Speech by Minister Barbara Creecy at the launch of South Africa’s National Biodiversity Assessment & the recent Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)

Acting Director-Genera of the Department of Environment, Fisheries and Forestry, Mr Shoni Munzhedz
Members of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries present her today,
Representatives of partner organizations, other government departments and Non-governmental organisations
Authors and contributors
Ladies and Gentlemen

It gives me great pleasure to be here today for the launch of South Africa’s 3rd National Biodiversity Assessment (NBA) which is a comprehensive scientific reflection of the state of Biodiversity in our country.

This comprehensive scientific reflection of the state of biodiversity in our country took five years to complete and involved nearly 480 South African scientists. The formulation of the report served as an incredible capacity building programme, providing work for emerging scientists in South Africa who will be the leaders and decision makers in the future.

The Assessment represents a significant attempt to domesticate the Global Assessment on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services launched in Paris earlier this year. It allows us to evaluate our progress and our short-comings in conservation and ecosystem management on both land and sea.

The study will be a valuable tool for the environment sector, and indeed the whole of government, civil society and the scientific community to inform policy, planning and decision making on the wise use of our country’s biodiversity assets and the management and restoration of our ecological infrastructure.  

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