2010 is the Year of Biodiversity, but many targets for the last ten years have not been met. John Donaldson of the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) investigated this as the speaker at the Biodiversity Colloquium, held last week.
The trends in many biodiversity indicators are going down, and there is recognition that the next ten years need to see tighter regulations and more concerted work internationally. Donaldson says there are many institutions in South Africa involved in biodiversity research and several strategies operating in the sector.
What is needed is a framework to bring these different players together and the Department of Environmental Affairs has asked SANBI to lead this process. SANBI is therefore currently involved in developing a National Biodiversity Research and Innovation Strategy that involves consulting with stakeholders and collecting inputs.
Donaldson started his talk by explaining that his organisation wished to understand what the key issues are by hearing from people working in the biodiversity field. SANBI provides an interface between government and science; it operates as a managed network incorporating partners from universities, research organisations and other interested parties, and information it gains is funnelled to government. SANBI is often asked to provide objective scientific assessments, for example in the case of predicted climate change impacts.
The question of why a national strategy is needed was raised at the outset, and Donaldson explained that recent policy developments at government level require a strong science base. Additionally, delivery targets for government ministers have been introduced, with the goal for the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs being 'protected and enhanced environmental assets and natural resources'.
Critical problems that need to be addressed for this target to be met include the fact that quantity and quality of water in South Africa is deteriorating and the potential effects of climate change. Additionally there is a rising trend relating to the release of pollutants into the atmosphere, and protection of our biodiversity and ecosystems is of critical importance.
Donaldson welcomed the effort made by government to make these goals real and measurable, while challenging scientists to be better prepared and thus able to have more input next time targets are drawn up. Increasingly South Africa is having more input into multilateral agreements and should be prepared to make inputs into the Intergovernmental Panel on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, which will be established to synthesize information for policy makers.
Appealing to the audience gathered at the Colloquium, Donaldson asked for their thoughts on what aspects of biodiversity research in South Africa are currently working well, what needs strengthening, and what new initiatives are required. A lively, and hopefully ongoing, discussion ensued.