17.30 - 18.00

Arrival and Registration

18.00 - 18.30

Welcome (MC: Mr. Selby Remy, Seychelles)

The MC highlighted the usefulness of ABS for Africa and its importance for social development and poverty alleviation.

Dr. Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

Dr. Djoghlaf’s was unable to make it for the opening and his speech was read out on his behalf by Ms. Valerie Normand from the SCBD. Dr. Djoghlaf thanked Germany and Seychelles for organising the workshop to help prepare African negotiators for COP 9. Seychelles he added was an ideal venue for such a workshop as it strikes a balance between biodiversity and development. The 4th edition of the Global Environment Outlook (UNEP) has stated that the loss of biodiversity is a major threat to the planet and its people. The COP set up the ABSWG and mandated it to address ABS as the third objective of the CBD and to complete its work before 2010. In order to meet this deadline, awareness raising among all stakeholders is key. The Dutch German ABS Capacity Building Initiative has played a significant role in aiding the development of the African position. The Initiative has demonstrated that ABS is crucial for Africa and the challenge currently is the lack of comprehensive ABS national laws and regulations amongst some countries in Africa and the lack of capacity amongst the stakeholders. Dr. Djoghlaf concluded that in order to achieve an ABS regime by 2010 and to make the necessary progress towards this in COP 9 we will need political will, creativity and a spirit of compromise amongst the parties.

H.E. Walter Lindner, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany

His Excellency Lindner stressed on the importance of biodiversity and the need to develop a common African position on ABS prior to COP 9 and hoped that this preparation meeting will serve such a purpose.

Sibi Bonfils, Directeur Adjoint, Institut de l'Energie et de l'Environnement de la Francophonie (IEPF)

Mr Bonfils provided the history of the IEPF and its impact on the environment since 1989. He highlighted its training activities focused on capacity building amongst the francophone countries.

sibi_bonfils.doc The role of IEPF in ABS capacity building

0.9 MB

18.30 - 19.00

A Vision for ABS in Africa

Keynote by Prof. Johnson Ekpere, Nigeria

QUEST_FOR_AN_INT_REGIME_ON_ACCESS_AND_BENEFIT_SHARING.doc Key note speech

54 kB

H.E. Joël Morgan, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources of the Republic of the Seychelles

Minister Morgan spoke of the spectacular biodiversity of the Seychelles whose history dates back to the time of Gondwanaland when India drifted off to Asia. This explains the extremely rare species in Seychelles such as the Jelly Fish tree of which there are only 30 left. Biodiversity in Seychelles ranges between extremes of gigantism (coco de mer) and dwarfism (frogs that can fit on your fingernail) Seychelles has a long record of environmental conservation. It was the 2nd country to sign the CBD and 45% of the limited land in Seychelles has protected area status. Climate change is a big challenge for small islands like Seychelles. In 2001 Seychelles received funding to develop its national legislation on ABS and completed it in 2005 with the assistance of the ITPGRFA. Seychelles believes that without a legally binding regime on ABS it cannot protect its biodiversity.

From 19.30

Cocktails and snacks at the ICCS Lobby