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AFRICA CALLING |
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Africa Adopts First Comprehensive Regional Treaty on Natural Resources, Environment and Development African nations have received a 'road map' to manage their natural resources more sustainably with the recent adoption of a landmark treaty by the Heads of States of the Members of the African Union. The revised African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources was approved by the Assembly of the African Union on July 11, 2003 in Maputo, Mozambique. The revision of the 1968 Convention, first called for in 1980, brings the treaty up to date with the latest developments in international law, and the move towards sustainable development. "The decision by Member States of the African Union to endorse the revised Convention gives voice to the growing commitment of African leaders to conservation and sustainable development," says IUCN Director General Achim Steiner. "It also reflects decades of investment in conservation under difficult economic circumstances. The Convention sends another signal to the international community that Africa needs to be supported in its efforts to conserve natural resources both for its own peoples, and also in the context of global environmental needs," he says. The treaty commits Parties to, in particular, improving soil conservation and introducing sustainable farming practices at a time when desertification threatens more than one third of the continent's land area. Water resources are to be managed collaboratively by nations in the case of transboundary resources and ecosystems, also taking into account ecological processes, for instance by preventing excessive abstraction to the benefit of downstream communities and States. Out of 263 shared river basins worldwide, 59 are found in Africa. Finally, the concept of conservation areas, incorporating the IUCN Protected Area Management Categories, is embedded in the text of the Convention. Africa has an outstanding record in establishing conservation areas, with some 2 million km2 under some form of protection. The treaty will enter into force once 15 African States have ratified it. "The adoption of the new African Convention is particularly rewarding to IUCN; not only does the new text update the protected area concept according to state-of-the-art approaches, it also reflects IUCN's vision for such areas," says David Sheppard, Head of the IUCN Programme on Protected Areas and Secretary General of the Vth IUCN World Parks Congress. "The upcoming Congress will also be a platform to put the Convention in the limelight and promote its ratification," he added. A number of key global leaders are expected in Durban this September, including South African President Thabo Mbeki, Former President Nelson Mandela, Her Majesty Queen Noor and Deputy Prime Minister of Belize, Mr John Brichens. IUCN - The World Conservation Union and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) provided technical assistance throughout the revision process, and are recognised by the African Union in the Resolution adopting the Convention. For more information contact: David Sheppard Head of IUCN Programme on Protected Areas Tel: +41 22 999 0162 E-mail: david.sheppard@iucn.org Françoise Burhenne-Guilmin Senior Counsel IUCN Environmental Law Centre Tel: +49 228 2692-233 E-mail: fburhenne@elc.iucn.org Xenya Cherny IUCN Communications Tel: +41 22 999 0127 Mobile: +41 79 729 0924 E-mail: xenya.cherny@iucn.org Web: www.iucn.org |
