National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plan 2016 – 2020.

To meet Kiribati’s obligation under the Convention on Biological Diversity and to achieve the Aichi Targets set by the Convention, the Government in 2016 developed this National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), a comprehensive framework for achieving the nation’s goals and targets to conserve the biodiversity. This sectoral national-wide document identifies the concerned priorities and provides guidance on the program until 2020. It is a review of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) developed in 2005.
Guided by the principles of a good governance, food security, collective responsibility, respect for traditional knowledge and integration of biodiversity in economic development aspirations, the Vision at the base of the document is “The people of Kiribati continue to enjoy their natural biodiversity that is resilient to the impacts of climate change and supports the socio-economic livelihoods”.
The document, developed in consultation with the different Government sectors, NGOs and the local communities, identifies nine priority areas of national concern and outlines different action plans under each priority area that would support the improvement and enhancement of the biodiversity. The nine priority areas are as follows: (i) Protected and conservation areas; (ii) Ecosystem Management; (iii) Species Conservation and sustainable use; (iv) Communication and education; (v) Capacity building; (vi) Invasive alien species/biosecurity; (vii) Traditional knowledge and practices; (viii) Environmental governance; and (ix) Research and Information.
The NBSAP adopted as its own targets the 20 Aichi Biodiversity Targets adapted, when needed, to the national requirements.
Starting from the guiding principle that biodiversity plays a critical role in meeting the food needs of people, reducing hunger and improving individual health, the Policy emphasizes the need to promote local food and sustainable use of land and marine resources.
To make agriculture, fisheries and forestry more productive and sustainable, the NBSAP proposes: (i) training on organic farming to local farmers; (ii) establishment and extension of gene-banks of traditional plant food crop species by 2018; (iii) expanding nursery centers to include native food crops and plants on a number of islands by 2018; (iv) restoration of over-harvested plants and trees species in at least two islands by 2018; (v) reduced use of unsustainable fishing practices by 2020 by 30%; (vi) rehabilitation and restoration of ponds for aquaculture development by 2018; (vii) expanding soft measures for coastal protection by 2019; and (viii) removal of the rusted materials impacting on the corals and marine life.
In order of increasing the resilience of livelihoods to disasters, proposed interventions are directed to: (i) identify the vulnerable coastal areas (flooding, hazard risks) that need protection taking into considering the existing key biodiversity areas (KBA) in Kiribati; and (ii) strengthen the capacity of the Government staff and local communities in environment/biodiversity integrations in development activities in at least one island by 2019.
As for the Governance, another of the guiding principles included in the Policy, monitoring and evaluation of the progress of this NBSAP is an important component and planned to be conducted in the mid-term and after 2020 when this NBSAP is due for updating together with: (i) the review by 2017 of the draft protected areas and protected species regulation; (ii) the development and increased adoption of sustainable atoll soil management technologies by 2020; (iii) national guidelines and policies for the development and management of ecotourism activities will be developed and ready for implementation and use by 2017 together with the regulation on the protection of Ecotourism Resources; and (iv) strengthen training and capacity building programs.