What is an NBSAP?

A National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) is a strategic policy document, which aims at providing direction at a national level on the management and protection of biodiversity. It also streamlines various sectoral aspects to ensure sustainable use of natural resources; this ensures a better quality of life and the reduction in biodiversity loss.

An NBSAP is the principal instrument for implementing the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) at national level. As required by the Convention, each signatory country (known as a Party) has to develop an NBSAP or equivalent instrument, in accordance with its particular conditions and capabilities.  This creates an obligation for Parties to carry out national biodiversity planning, and defining a course of action with specific targets and plans to fulfil the objectives of the Convention. In this context, NBSAPs are considered as one of the strongest implementation mechanisms in the CBD.

Furthermore, the Convention requires each Party to ensure that its respective NBSAP is mainstreamed into the planning and activities of all those sectors that can have a positive or negative impact on biodiversity. In terms of overall NBSAP submission to date (latest figure as of 22 January 2024), a total of 194 out of 196 (99%) Parties have developed NBSAPs in line with Article 6 of the Convention.

What is the link of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework with the NBSAP?

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF) was adopted during the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 15) in 2022, following a four year consultation and negotiation process between Parties to the CBD. The KM-GBF provides a strategic framework at the global level for addressing biodiversity conservation. Among the KM-GBF’s key elements are 4 goals for 2050 and 23 targets for 2030. Whilst the KM-GBF is not legally binding, by adopting the KM-GBF, all Parties to the Convention have committed to setting national targets to implement it.

During COP15, the Parties to the Convention adopted Decision 15/6, which sets out that the updated NBSAP and national targets will form the basis of the implementation at the national level of the KM-GBFs goals and targets. Thus, while the Kunming-Montreal GBF establishes a broad global vision for biodiversity, the NBSAP is the instrument through which these goals are translated into action at the national level. In this regard, Malta’s NBSAP to 2030 has been aligned to the four goals and 23 targets of the KM-GBF.

Has Malta adopted an NBSAP?

Malta adopted its first NBSAP in 2012 which covered the years up to 2020. This first NBSAP was given the theme “Working Hand in Hand with Nature” and laid down an important foundation for biodiversity conservation efforts at the national level. The 2012 to 2020 NBSAP included 19 national targets with 80 embedded actions covering five policy areas including:

  • addressing the underlying causes of biodiversity loss;
  • reducing the direct pressures of biodiversity;
  • improving the status of biodiversity;
  • enhancing the benefits from biodiversity and ecosystem services, and;
  • enhancing implementation.

A thorough review of the final status of implementation of the NBSAP to 2020 indicates that 11% (2 out of 19) of the national targets have been exceeded, and 42% (8 out of 19) have been achieved. With respect to targets that are reported as partially achieved, these account to 42% (8 out of 19), whereas 5% (1 out of 19) have not been achieved. Further to this, over 90% of the 80 actions within the previous NBSAP are considered to have been either effective or partially effective with respect to implementing the national biodiversity strategy.

The NBSAP to 2030 builds on the foundation established by the previous NBSAP and its achievements. It outlines 79 actions within 22 targets, addressing five key policy areas:

  • conserving and restoring nature;
  • addressing the drivers of biodiversity loss;
  • using biodiversity sustainably;
  • mainstreaming and awareness raising, and;
  • enhancing implementation and cooperation.

What is the NBSAP to 2030 aiming to achieve?

The NBSAP to 2030 adopts a whole of government and whole of society approach to addressing biodiversity conservation efforts. The NBSAP to 2030 builds upon the momentum gained in this respect during the implementation of the previous NBSAP.

It is guided by a long-term vision to 2050 which states that: “By 2050, Malta’s biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored and sustainably used for the benefit of nature, people and climate.” To achieve this vision, the NBSAP’s mission was defined as: “to put Malta’s biodiversity on a path to recovery by 2030 for the benefit of the planet and people, by stepping up national efforts to effectively respond to the biodiversity crisis”.

How will the NBSAP to 2030 turn the mission into reality and contribute to conserving local biodiversity?

To convert the mission into reality, the NBSAP to 2030 establishes a Strategic Framework to guide the achievement of this mission.

Under each of the policy areas indicated earlier, targets to be achieved by 2030 have been defined. These targets encompass areas such as protected areas, ecosystem restoration, genetic diversity, invasive alien species, climate change, pollution, sustainable agriculture and fisheries, biotechnology, the integration of biodiversity into public and private sectors, as well as education and public awareness.

Nested within the 22 targets are 79 actions; the implementation of which contributes to the achievement of each target. These targets and actions are fully aligned with biodiversity targets at global and EU level, while reflecting national priorities and capacities.

How will implementation of the KM-GBF and Malta’s NBSAP be monitored?

The Parties to the CBD decided at COP15, that the main vehicle for the implementation of the KM-GBF will be the updated NBSAPs and national targets aligned to the goals and targets of the KM-GBF. In this regard, the monitoring of Malta’s NBSAP to 2030 will be a critical part of the policy cycle. ERA will be closely following and monitoring the implementation of the targets and actions set within the NBSAP to 2030 and thus will be reporting on such progress as part of our national obligations as a Party to the CBD.

Developing the NBSAP to 2030

The final version of Malta’s NBSAP is the culmination of a whole of government consultation process. Given its strategic nature, throughout the development of the NBSAP to 2030, the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) actively sought the engagement of all relevant ministries holding remit or responsibility for the areas of public policy that the targets and actions proposed within the NBSAP address.

Additionally, the intent and draft NBSAP were subject to public consultation in 2023 in accordance with the Environment Protection Act (Cap. 549). Comments were received from academia, environmental Non-governmental Organisations and other stakeholders. Overall, the public reaction to the NBSAP to 2030 was positive in outlook.

In addition to the assessment and consideration of the public consultation comments, ERA also reflected upon the policy direction being taken at global and EU level since the first iteration of the draft NBSAP.

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