In a resounding display of collaboration and commitment, the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership and UNEP-WCMC co-hosted a significant side-event during the SBSTTA meeting. Titled “Supporting the implementation and monitoring of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework: The NBSAP Accelerator Partnership and the Strengthening National Biodiversity Monitoring Systems Initiative,” this event shed light on two pioneering initiatives aimed at bolstering national efforts to implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF).

The NBSAP Accelerator Partnership, spearheaded by Colombia and Germany, is poised to play a pivotal role in enhancing national capacities to deliver updated National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs). With support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the Secretariat to the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD), the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership is well-equipped to make a significant impact.

The Strengthening National Biodiversity Monitoring Systems Initiative, set to commence later this year, is dedicated to providing vital support to countries in developing the capacity for monitoring progress in KM-GBF implementation. This initiative is designed to directly assist a range of countries, assess national monitoring needs, and address those needs through capacity-building activities and peer-to-peer exchanges. UNEP-WCMC, SCBD, and members of the Biodiversity Indicators Partnership are at the helm of this critical initiative[1].

The primary objectives of the SBSTTA side-event were to provide updates on both initiatives, while facilitating dialogue among Parties and stakeholders to refine NBSAPs and enhance national monitoring for the KM-GBF implementation. The event sought to identify opportunities for collaboration and partnership among Parties and respond to questions and feedback, ultimately contributing to the effective implementation of these biodiversity-focused initiatives. The event also marked the official introduction of the Strengthening National Biodiversity Monitoring Initiative to Parties to the CBD.

The event commenced with an introduction by Hesiquio Benitez, General Director of International Cooperation and Implementation at CONABIO, Mexico, and SBSTTA Chair. Eva Gurria, Governance and Partnerships Lead for the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership, presented an overview of the partnership’s aims and how the National Monitoring Support initiative aligns with the partnership’s goals. Natasha Ali from UNEP-WCMC followed, introducing the National Monitoring Initiative and its potential to complement the activities of the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership.

Parties participating in the event included Mexico, Germany, Colombia, China, the European Commission (EC), the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), and SCBD. Each country and organization provided valuable feedback and insights into the needs for revising NBSAPs and monitoring the implementation of KM-GBF.

The event provided a platform to identify concrete opportunities for collaboration and partnership among Parties to the CBD concerning updated NBSAPs and enhanced national monitoring systems. Moreover, feedback and discussions with Parties to the CBD will contribute to refining project activities for both initiatives.

The NBSAP Accelerator Partnership and the Strengthening National Biodiversity Monitoring Systems Initiative are poised to make a significant impact in the global effort to protect and preserve biodiversity.