LEX-FAOC105846

The Maldives’ National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) 2016-2025 is the country’s response to its international commitments under the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD). The NBSAP is a multi-sectoral strategy and action plan with national coverage finalized in 2015. It will be a 10-year (2016-2025) plan and is designed to address six broad areas of concern. The NBSAP seeks to ensure that threats to biodiversity are addressed, biodiversity is conserved, sustainably used and benefits arising from them are shared equitably. The NBSAP will seek that impacted ecosystems that provide essential services related to water, human health, wellbeing and livelihood are restored significantly. The NBSAP will seek to strengthen governance, policies and strategies for biodiversity; provide capacity development; enhance communication and outreach through awareness programmes and capacity building; work together globally for biodiversity conservation; ensure sustainable use of biological resources; address threats to conserve biodiversity; and strengthen information management and resources mobilisation. In particular, the NBSAP will seek that all major fishery, including aquaculture and mariculture are managed and harvested sustainably. The NBSAP will seek that the government, businesses and stakeholders at all levels have taken steps to achieve or have implemented plans for sustainable production and consumption and have kept the impacts of use of natural resources well within safe ecological limits. The NBSAP will seek that pressures on coral reefs and other vulnerable ecosystems due to anthropogenic activities and climate change are minimised. The Ministry of Environment and Energy holds responsibility for the overall coordination of NBSAP implementation. The NBSAP includes targets for six areas of work. A Biodiversity Technical Group will meet on a regular basis to discuss activities, review monitoring system, and decide on improved management approaches. In addition, each target of the NBSAP has an indicator and will be achieved through the implementation of broad suggestive actions. Each action has a separate indicator, baselines, and responsible agency and is time bound.