Durban — South African non-profit organisation WILDTRUST recently launched a campaign that aims to provide ocean protection.
The campaign was launched close to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) or COP15, which will be held from Wednesday until December 19, in Montreal, Canada.
It is a two-week conference that will involve 196 countries – including South Africa – that form part of the Global Biodiversity Framework.
The conference aims to address the issue of nature conservation and tries to set out goals and methods to prevent loss and a healthy ecosystem by 2030.
Lead campaigner for WILDTRUST Lauren van Nijkerk said: “We take for granted how much we rely on a clean, thriving ocean. Every second breath we take comes from the ocean because it offers us food security, tourism and jobs, and it regulates our weather. We cannot afford to not protect it.”
Overfishing, climate change and pollution are some of the contributing factors that could lead to a biodiversity crisis and collapse of oceans.
A preliminary assessment of South Africa’s Marine Protected Areas (MPA) network, making up 5.4% of our mainland waters against the global MPA Guide tool, shows that most of its MPAs are implemented or actively managed, with many that are highly and fully protected, which lends itself to high levels of biodiversity protection. Although South Africa still has a way to go, its successes in systematic conservation planning and establishing an effective MPA network under tough conditions in a developing country show the possibilities for expansion in South Africa, as well as for other nations within Africa (and beyond) to replicate its model.
The MPAs involve environmental surroundings that are protected by law, and through this launch WILDTRUST hopes South African oceans are deemed an MPA, which will benefit the economy in terms of job creation and tourism. A healthier ocean will help mitigate climate change and will mean more fish.
The #whereisour10 campaign, launched on social media on December 1, supports South Africa expanding its 5.4% protection to at least 10% as an immediate, urgent next step, contributing to the 30x30 goal the oceans need.
Van Nijkerk said: “As the people of this beautiful country, we can let the government know they have our support ahead of COP15 with #whereisour10. What makes this campaign fun is that it is based on the concept of searching for something, like a treasure hunt, as we figure out where the hidden gems of South Africa’s ocean are that could possibly be our new and expanded MPAs.”
Daily News