The Battle for Biodiversity | OECD

Why COP22 in Marrakech Provides Optimism for Uganda’s Threated Forest Resources

With a population of approximately 37.5 million, Uganda is ranked 161st in the Human Development Index (HDI) ranking and 24th in terms of vulnerability. Average annual temperature has increased by 1.3 degrees C since 1960 and there will be a projected increase between 1.0 degrees C and 3.1 degrees C and increases in annual rainfall by the 2060s (McSweeney et al. 2010). In addition, the average number of ‘hot’ days and ‘hot’ nights per year in Uganda have increased since 1960 (McSweeney et al, 2010).

In light of the above, Uganda’s climate action – the Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) submitted ahead of the Paris Conference in October 2015, notes that the livelihood of the people of Uganda is highly dependent on the exploitation of her natural resources, including climate, forests and water.

Hence, Uganda’s priority in the INDC is adaptation. Key in this plan is the need to scale up work on reducing vulnerability and addressing adaptation in agriculture and livestock, forestry, infrastructure (with an emphasis on human settlements, social infrastructure and transport), water, energy, health and disaster risk management.

Forests should be at the center of Uganda’s climate action

Uganda is highly depended on her natural resources, making it vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Uganda is experiencing significant impacts of climate change. For example recent reports from the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) indicate that there has been an increase in seasonal mean temperature in many areas of Uganda over the last 50 years (IPCC, 2014, while observations to date show that annual rainfall has been decreasing (McSweeney et al, 2010).

Currently, Uganda loses nearly 5,400 hectares of natural forest every month due to its population that heavily depends on wood fuel (WWF Uganda, 2016). However, forests as a key natural resource (under stress) stand as a starting entry point for Uganda at COP22, given their inclusion in the Paris Agreement.

In Uganda, forests among others provide energy, acts as key water catchments and landscape restoration, and moderate climate that is conducive to Uganda’s largely agricultural economy (Approximately 70% of the country’s population engages in subsistence, rain-fed agriculture and it derives significant income from exported crops). Within the confines of COP22, Uganda should harness multilateral interventions to supplement its efforts in building community resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate change.

For example, Article 5 of the Paris Agreement on GHG sinks and reservoirs and Reducing Emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks (REDD+), all Parties agreed to take action to conserve and enhance forests as sinks & reservoirs of GHG. In the same way, Parties are encouraged to take action and to implement and support REDD+ and Joint Mitigation and Adaptation (JMA).

It is particularly important to focus on pro-poor interventions in all these endeavors. For example, by promoting agroforestry practices, encouraging efficient biomass energy production and utilization technologies, increasing the efficiency in the use of biomass in the traditional energy sector and promoting renewable energy and other alternative energy sources.

Landmark Climate Change Agreement to Enter into Force | UNFCCC

Over 55 Parties covering More Than 55 per cent of Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions Ratify the Paris Climate Change Agreement

Entry into force triggers a variety of important consequences, including launch of the Agreement’s governing body, known as the CMA. In the parlance of the UN climate change process this stands for the Conference of the Parties to the Convention serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement.

Given that the count-down to entry into force has now been formally triggered, the CMA will take place at the upcoming annual UN climate conference, known as COP22, in Marrakesh, Morocco from November 7-18. Precise dates will be announced in the coming days.

Moreover, the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) – national climate action plans - of Parties which have joined or subsequently join the Agreement transform into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which can always be resubmitted as more ambitious plans at any point. A key feature of the Agreement is that these plans can be strengthened at any time but not weakened.

More: http://newsroom.unfccc.int/unfccc-newsroom/landmark-climate-change-agreement-to-enter-into-force/

Horn trade debate to hot up this week | news24

While no firm decision is expected on the fate of rhinos and horns, the rhino debate is one of the most anticipated at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which will see 183 countries converge in South Africa to debate the fate of the world’s most endangered wildlife species.

Countries are expected to ensure that endangered species are on the right lists for trading, or nontrading.

But the conference is fraught with internal politics, with pro-trade lobbyists and animal rights often in direct opposition to what they believe is best for the sustainable conservation of species. More: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/horn-trade-debate-to-hot-up-this-week-20160917

Infographic: What Do Your Country's Emissions Look Like?

Infographic: What Do Your Country's Emissions Look Like?

How can civil society get involved in the SDGs? | CAFOD and SDGs

It’s important civil society groups understand how their governments should be doing this, so they can get involved and help push for positive action. How?

