National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan to 2030.

The National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) is a national cross-sectoral strategy of Malta for the period up to 2030. Its mission , which strives towards the 2050 vision (“Malta’s biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored and sustainably used for the benefit of nature, people and climate”), is: “To put Malta’s biodiversity on a path to recovery by 2030 for the benefit of the planet and people, by stepping up national efforts to effectively respond to the biodiversity crisis”. Its main objective is to provide strategic direction on the management and protection of biodiversity, and is the principal instrument for implementing the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) at national level. It drives the integration of biodiversity concerns into relevant sectoral and cross-sectoral plans, programmes, and policies.
The main objectives of the NBSAP to 2030 are to: 1. outline the national priorities and establish a comprehensive and proactive framework for safeguarding Malta’s biodiversity; 2. serve as a national policy driver to mainstream biodiversity and its services into relevant sectoral or cross-sectoral plans, programmes and policies, especially those that have a bearing on Malta’s biological and natural resources; 3. provide coordinated measures for addressing biodiversity loss and fostering nature conservation; 4. contribute to the protection of ecosystems and their services, as well as social and economic safeguards through the elimination and effective management of all associated pressures and threats; 5. structure and facilitate broad participation and collective action for biodiversity conservation and restoration through stakeholder cooperation; 6. streamline the legal requirements of global, regional and national legislation, as well as to offer strategic direction on how to address biodiversity loss at a national level; 7. provide opportunities and create an impetus necessary for achieving the national priorities, while also contributing to the implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2030 and the UN Post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.
The NBSAP to 2030 strengthens synergies with various multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) and contributes towards the implementation of the United National International Decades, as well as other EU Directives and Strategies. Moreover, the NBSAP ensures synergies with national strategies on sustainable development, climate change, waste, and air, amongst others.
Malta’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) to 2030, prompted by 22 Targets and 79 Actions, addresses multiple direct and indirect drivers of biodiversity loss.
Ten guiding principles and approaches have been selected to promote effective interpretation and implementation of the NBSAP by all stakeholders, including the public and private sectors and civil society, thus steering the NBSAP implementation towards fulfilling its mission. They are: 1. Mitigation Hierarchy; 2. Precautionary Principle; 3. Polluter Pays Principle; 4. e Do No Significant Harm Principle; 5. Intergenerational Equity; 6. Rights-based approach; 7. Good governance; 8. Whole-of-government approach; 9. Whole-of-society approach; 10. International Cooperation.
The fulfillment of the NBSAP to 2030’s mission is guided by a Strategic Framework which outlines five policy areas where action is necessary. Under each policy area, targets to be achieved by 2030 are presented. Policy area 1: conserving and restoring nature. Policy area 2: addressing the drivers of biodiversity loss. Policy area 3: using biodiversity sustainably. Policy area 4: mainstreaming and awareness raising. Policy area 5 enhancing implementation and cooperation.
Implementation of the NBSAP will require collective action across all sectors and at all levels. Indeed, its successful implementation relies on the whole- of government and whole-of-society approaches. Moreover, concerted action will be supported by enabling conditions and adequate means of implementation, which are embedded within Targets and Actions. These include: - Mobilisation of sufficient resources; - Capacity building and development; - Knowledge generation, management and sharing; - Technical and scientific cooperation, technology transfer and innovation.