The draft National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) 2026-2035 has been published, for public comment. This has been announced by Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister David Maynier. This publication was in compliance with sections 89 and 100 of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (Act no. 10 of 2004).

“The NBSAP is the primary instrument for implementing the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) at a national level, setting out a country’s vision, priorities, targets, and actions for conserving and sustainably using biodiversity,” explained the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE). “It determines a nation’s contribution toward global goals while reflecting its specific national circumstances, priorities and capabilities.”

As a result of the adoption of the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (at the end of 2022), the CBD urged all member countries to update and revise their NBSAPs, to bring them into line with the new global targets and goals established by the Kunming Montreal framework. The draft NBSAP 2026-2035 was South Africa’s response.

“The updated NBSAP serves as the main national vehicle to translate global ambitions into concrete, measurable actions,” affirmed the DFFE. “It mandates a shift toward a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to secure South Africa’s wealth of biodiversity.”

Members of the public were invited to make comments, in writing, to the director general of the DFFE. The comments could be sent by mail, email, or delivered by hand to the reception desk at the DFFE offices at Environment House in Pretoria. The comments had to be delivered within 30 days of the publication, in the Government Gazette, of the notice of the release of the draft NBSAP 2026-2035.