Ghana and the UK have reaffirmed their dedication to preserving and protecting biodiversity.

This was revealed at the Nature Action - Private Sector Mobilisation Event, which was held in London on Friday, February 17, 2023.

The event was organised by the Government of the United Kingdom to catalyse and show the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Speaking at the event, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, said the Government of Ghana is fully committed to biodiversity protection and preservation for a healthy planet.

This, he said is because biodiversity provides many benefits, including food, medicine, energy, clean air and water, security from natural disasters, as well as recreation and cultural inspiration.

According to Mr. Jinapor, the loss of biodiversity is equivalent to the loss of forests and wildlife, which together make up a vast ecosystem with a variety of flora and fauna.

He noted that Ghana endorses the ten-point Plan of the Global Biodiversity Framework, and is committed to working with other governments and partners to protect and conserve biodiversity.

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework is a landmark international agreement adopted by the fifteenth (15th) session of the Conference of Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP15.2), held in Montreal, Canada.

The Framework seeks to galvanize urgent and transformative action by governments, subnational and local governments, and with the involvement of all of society, to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, and contribute to the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity and its Protocols.

Mr Abu Jinapor, therefore, called on the developed countries to work with developing countries to protect the world’s forests and biodiversity.

“The duty to protect biodiversity is a collective one, and we must all work together to ensure a safe and healthy planet for current and future generations,” the Minister said.

To empower developing countries to continue with their work on biodiversity protection, Mr. Jinapor said developed countries should not adopt policies that will continuously impoverish developing countries.

He stated that although the value of the chocolate industry is over US$130 billion, Ghana and Ivory Coast, which produce over 60% of the cocoa used in the chocolate industry, get less than 5% of the value of the chocolate market.

The world’s biodiversity is deteriorating at unprecedented rates, thereby posing a serious threat to the survival of the human race.

To tackle this, the Nature Action - Private Sector Mobilisation Event, therefore, brought together governments, indigenous peoples, private sector and civil society to support the delivery of the Framework’s ten-point Plan for financing biodiversity and shift towards a nature and climate-positive economy.

The event held at the Lancaster House in London followed a working reception hosted by the British Monarch, King Charles III, at the Buckingham Palace.