Kigali Declaration on Forest Landscape Restoration in Africa

During the Africa High Level Bonn Challenge Round table on 26-27 July 2016, ministers and government officials representing 13 African countries adopted a declaration of immense importance for reaffirming and increasing their commitment to the Bonn Challenge and their dedication to developing and implementing forest landscape restoration activities with the support of IUCN and partners.

Forest Landscape Restoration is key for Africa  in economic growth and poverty eradication, as well as meeting its global sustainable development commitments like the Sustainable Development Goals, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (for example the Paris Agreement), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and the United Nations Convention on Combating Desertification (UNCCD) in those countries experiencing serious drought and / or desertification particularly in Africa.

The Declaration calls for, inter alia: coordination among African countries and the mobilization of public and private sector financial resources; mainstreaming restoration into national development policies; capacity building through technical expertise and environmental and social standards; collective climate action; and innovative financial schemes that enable domestic investments in FLR, including through national climate and land management fund mechanisms and tax incentives. The declaration will remain open for signatures through 1 September 2016, when it will be introduced at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Hawaii, US.   

Read the full Declaration from here

Earth Overshoot Day 2016 is on August 8

Our beautiful planet | eco@africa | DW.COM | 29.07.2016

Our beautiful planet | eco@africa | DW.COM | 29.07.2016

African Civil Society Call on the African Ministers’ Council on Water to Achieve Agenda 2030 and Leave No One Behind.

In light of the progressive commitments on water, sanitation and hygiene – including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) with Goal 6 on WASH, The Ngor Declaration on Sanitation and Hygiene
Adopted by the African Ministers responsible for sanitation and hygiene on 27 May 2015 at
AfricaSan4, Africa Water Vision for 2025 and the African Union’s Agenda 2063 – civil society, under the banner of the African Civil Society Network on Water and Sanitation (ANEW) - call on the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) to achieve Agenda 2030 and leave no one behind.

We call upon African governments and ministries to:

1. Prioritise water, sanitation and hygiene as fundamental in the implementation and achievement of the SDGs. Goal 6 must be a core pillar of development plans.

2. Recognise the centrality of Goal 6 in the achievement of all other sustainable development goals, by fostering cross-sector, integrated and collaborative ways of working to achieve this agenda.

3. Ensure the implementation of the N’gor Declaration, and AfricaSan and Sanitation and Water for All Commitments, and align these clearly with national level Goal 6 implementation plans to achieve Agenda 2030.

4. Ensure a stronger role for civil society at various levels for coordination, communication and improved accountability in the implementation of Goal 6.

5. Increase domestic resource mobilisation - and improve allocation and utilisation - to achieve sustainable service delivery and performance, by allocating adequate funding for maintenance, rehabilitation and subsequent support to facilities.

6. Strengthen the performance of relevant institutions by providing clear mandates, sufficient resource allocation, effective coordination, and accountability and transparency mechanisms, to ensure that capacity, skills and resources are improved at all levels.

7. Set and meet specific national targets - based on the principles of the human rights to water and sanitation - so that public investments prioritise the poorest and most marginalised, aiming to progressively reduce inequalities, and are focused on areas that have the greatest needs.

8. Ensure integrated water resource management in all development projects, specifically extractives and construction activities, to secure sustainable water sources.

9. Establish and invest in a robust, centralised system for data collection and ensure open, accurate, disaggregated data.

Read the full Civil Society statement, under the banner of the African Civil Society Network on Water and Sanitation (ANEW) from here

State of the World’s Forests 2016: Forests and agriculture - land use ch...

Agriculture remains the most significant driver of global deforestation. However, it is possible under certain conditions to achieve sustainable agriculture and food security while also halting deforestation. A new study from FAO - The State of the World’s Forests 2016: Forests and agriculture - land use challenges and opportunities - identifies more than 20 countries that have maintained or increased forest area, and improved food security since 1990. This video focuses on successful methods in Costa Rica, Viet Nam and The Gambia.

Uganda CSOs Urge Government to prioritise the Recovery and Restoration of Degraded Ecosystems

The Uganda Civil Society Organizations under the 2030 Agenda Reference Group (currently hosted by Uganda National NGO Forum) have released a statement to the on going High Level Political Forum, as a rejoinder to the Review Report on Uganda's Readiness for Implementation of 2030 Agenda.

