WINDHOEK, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Biodiversity policymakers, scientists, and practitioners from seven East and Southern African countries convened in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, on Tuesday for a three-day regional trialogue focused on combating invasive alien species (IAS) and promoting the sustainable use of wildlife.
Hosted by Namibia's Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), in cooperation with the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network (BES-Net), the event aimed to convert global scientific knowledge into practical regional action.
Participants from Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, Uganda, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe discussed the interconnected challenges posed by IAS and the sustainable use of wildlife.
According to a joint statement, these two factors are crucial in assessments produced by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), which aim to drive biodiversity conservation, food security, and livelihoods in the region.
Invasive alien species are a leading cause of global biodiversity loss, with significant impacts on ecosystems, economies, and human well-being.
"It is delightful for us to host the BES-Net Regional Trialogue for East and Southern Africa. This allows us to showcase the country's rich biodiversity and the country's collective effort in safeguarding our natural resources," Teofilus Nghitila, executive director at the Namibian Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, said in a statement on behalf of the minister.
Nghitila noted that Namibia, just like the rest of the world, knows that it is cost-effective to prevent the spread of invasive alien species and tackle the biodiversity crisis once they have become established.
"Namibia stands ready to share and learn from other multi-stakeholders comprising policymakers, scientists, and practitioners through this dialogue," he said.
Alka Bhatia, UNDP Resident Representative for Namibia, emphasized that biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management are integral to sustainable development.
"Protecting nature while ensuring communities benefit from conservation through sustainable livelihoods, equitable resource access, and resilience to environmental shocks," she said.
Alexandra Postrigan, BES-Net's partnership building and facilitation specialist, highlighted the trialogue's unique opportunity to address interconnected challenges in East and Southern Africa and the importance of linking biodiversity, water, food, health, and climate change for effective and equitable conservation.
Namibia's decision to host the regional trialogue underscores its commitment to evidence-based biodiversity conservation, following its formal joining of IPBES in June 2023 and the hosting of the IPBES 11 meeting in December 2024. ■
