National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

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The National Biodiversity Strategy development process has been funded by the Global Environment Facility, administered by United Nations Development Programme (Sana’a) and coordinated through the EPA with the technical assistance of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). IUCN has provided continuing support in facilitating the planning process through technical back-stopping, advice on the development of work plan, organizational structures, terms of reference for national and international technical working groups and assisting the editor of the strategy in editing and finalizing the NBSAPY.

In order to assess and collect the available information on biodiversity in Yemen, EPA contracted a number of well-qualified national experts from different institutes with competence in different areas of biodiversity conservation, including flora, fauna, marine, freshwater, social, economic and legal issues as well as agro-biodiversity (plant production, animal production and honey production). The reports of the technical working groups were used as the scientific basis upon which the NBSAPY was elaborated.

The work of the technical groups formed a foundation for the base data and reports, which are available at EPA. Although the priorities of the NBSAPY may be refocused during its implementation, it is essential to have clear initial targets for activities and actions that will move the country towards the overall goals of the strategy. Towards this end, an agenda for action has been developed for each of the NBSAPY objectives. These agendas list priority targets and recommended actions as short-term (1-3 years), medium-term (4-8 years) or long-term (>8 years). Each agenda is intended to represent a list and schedule of activities that can realistically be achieved

During the course of the NBSAPY formulation, a number of consultative activities with stakeholders were carried out in 6 provinces as representatives of the whole country. These included briefings, talks, discussion and information sharing with relevant stakeholders, including, government officials, NGOs representatives and academic members & officials of and universities and research centers. This process has contributed significantly in improving awareness and common understanding on biodiversity issues and helped in building consensus among stockholders regarding the strategy contents.

With the active contribution of a board of directors comprised of representatives from different line institutions, the EPA is committed to an active implementation of the NBSAPY which includes regular reporting to the public, concerned national agencies and international organizations.

Proposed mechanisms for implementing the National NBSAPY include the creation of a permanent board of directors and National Coordination unit within EPA which will be responsible for:

• Preparing an annual national report on policies, activities and plans aimed at implementing the strategy;
• Coordinating the implementation of national and international elements of the strategy;
• Recommending measures to encourage non-government participation in the implementation of the strategy;
• Regular reporting on the status of biodiversity; and,
• Updating the strategy after an initial implementation phase of 5-7 years.

Working groups could be formed on ad hoc basis to prepare and implement the different elements of action plan.