The CSO statement in welcomes the efforts of the global development community and the Uganda Government in providing leadership to the implementation of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

With respect to Environment and Natural Resources, the CSO rejoinder warn that the environment is facing threats from a range of human activities. Population growth and rapid urbanization have put pressure on the delicate balance of exploiting today’s natural resources at the expense of future generations. For example, Uganda still struggles with loss in biodiversity with depletion of natural wealth estimated to cost the country 4 to 12% of national income each year. For example, in 2005 Uganda had a total of 3.6 million hectares of forest land compared to 4.9 million hectares in 1990 (UBOS 2014).

'Uganda Government should make investment in the recovery and restoration of degraded ecosystems, especially wetlands and the protected forest estate as a priority. Further, Uganda should also take advantage of the proposed climate change funding opportunities for climate resilience and low carbon initiatives.' the CSO Rejoinder concludes. Read the full Uganda CSO Rejoinder from here

How Addressing Land Degradation in Africa Leads to Environmental Improvement and Sustainable Rural Livelihoods

This year’s World Day to Combat Desertification (2016 WDCD) advocates for the importance of inclusive cooperation to restore and rehabilitate degraded land and contribute towards achieving the overall Sustainable Development Goals. 2016 WDCD also has a slogan ‘Protect Earth. Restore Lake. Engage People’.

The global observance event on Friday 17 June 2016 will be held in Beijing, China, hosted by the State Forestry Administration of China (SFA). In 2013, China embarked on the new development strategy, “The Belt and Road,” aiming to strengthen cooperation among countries primarily in Eurasia. Since then, it has been promoting green and low-carbon infrastructure construction in cooperation with the neighbouring countries connected by the historic Silk Road. By organizing the global observance in China, the 2016 WDCD will demonstrate how Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) can be a critical element for achieving other sustainable development goals, especially for promotion of inclusive and sustainable economic growth. At the global observance, the host country will announce the “One Belt and One Road Joint Action to Combating Desertification Initiative” together with interested countries and stakeholders.

Land is a major carbon sink and hence a centre of discussion regarding climate change. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15 and its target 15.3 are built on the LDN concept that emphasizes the need to address land degradation, through restoration, mitigation and sustainable land management (UNCCD, 2012). SDG target 15.3 states: “By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world”.

SDG Target 15.3 has therefore become a strong vehicle for driving UNCCD implementation, while at the same time contributing to other SDGs, including those relating to climate change mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, food and water security, disaster risk reduction, and poverty.

Hence, according to the United Nations, inclusive cooperation among all actors is key for making Land Degradation Neutrality a fundamental solution for achieving SDGs. The slogan, “Protect Earth. Restore Land. Engage People.” addresses the importance of comprehensive participation and cooperation in working towards achieving LDN.

The objective of LDN is to maintain or even improve the amount of healthy and productive land resources over time and in line with national sustainable development priorities. LDN is a target that can be implemented at local, national and even regional scales; at the heart of LDN are Sustainable Land Management (SLM) practices that help close yield gaps and enhance the resilience of land resources and communities that directly depend on them while avoiding further degradation.

Protecting the Earth

LDN aims to maintain and improve the productivity of land resources by sustainably managing and restoring soil, water and biodiversity assets, while at the same time contributing to poverty reduction, food and water security, and climate change adaptation and mitigation.

As such, achieving LDN comes with immense benefits as it secures protection of Africa’s wildlife from habitat destruction, illegal activities and loss of fragile ecosystems. In turn this natural heritage has immense contribution to these economies in terms of food security and water security, resilient communities and strong economic bedrock based on the unique tourism options that promise to contribute sustainably to national incomes of countries like Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania.

LDN also secures that many African countries can ably contribute towards Low Emission Development strategies through conservation of biomass, forest, and other forms as part of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Article 4.19 of the Paris Agreement calls on all Parties, including Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) to strive to formulate and communicate Low Development Strategies by 2020

Achieving LDN equally contributes to the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. For example, under Strategic Goal B (Reduce the direct pressures on biodiversity and promote sustainable use), by 2020, the rate of loss of all natural habitats, including forests, is at least halved and where feasible brought close to zero, and degradation and fragmentation is significantly reduced under Target 5; By 2020 areas under agriculture, aquaculture and forestry are managed sustainably, ensuring conservation of biodiversity under Target 7.

