Seychelles’ contribution

From October 21 to November 1, 2024, a delegation from Seychelles will participate in the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP 16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity. This is a crucial moment for international environmental policy.

Indira Gamatis, a Senior Project Coordinator from the Division of Biodiversity Conservation and Management, will lead the delegation. She noted that preparations have been underway for several months, with Seychelles contributing on various fronts. The Conference of the Parties (COP) and its other subsidiary bodies benefit from timely advice from the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical, and Technological Advice (SBSTTA).

According to Gamatis, Seychelles will focus on several programs, particularly invasive alien species, the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity, and specifically the biological diversity of islands. Additionally, priority measures for coral reefs will be highlighted. A key agenda item centers around biodiversity and climate change. The aim is to explore further the links between biodiversity and climate change—an issue of great importance to Seychelles due to the impacts of climate change on its biological diversity.

Another aspect to be addressed is how biodiversity itself can play a role in combating the effects of climate change. Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, expects a record-breaking attendance of 14,000 delegates. The conference will discuss issues related to « Peace with Nature » and the connections between climate change and biodiversity loss.

One of the most anticipated outcomes is the potential establishment of a multilateral mechanism for sharing the benefits derived from Digital Sequence Information (DSI). The challenge lies in how industries and companies using DSI, often sourced from Southern regions, can fairly compensate for its use. The implementation of resources will also be a crucial theme discussed at the meeting.