National Biodiversity Policy and Strategic Plan of Action 2024-2030

The National Biodiversity Policy and Strategic Plan of Action 2024–2030 (NBPSPA) provides Brunei Darussalam with a framework for the sustainable management, conservation, and protection of biodiversity. It is aligned with the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Brunei Vision 2035, and Islamic principles. The policy aims to safeguard terrestrial and marine ecosystems, ensure equitable sharing of benefits derived from biodiversity, and strengthen national resilience and well-being.
The NBPSPA sets out four overarching goals: sustainable management and conservation of biodiversity; sustainable utilization of biodiversity and its components; capacity, awareness, and inclusiveness; and fair and equitable sharing of benefits. These goals are supported by 18 targets and 50 actions. Implementation follows a “Whole-of-Nation” approach involving government agencies, private sector, non-governmental organizations, and communities. Oversight is provided by a National Steering Committee and a Technical Committee, with monitoring aligned to CBD national reporting requirements.
The text highlights Brunei Darussalam characters of its extensive forest cover and a wide range of ecosystems, including mangrove, peat swamp, mixed dipterocarp, and montane forests. The country hosts rich terrestrial biodiversity with numerous plant and animal species, including several endemics. Its marine environment is equally diverse, with abundant fish, invertebrates, and coral species distributed across multiple coral patches. Key measures outlined include strengthening protected areas, mainstreaming biodiversity across sectors, enhancing biosafety, implementing pollution control, restoring degraded terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, managing invasive alien species, and securing sustainable financing.
Further provisions address sustainable forest management, agriculture, and fisheries, as well as nature-based tourism. The policy regulates the sustainable use of wild species, promotes biodiversity awareness campaigns, integrates biodiversity into school curricula, and enhances biodiversity centres for education and information. It supports scientific research, knowledge exchange, and dissemination of findings to inform conservation and policy. The NBPSPA also operationalizes the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) framework under the Nagoya Protocol, ensuring appropriate access and equitable sharing of benefits.