South African Youth Biodiversity Network

🌿 #COP16Colombia Day  🔟🌿 📍 Cali, Colombia 🇨🇴 Throughout the duration of COP16, the conversation during side events that we have attended has mainly been around “ what local actions are youth and lPLCs currently implementing on the ground to contribute to the achievement of the GBF and how can such actions be upscaled for greater impact". We joined an interactive event hosted by @Nordic council of ministers and UNESCO to discuss the local actions that can and are currently being implemented within Biospheres in South Africa contributing to the GBF. Within the South African Context, youth and local communities have proven to be active custodians of nature and key players within the biospheres , implementing projects to safeguard nature while also promoting sustainable development in the Biospheres. If we are to meet the goals we have set for ourselves at COP16 and operationalise the GBF, there is a critical need to invest youth and IPLCs as key stakeholders in the process!! Biospheres are life.

7 things to know about #COP29. 📍 Baku Azerbaijan 📅 11-22 November #COP29 @Gybnafrica

As #COP29 kicks off in Baku from 11-22 November, we’re reminded of a crucial agreement made at #COP16: that biodiversity loss and climate change are interlinked crises that must be tackled together. 🌿🤝 The global community agreed to align National Biodiversity Strategies with climate action plans like Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), aiming for a unified approach under the #KunmingMontreal framework and the #ParisAgreement. 🌍💚 The conversation continues at COP29, where nations will discuss even stronger commitments to protect our planet’s future. Let’s keep pushing for integrated solutions that benefit both people and nature! 🌍✨ #Biodiversity #ClimateAction #SustainableFuture #COP29 #COP16 GYBN Africa African CSOs Biodiversity Alliance (ACBA)

#COP16Colombia outcomes In a significant move toward equity, COP 16 delegates agreed on a mechanism for benefit-sharing tied to genetic resources, establishing the "Cali Fund".  The global fund is dedicated to sharing the benefits derived from using digital sequence information (DSI) from genetic resources. Companies such as pharmaceuticals and biotech companies benefiting commercially from DSI should contribute a percentage of their profits or revenues to the fund. The funds will be reserved for the countries where the resources come from. Half of the fund will be allocated to Indigenous Peoples and local communities, ensuring that those who are the stewards of biodiversity receive fair compensation. 🌍💚 #COP16 #CaliFund #Biodiversity #Sustainability #Equity #IndigenousPeoples #DigitalSequenceInformation

Today I had the opportunity of co-hosting the 2nd webinar Policy to Action: Building Climate Resilient Communities. The South African Youth Biodiversity Network speakers this Webinar were Barney Kgope, Lerato Fortune Mogane and Malusi Vatsha! They gave insights into target 8 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework with focus on building resilience through Nature-based solutions and collective community initiatives to create meaningful biodiversity and social impacts through well-defined goals. Barney Kgope shared deep insights about the importance of protected and community areas, sustainable use practices concerning biocultural uses of landscapes and aquatic ecosystem health for climate resilience. He also shed light on sustainable use in conservation looking at equitable benfit sharing and transformative practices highlighting the nexus approach needed for implementation. Lerato Malope highlighted collective action through community participation and initiatives, including youth contributions and opportunities, to help build resilience. Malusi Vatsha covered nature-based solutions reducing vulnerabilities and increasing our resilience as communities. The Webinar served to highlight the integrated approaches needed for analysis and management of the interconnected systems that are pivotal to developing solutions and policy as we move in the direction of minimizing and/or avoiding trade-offs, and findings better synergies! Finally, it was lovely to have had Malta Qwathekana join us. Appreciating her continued support to South African Youth Biodiversity Network!

#COP16 COLOMBIA OUTCOMES 🍃 In the coming days, we will be sharing some of the key outcomes and milestone agreements from COP16. 🌏 In a landmark decision at COP 16, Parties adopted a new Programme of Work on Article 8(j) and other provisions of the Convention related to indigenous peoples and local communities. This transformative programme sets out specific tasks to ensure the meaningful contribution of indigenous peoples and local communities towards the three objectives of the Convention ((a) the conservation of biological diversity, b) the sustainable use of biological diversity, and c) the fair and equitable sharing of benefits), as well as the implementation of the KMGBF. Through this Programme, rights, contributions and traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples and local communities are further embedded in the global agenda. Parties also agreed to establish a new permanent subsidiary body on article 8j and other Provisions, with its modus operandi to be developed over the next two years. The new Subsidiary Body is expected to elevate issues related to the implementation of Article 8j and enhance the engagement and participation of indigenous peoples and local communities in all convention processes. A further decision was taken to recognize the role of people of African descent, comprising collectives embodying traditional lifestyles, in implementing the Convention and in the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. GYBN Africa Post2020 Biodiversity Framework - EU support SA Biodiversity South African National Biodiversity Institute Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) UN Biodiversity African Wildlife Foundation

🌍 Join us for an insightful webinar on building climate resilience through biodiversity conservation! 🌍 We’re excited to announce our lineup of expert speakers for our upcoming session on Target 8 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework: 🔹 Mr. Malusi Vatsha – Founder & Director, Zwetsha Environmental 🔹 Lerato Mogane – Climate NPO Advocate for Climate-Resilient Communities 🔹 Barney Kgope – Director: Biodiversity Risk Management, Department of Fisheries, Forestry, and the Environment 📅 Date: November 6, 2024 ⏰ Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM SAST 💻 Platform: Zoom Come and learn how South Africa is aligning biodiversity with climate action to build resilience, and discover how youth can play a crucial role in these initiatives. Don’t miss it! https://lnkd.in/dDQ-qujr #ClimateAction #Biodiversity #SouthAfrica #KunmingMontrealFramework

🌍 Coming Soon! 🌍 Join us for the second webinar of the GYBN Fellowship #YouthIntoAction series! Get ready to dive into Building Climate-Resilient Communities", where we’ll explore how South African youth are stepping up to minimize climate impacts on biodiversity and foster resilient ecosystems. 🌱💪 This webinar aligns with Target 8: our goal to minimise climate change impacts on biodiversity and strengthen community resilience. Don't miss the insights, strategies, and youth-led actions driving us from paper to action! Register now https://lnkd.in/dDQ-qujr

🌍 Coming Soon! 🌍 Join us for the second webinar of the GYBN Fellowship #YouthIntoAction series! Get ready to dive into **"Building Climate-Resilient Communities", where we’ll explore how South African youth are stepping up to minimize climate impacts on biodiversity and foster resilient ecosystems. 🌱💪 This webinar aligns with Target 8: our goal to **minimize climate change impacts on biodiversity and strengthen community resilience. Don't miss the insights, strategies, and youth-led actions driving us from paper to action! Register using the below link: https://lnkd.in/dDQ-qujr

🌿 #COP16Colombia Day  🔟🌿 📍 Cali, Colombia 🇨🇴 Throughout the duration of COP16, the conversation during side events that we have attended has mainly been around “ what local actions are youth and lPLCs currently implementing on the ground to contribute to the achievement of the GBF and how can such actions be upscaled for greater impact". We joined an interactive event hosted by @Nordic council of ministers and UNESCO to discuss the local actions that can and are currently being implemented within Biospheres in South Africa contributing to the GBF. Within the South African Context, youth and local communities have proven to be active custodians of nature and key players within the biospheres , implementing projects to safeguard nature while also promoting sustainable development in the Biospheres. If we are to meet the goals we have set for ourselves at COP16 and operationalise the GBF, there is a critical need to invest youth and IPLCs as key stakeholders in the process!! Biospheres are life.