There is a growing realization among all stakeholders that implementation of the Strategic Plan including Aichi Biodiversity targets can be done best through regional Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (BSAP). Spearheaded by  the Office of the Inspector general Forests the process for updating national BSAP and regional BSAPs has been initiated by the government and is likely to be completed by end of 2015.

The current Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) of Pakistan, approved in the year 2000, has served a useful purpose for mainstreaming biodiversity and implementation of the Convention for Biological Diversity (CBD). However, since the formulation of BAP much has changed. Earlier, the focus remained on increasing the protected areas coverage, as a result of which national targets were not set. Today, with climatic variability and other environmental changes taking place rapidly, there is a need to take a fresh look at the targets and strategies devised to achieve the same.

The NBSAP does not include the elements of the CBD Strategic Plan’s Aichi Targets; however, the credit for the progress goes to the provinces and territories that have been instrumental in contributing to highlight and share steps taken that contributed to Aichi targets. 

This clearly shows that awareness about the biodiversity conservation and sustainable use has increased and biodiversity concerns are getting incorporated into sectoral and cross-sectoral policies and plans. In addition to reviewing progress on the Strategic Plan 2010-2020 and Aichi Biodiversity Targets, the process of preparation of the Fifth National Report in consultation with the provinces also provided an opportunity to share the plans for updating BSAP with stakeholders.
 
One of the priorities emerging from the Fifth National Report is the need for BSAP and establishes coordination and implementation mechanisms at provincial and regional levels to better mainstream biodiversity into natural resource sectors.

OIGF, Government of Pakistan has accessed the Biodiversity Enabling Activity (BD EA) funding of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for updating its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP). The objective of the BD EA project is to integrate Pakistan’s obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) into its national development and sectoral planning frameworks through a renewed and participative ‘biodiversity planning’ and strategizing process, in a manner that is in line with the global guidance contained in the CBD’s Strategic Plan for 2011-2020. IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, is collaborating with the Climate Change Division, Government of Pakistan, in revising the NBSAP.

This ‘new generation’ of NBSAP will help set a standard of excellence by creating national, provincial and regional roadmaps for achieving the Aichi Targets. Special emphasis will be placed on mainstreaming biodiversity into development plans, incorporating protected area networks and sustainable production systems into ecosystem-based climate adaptation and resilience plans.