)
On track to achieve target
(if we continue on our
current trajectory we
expect to achieve the
target by 2020)
Progress towards target
but at an insufficient rate
(unless we increase our
efforts the target will not
be met by its deadline)
No significant overall
progress (overall, we are
neither moving towards
the target nor moving
away from it)
Moving away from target
(things are getting worse
rather than better)
54321
Target Notes Progress
Target 1 -
Awareness increased
Progress on this target is patchy across the region and the changes in
awareness are not generally described in African countries. The national
reports suggest that most countries are taking some actions towards this
target. 3
Target 2 -
Biodiversity values
integrated
The information base is poor but generally indicates progress and strong