Angola holds inaugural OECM stakeholder workshop
The Lisima Foundation and The Nature Conservancy co-hosted the first national Angola stakeholder workshop, kicking starting the national OECM dialogue, in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
This event aimed to present the concept of OECMs (Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures) to key stakeholder in Angola. In addition, the participants explored the national context and priorities, challenges and opportunities for OECMs in Angola, and identified potential OECMs. This was the first step in developing a national OECM framework.
The key to the success of any national recognition of OECMs depends on these national processes, and ensuring they are inclusive and equitable dialogues. With the presence of representatives of governments, the private sector and civil society, the event opened space to align visions and reinforce the need to integrate local communities in conservation initiatives.
The workshop started with:
- Opening by Vladimir Russo (Lisima Foundation), Elves Zambela (Lisima Foundation) and Carlos Andrade (TNC).
- Technical guidance and facilitation of the dialogue by the Daniel Marnewick (IUCN), presenting the structure of a process for implementing OECMs.
-Reflections by Miguel Xavier, Director of the INBAC on the need for collaboration and integration of the vision of organizations with those of the State.
In the second part of the workshop, the results of the preliminary legal and policy assessment were presented, after which working groups were formed to discuss the challenges and opportunities for recognising OECMs in Angola.
These discussions mark important steps to strengthen biodiversity conservation in Angola, through strategic and inclusive solutions to strengthening and recognising all area-based management resulting in effective biodiversity conservation outcomes.
On the second day, the Daniel Marnewick presented the OECMs Site-Level Assessment Tool and African case studies, generating rich discussions on the methodology and phases of the assessment process. The participants then worked collectively in groups to identify potential priority landscapes, opportunities and national priorities for the recognition of OECMs.
Five potential areas have been identified in which potential OECMs can be proposed and assess as case studies in Angola to inform the next stakeholder workshop.
This workshop is part of the agreement between IUCN and the Lisima Foundation to support the Ministry of Environment and the National Institute of Biodiversity in facilitating the National Dialogue on OECMs.
This dialogue was a milestone to create a national roadmap that helps the government identify, assess and communicate OECMs, supporting the NBSAP reports and Target 3 of the Global Biodiversity Framework.