Restoring Land

A LDN approach upholds two complementary pathways of action -- sustainable land management and ecosystem restoration -- which in tandem will help achieve LDN. The restoration of natural and semi-natural areas is often key to maintaining the necessary level of ecosystem services for working landscapes as well as urban areas.

The Great Green Wall for the Sahara and Sahel Initiative (GGWSSI) to stretch from West to Eastern Africa covering 7,000 kilometres aims to push back land degradation and desertification in the Sahel and Sahara through increased vegetation. This will also boost food security, and help local communities to adapt to climate change. According to GGWSSI, every year, 24 billion tons of fertile soils are lost to us from erosion while 12 million hectares of land are degraded through drought and the steady encroachment of desert. With every hectare of land we lose to drought or the desert, we also lose tons of potential grain which makes life even more of an ordeal for the 1.5 billion people worldwide who make their living off degraded land.

Engaging People

The key principle of LDN is that the people at a grassroots level, whose everyday decisions and actions affect the condition of land and water resources, have to be involved in designing and implementing measures to halt and reverse land degradation.

For many countries in Africa, land defines livelihoods as it is the source of water (catchment protection) that supports fisheries, agriculture and direct supplies for domestic and commercial uses. Therefore achieving LDN in Africa is equivalent to building resilience in communities and developing sustainable communities for millions that are vulnerable to the increasing impacts of desertification and drought.

In Tanzania for example, the rebirth of the traditional Ngitili management system led to the restoration of between 350,000 and 500,000 hectares of woodland in the period from 1986 to 2001 (UNCCD, 2012). This benefited over 800 villages with an economic value of US$14 per person per month from the integration of SLM and restoration activities at all scales - from small family plots to larger community forests. By focusing on local initiatives (with a range of land uses) and integrated planning at larger scales, nations can increase the economic and ecological feasibility of achieving LDN.

It is therefore important that, more bilateral and multilateral efforts be mobilised to achieve LDN in Africa, where on-going voluntary actions in degraded and dryland areas within these countries by Governments and communities need to be boosted. From these, we stand not to leave anyone behind as multiple benefits are gained that range from reducing stress on fragile landscapes to securing sustainable rural livelihoods for many young people. Above all, achieving LDN means that the global fraternity will also be fulfilling other global commitments on climate change, biodiversity conservation, land and water resources management at the same time.

How food connects all the SDGs | Stockhol Resilience Centre

Johan Rockström is Executive Director of Stockholm Resilience Centre,
and Chairman of the EAT Advisory Board. Together with Pavan Sukhdev,
Founder and CEO of Gist Advisory he presented a State of The Union style
adress. EAT Stockholm Food Forum, June 2016. www.eatforum.org.

Sustainable Lifestyles and Education Uncovered at a Stockholm Conference.

The Second meeting of the Multi-stakeholder Advisory Committee meeting (MAC) of the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production patterns (10YFP) for the Sustainable Lifestyles Programme and Education (SLE), took place in Stockholm (Sweden). The meeting was preceded by a half-day conference on 'Making Lifestyles Attractive' organized by the Stockholm Environment Institute and the Swedish Ministry of Environment and Energy and attended by Swedish Private sector, youths, academia, NGOs and MAC members from the global North and South. 

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Sustainable Lifestyles are considered as ways of living, social behaviors and choices that minimize environmental degradation, while supporting equitable socioeconomic development and better quality of life for All.

Opening the 'Making lifestyles Attractive' Conference, Per Bolund - Swedish Deputy Minister of Finance and Minister for Financial Markets and Consumer affairs,  noted that consumption is a major issue for Sweden and the OECD. He highlighted the housing, food and transport sectors as priority areas for action. He added that Sweden will act in tandem with other EU and UN partner states to implement Agenda 2030. He called for promotion of consumption patterns that can reduce carbon footprint for Sweden and other rich countries.

Gunilla Blomquist, Director at Swedish Ministry of Energy and Environment noted that sharing experiences within participants across the globe and getting business entities on board is an important step to promote sustainable lifestyles and education.

Cecilia Lopez (Coordinator at UNEP) highlighted the mandate of UNEP on the 10YFP that comprise 6 programmes (Consumer information; Sustainable lifestyles and education; Sustainable public procurement;Sustainable buildings and construction; Sustainable tourism). She added that these programmes are also part of the 2 overarching Agenda 2030 Goals 12 and 8 (Target 8.4: Improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavour to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, in accordance with the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production, with developed countries taking the lead.

