Development and Implementation of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP) in South Africa

Project Summary. This Biodiversity Enabling Activity for South Africa assists DEAT in developing a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP). The BSAP will build on and reinforce other existing national policies, particularly the White Paper on the Conservation and Sustainable use of South Africa’s Biological Diversity (1997) setting out the National Biodiversity Policy. The project adds to previous support allowing South Africa to participate in the Clearing House Mechanism of CBD, and in assisting the preparation of the first country Report to the Conference of Parties (COP), which totaled 38,800$. Development of the BSAP will cost US$ 297,223 and assessment of capacity building needs and a country driven CHM project will cost $100,000. The BSAP draws on best practice from earlier BSAP processes and on recent guidance for BSAPs from both GEF and the COP to CBD. The Government of South Africa and UNDP/GEF are satisfied this proposal conforms with the initial GEF Operational Criteria for Enabling Activities as well as the criteria for additional funding of Enabling Activities.