MPONELA, DOWA (Planet Defence) - The second meeting of the Biodiversity Advisory Committee, established by the Malawi Environmental Protection Authority (MEPA), had a comprehensive agenda, reviewing several tasks within its jurisdiction six months after their last meeting in January writes Charles Mkoka.

During the meeting, the committee reviewed previous meeting minutes, the draft agenda, matters arising, the rolling work plan, and the draft aligned National Targets to the KM-GBF targets.

Mphatso Kalemba, Chief Environmental Officer and Focal Point Person for Biodiversity at MEPA, made a presentation on guidelines for mainstreaming biodiversity in environmental assessments. 

Kalemba highlighted tools for mainstreaming biodiversity, such as the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list species of ecosystems, which are used to identify ecosystems that are critically endangered in highly populated areas of Southern Malawi.

Boniface Chimwaza, another Chief Environmental Officer, presented on MEPA's efforts regarding the Clearing House Mechanism, a digital platform designed to provide updates on biodiversity conservation issues in line with the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. 

Chimwaza emphasized that this platform is open for all issues related to biodiversity conservation across various ecosystems in the country.

 

In the first meeting, Chairperson Dr. Susan Chikagwa Malunga stressed the daily loss of biodiversity in numerous areas. She cited the severe challenges facing the Michiru Mountain Conservation Area as an example of the unprecedented challenges to the sustainable use of biodiversity. Dr. Malunga added that MEPA, through its Secretariat and in partnership with various civil society organizations, is working tirelessly to address these challenges.

The committee is comprised of stakeholders from various institutions working in the biodiversity conservation sector in Malawi.