On the topic whether 'It is cool to be sustainable', a panel of young people from Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, Sellpy and UNGDOPAR shared their experiences in promoting sustainable lifestlyes. Sellpy as a growing startup for example, shared how they have already helped thousands of people in Sweden to sell the things they don’t use anymore, making it easy to sell things as it is to buy them.

IKEA that deals in furniture and house furnishing globally, shared their vision of a sustainable life that includes green, brown and recycled, solid and log-lasting, more from less, minimalistic, playful to create innovation, sharing through a circular economy for resource efficiency, repair and use to prolong lifespan, small-scale among others.

Overall, the Conference was enriching in terms of the exemplifying the concept of sustainable lifestyle and education in practice, while providing a forum for exchange of ideas among different actors as well as as participants from both the global North and South.

Kenyan President to preside over destruction of 105 tons of ivory | K24 TV

Kenya will this Saturday (April 30, 2016) make a statement over its commitment to protect its wildlife heritage and bring to end the illegal ivory trade when President Uhuru Kenyatta presides over the burning of of 105 tonnes of ivory and other wildlife trophies at the Nairobi National Park.

Karen Karimi looks at the significance of the event to be attended by 3 African heads of states and global celebrities.

Would Mother Earth really smile about the State of East African Forests?

The first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, mobilized 20 million Americans from all walks of life. Their actions led to the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts.

According to the Earth Day Network, today, over one billion people in 192 countries participate in Earth Day activities, making it the largest civic observance in the world. This Year’s Earth day is a twofold global event. First, Earth Day’s Global 2016 Theme: Trees for the Earth, begs all able bodied person to come forward to be counted by planting trees. Over the next five years, as Earth Day moves closer to its 50th anniversary in 2020, it is calling upon everyone to help it achieve one of our most ambitious goals yet — planting 7.8 billion trees: one tree for every person on the planet.

Why focus on trees? 

Earth day Network estimates that our planet / Mother Earth is currently losing over 15 billion trees each year (equivalent to 48 football fields every minute). In the global south, trees are a lifeline in terms of tangible and non-tangible products and services much as they are being reduced nonstop. According the State of East Africa Report, 2012, with increased population and higher population density expected in the future, the pressures on the region’s forests and other natural resources will intensify further. One clear indicator is the high rate of deforestation. Between 1990 and 2010 East Africa’s forested area shrank by 22 million hectares, and deforestation will continue to increase as more and more people inhabit the region. Therefore, Earth Day 2016 reminds us of the need to act if we are to survive in East Africa by securing the supportive functions trees. These include the water catchment functions (as in case of the Mau forest complex and Mountain Elgon) that ultimately determine the viability of fisheries activities downstream in rivers, lakes and streams over wide areas in East Africa. For example according to UNEP (2012), deforestation at a rate of 5,000 Hectares per year between 2000 and 2010 reduced the available water by 62 million cubic meters by 2010. This reduced agricultural production by Kshs 2.6 billion in irrigation agriculture.

State of forest resources in East Africa

According to the 2012 State of East Africa Report, in 1990 East Africa had 106.7 million hectares of forest. This area shrank by more than 9 per cent to 97.7 million hectares in 2000, and a further 13 per cent to 84.9 million hectares in 2010. In total, 21.8 million hectares of forests were cut down.

In 2010 Tanzania had the largest share of forest area (including wooded land) in East Africa, with 45 million hectares (53 per cent). However, the forested area has reduced by 14.6 million hectares, accounting for 67 per cent of the region’s total deforestation.

Kenya’s share of the forest area in 2010 was 32 million hectares (38 per cent), but this was almost 18 per cent less than in 1990. Kenya accounted for 33 per cent of the region’s forest depletion. Burundi also lost some 117,000 hectares of forest. Uganda and Rwanda have expanded their respective forest areas by 43,000 and 3,000 hectares over the last two decades. This is, however, a very small percentage compared to the total deforested area.

As part of Earth Day 2016, Mother Earth would actually demand from East Africa to take immediate steps to take steps in restoring the deforested areas equivalent to what has been lost over the last decade.

Forest cover: The challenge

Unfortunately efforts to replenish Mother Earth by planting trees and conserving the remaining forest by communities, groups, and Government, Intergovernmental and development agencies are demotivated by sudden pronouncements to degazette the remaining forest acreage throughout East Africa. For example, the plans to expurgate sections to meet immediate needs of industrial, agricultural and human settlement needs.

