On May 24, 2022, the Ministry of Living Environment and Sustainable Development (Mcvdd) celebrated International Biodiversity Day (MCVDD) on May 24, 2022. This is an opportunity for the authorities to call for more commitment to deal with the decline of fauna and flora.

Nearly three decades after Benin ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity, the motivations have not changed. On the contrary, from 1994 when the convention was ratified to date, the challenges associated with the conservation of biodiversity force us to do even more. “Our country, Benin, has the obligation to continue efforts to conserve flora and fauna with particular attention to the numerous potentialities that abound in our forest ecosystems. Everyone must play their part,” said Jeanne Adanbiokou Akakpo, Chief of Staff of the Minister of Living Environment and Sustainable Development, during the delayed celebration of World Biodiversity Day. This celebration brought together at the Directorate-General for Water, Forests and Hunting in Cotonou, all stakeholders, i.e. scientists, civil society actors, Water, Forests and Hunting officials, traditional therapists, users of natural resources, and Mcvdd executives.

Indeed, the latest biodiversity assessment report produced by the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (Ipbes) revealed a dangerous decline in nature. It is the most comprehensive assessment that has counted one million species at risk of extinction. Moreover, Benin is no exception to this phenomenon. The 6th National Report on the State of Biodiversity also reveals that hundreds of species are threatened with extinction. Thus, for the Director General of Water, Forests and Hunting, it will be a question for the actors to become aware of this situation and the role he has to play. The theme of the 29th edition of the International Day for Biodiversity: “Building a shared future for all forms of life” says a lot. “Everyone should feel concerned about the issue of biodiversity and contribute effectively to its preservation”, underlined the main curator, Rémi Hêfoumè.

For its part, the Beninese State is stepping up its efforts to meet the challenges. In addition to the existing institutional arrangements, Benin has just established a special marine and coastal ecosystems brigade as well as a marine protected area to cover the entire coastline. Emphasis is placed on public-private partnerships for the management of national parks and the increasingly close involvement of civil society, traditional therapists and users of endogenous resources in conservation actions. Numerous other activities are planned as part of the celebration of this day. “They aim to further raise the awareness of the audience about the threats to which living beings, including humans, are exposed and the means to deal with them effectively,” said lead curator Rémi Hêfoumè. A training session for political, scientific and civil society actors is scheduled for today, Wednesday, May 25, 2022 on the Bioland tool.

Source: Fulbert Adjimehossou/The Nation on May 25, 2022