This definitely would make Mother Earth sob wildly (evidenced by sporadic rains, hail and wind storms, floods and prolonged droughts), with no commensurate attention from many of us despite the huge toll it has on the poor and the environment. Instead, more of what makes the Earth more despicable occupy our myopic minds. For example, in Uganda Luweero district council recently passed a resolution to have the only remaining Nyimbwa natural forest reserve in the area (about 160 Hectares) turned into an industrial park without following the right procedures. In Kenya, Civil society and citizen groups are shouting loud to ‘Save the Mau Now’ from an attempt to hive off 17,000 hectares that will jeopardizes the future of all Kenyans and to a larger extent East Africans thereby making Mother Earth yell with untold agony.

Any supportive policy framework?

Surprisingly East Africa is not short of conducive policies and laws to deter forest loss and degradation at the national level. The missing gap is how to coordinate sectors and professions to avoid ‘short-termism’ as ultimate objectives, respecting the views of other stakeholders in all decisions taken as well as deliberately investing in tree cover replenishment and other sustainable natural resources management programmes.

At the regional level, much as the East African Community (EAC) integration process (as per the Treaty) is moving on, sustainable management of forests and other natural resources needs to be given more attention. This can be through practical and strategic interventions. One of the recent laudable step in this direction (in support of the bridging gaps at the respective national level), is passing of ‘The EAC Forestry and Management Protection Bill, 2015’. The Bill is expected to “promote the development, protection, conservation, sustainable management and use of the forests in the Community especially trans-boundary forests ecosystems, in the interest of present and future generations. It further wants to espouse the scientific, cultural and socio-economic values of forests and harmonise national forest laws.”

However until it is rolled out in practice, with support from other already existing laws and policies, we cannot pronounce ourselves victorious over forest loss and degradation.

At the global level, the global goals for sustainable development provide an opportunity for East Africa to benefit from the global resolve to increase tree cover through the call for all countries to take urgent action to combat climate change (SDG 13); and to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss (SDG 15). In the same way the Paris Agreement on Climate Change due to enter into force in 2020, provides 29 Articles related to forests, which is a significant global realisation of their potential to contribute to climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Possible target: Planting 139 million trees in East Africa

Hence, Earth Day 2016 theme: Trees for the Earth reminds us (especially in East Africa) to join in and plant trees to offset the challenges to human existence on Mother Earth. It is only non-discriminatory that each of the 139 million East Africans, plant one tree (be it a sapling, seedling, wilding for whatever potential benefit) on farm, school, own land or public land this year! Mother Earth is weeping now, but I am sure that once we do this, she will laugh heartedly while constantly embracing each of us on seeing this achievement.

Who knows? The community mobilization above could spill over into emergence of a more environmentally conscious East African people that secures implementation of all forest related policies and the SDGs to the dot, while supportive laws and institutions emerge.

The Global Risks Report 2016 | World Economic Forum

Now in its 11th edition, The Global Risks Report 2016 draws attention to ways that global risks could evolve and interact in the next decade. The Report  has named climate change as one of the biggest risks to life on earth. More: https://www.weforum.org/reports/the-global-risks-report-2016

National Footprint Accounts – Ecological Balance Sheets for 180+ Countries | Global Footprint Network

Global Footprint Network’s National Footprint Accounts provide a comprehensive way to understand the competing demands on our planet’s ecosystems. www.footprintnetwork.org/public.

These accounts help national governments understand and manage their natural resources—to help them make confident policy decisions and create a prosperous, resilient future for their residents.

World Wildlife Day 2016: Reporting Progress in Implementing Global Commitments at National Level remains Key

The World Wildlife Day was first marked on March 3, 2015. This day was established by the UN General Assembly and facilitated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), to celebrate the planet’s extraordinary array of wildlife, as well as to raise awareness around illegal wildlife trade.

It will be celebrated under the theme “The future of wildlife is in our hands’, which reinforces the inextricable link between wildlife, people and sustainable development. It is the responsibility of each generation to safeguard wildlife for the following generation. It also imparts the pressing need for national action to ensure the survival in the wild of both charismatic and lesser known species.

At this inaugural occasion, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told an audience in Geneva that, “Despite its intrinsic value to sustainable development and human well-being, wildlife is under threat,” UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told an audience gathered in Geneva. “The environmental, economic, and social consequences of wildlife crime are profound. Of particular concern are the implications of illicit trafficking for peace and security in a number of countries where organised crime, insurgency, and terrorism are often closely linked.”

Wildlife commerce – legal and prohibited – sits at the nexus of trade, development, and the environment. Indeed, a key negative impact of wildlife trafficking is that it unsustainably strips countries of vital natural resource assets (BioRes, 2014). This extends well beyond terrestrial mega-fauna such as rhinos and elephants to include key trade industries such as fish and timber. A multifaceted approach that includes demand reduction, law enforcement, as well as sustainable use, will be vital to tackling various illegal wildlife trade challenges.

Unfortunately, the media in East Africa is awash with stories related to continued illegal trade in wildlife. For example this month (February 2016) alone, in Tanzania two residents of Kondoa District in Dodoma Region have been sentenced to 20 years in jail or payment of a Tanzania shs 5 million fine each after being arrested with elephant tusks worth Tanzania shs 38million. In Uganda, Police arrested one person for illegal possession of three Grey Crowned Cranes — the country’s national emblem, whose populations are rapidly declining due to loss and degradation of wetlands, while weak laws have exposed the Kenya’s game parks to poaching even as government officials lead global campaigns to end the menace.

This raises serious operational questions: What can tangibly change events at source (communities and wildlife sanctuaries) to reduce demand and scale up sustainable use options especially for the endangered species like elephants, rhinos and others? How far are the mandated institutions willing and able to execute their respective roles in line with global commitments? How effective are they to reach out to the target / public in the destination countries of this trade?

In February 2014, the UK government hosted a high-profile London Conference on the Illegal Wildlife Trade to discuss the challenge posed by illegal wildlife trade. Forty-six heads of states converged on London, duly agreeing to an official declaration designed to showcase political will to tackle this problem. The Conference issued a Declaration that underline the scale and consequences of the illegal trade in wildlife, noting the need to build on the existing international framework for action, and committing themselves to providing the political leadership and practical support needed to take 5 essential actions.

Similarly, in September 2015, the UN Member States adopted Agenda 2030 which among others recognizes wildlife crime as a threat to sustainable development. The new agenda has two Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with an explicit focus on maintaining the integrity of the natural ecosystems which underpin our development and wellbeing. Environmental crimes, both marine and terrestrial, are targeted under these two goals:

• SDG14: “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development”. This goal calls for an end to illegal and unreported fishing, and destructive fishing practices.

•  SDG15: “Protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss”. This goal has targets aimed at stopping the poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and fauna.

From commitment to Action: Prudent for all States to report on progress on the London Declaration

From the London Conference Among others, under the sustainable livelihoods and economic development, States committed themselves and called upon the international community to take action, to recognise the negative impact of illegal wildlife trade on sustainable livelihoods and economic development; Increase capacity of local communities to pursue sustainable livelihood opportunities and eradicate poverty; Initiate or strengthen collaborative partnerships among local, regional, national and international development and conservation agencies to enhance support for community led wildlife conservation and to promote retention of benefits by local communities for the conservation and sustainable management of wildlife, including actions to reduce illegal use of fauna and flora; and to work with, and include local communities in, establishing monitoring and law enforcement networks in areas surrounding wildlife.

Given the gravity of this problem, it would be prudent for all the States represented at this global conference to report back on what they have done. For example, the Kasane conference on the illegal wildlife trade, 25 March 2015 was a UK Government self-assessment of progress on commitments in the London declaration.

This is especially important for East Africa and other countries that are faced with the huge challenge of containing illegal wildlife trade and could best handle it through regional and global partnerships. This can only be known if the self-assessment or independent reporting is done to ascertain actions taken, future actions planned, and ways forward. For the London Conference, this needs to be done by April 2016 in order not to further lose momentum, one year afterwards.

Getting Ready: Implementing the SDGs amidst the current wildlife crisis

The SDGs reflect the importance which UN Member States place on addressing the global wildlife crisis across the source, the transit, and the receiving countries. However success of this will on be measured on progress attained based on the final indictors agreed upon.

It is therefore important for UN member states to periodically generate this information for review in order to determine the relevant courses of action

In conclusion, in order the ‘future of wildlife to be in our hands,’ political will in form of regularly tracking progress on implementing global commitments through self – reporting or independent reporting is key.