Copy
View this email in your browser

Dear Colleagues,

We are hurtling towards the end of the year with so much happening in the world of conservation and nature.

Last week, WWF launched the Living Planet Report, which again provides a serious SOS for nature in Africa and globally, with an average wildlife decline of 69%. But as we head into COP 15, this is an opportunity for leaders to put in place an ambitious global biodiversity framework for an equitable carbon neutral, nature-positive future.

The Africa Climate COP 27 is also almost upon us. WWF  recently published an Africa Expectations Paper, which lays out our wishlist for Government leaders to take to the conference.

We are also excited by the Rights And Resources Initiative - RRI's first-ever database on Indigenous and local communities' forest tenure rights.

We hope you enjoy these and other stories curated for you.

Africa's Living Planet Index

The Living Planet Report 2022 is a comprehensive study of trends in global biodiversity and the health of the planet. This year's report reveals an average decline of 69% in species populations since 1970. While conservation efforts are helping, urgent action is required if we are to reverse nature loss. 
 
Download The Report
WWF Africa Region Director Alice Ruhweza appeared on BBC World and Al Jazeera English, where she reiterated the message that although the Living Planet Report is an SOS for nature, it is not all doom and gloom. The potential for transformative change is significant, but time is short of making a difference.
Wildlife Populations Plunge 69% Since 1970: WWF

WWF Living Planet Index Shows Wild Animal Population Decline Almost 70 Per Cent In 'Worrying' Report

Other Engagements This Week

WWF Africa Region Director Alice Ruhweza spoke on the need for innovative solutions to tackle this and the debt problem, including debt conversions to investment in climate adaptation and nature conservation programmes.
WWF Africa Regional Director Alice Ruhweza spoke at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for International Affairs about  Africa’s priorities and goals for COP27  She drew from from the recently published WWF Africa  Expectations Paper. 
Following the May 2022 launch of the WWF-Adelphi report: The Nature of Conflict and Peace, WWF Africa Region Director Alice Ruhweza spoke on a panel discussing the links between environment, security and peace and their importance for the United Nations. 
Read more

Towards COP 27

WWF Releases Expectations Paper

Time To Accelerate Climate Resilience In Africa At COP27

As the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP27 takes place in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, from November 6–18, 2022. Here is what to expect.
 

Read The Expectations Paper

COP 27: Open letter to African delegates

Nigerian editor  Ahmed Olayinka Sule stresses that the current discussion regarding financing climate adaptation and mitigation in the Global South is the form of climate finance and aid from the Global North. . Read more

The Road To COP 27: Lessons From Rai—The Philippines One Year On

Is The World Keeping Its COP 26 Climate Promises?

Voices From The Field

WWF Zambia Signs MoU With Second Largest University

WWF Zambia signed a memorandum of understanding last month with The Copperbelt University, Zambia's second largest university. This partnership will help galvanize efforts & linkages for establishing the Kafue River Catchment Research & Training Institute.

WWF Uganda Snags Tourism Award

The ceremony, held at Sheraton Hotel under the theme “rethinking tourism”, saw WWF Uganda awarded a certificate of recognition for the dedicated support to Tourism Development in Uganda.

WWF Courts WIOMSA Scientific Symposium.

Many of the world's top marine scientists gathered in Nelson Mandela Bay for the 12th Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (Wiomsa) Scientific Symposium to share knowledge, experience and solutions. Among these were WWF South Africa, Madagascar, Mozambique and Tanzania representatives. WWF Madagascar's Dannick Randriamanantena was named the new chair of the Western Indian Ocean.

What We're Reading

Wildlife & Markets: Ivory Initiative Report 2018-2022

Following the announcement of China's landmark 2017 ban on domestic sales of elephant Ivory, WWF seized the opportunity to close ivory markets in Asia and reduce consumer demand for ivory products in order to reverse the decline of wild elephant populations. 

Download The Report

The Business Case For Certified Sustainable Palm Oil

The overarching aim of the study is to present a business case for CSPO and subsequently increase its uptake in the Asian market.

Download The Report

Debt-for-Nature-Swaps: Feasibility and Policy Significance in Africa’s Natural Resources Sector

With support from the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF), this ambitious, nature-positive development agenda acknowledges the magnitude and importance of climate and nature for the future sustainability of regional member countries and will transform the sustainable development narrative.

Download The Report

World Food Day

Solving The Great Food Puzzle

The science-based report Solving the Great Food Puzzle: 20 levers to scale national action places the spotlight on four countries that represent a range of geographies, cultures, and food system types: Brazil, Colombia, Kenya and UAE. 

Download The Report

Species Of The Week

More than half of the population lives in the Virunga Mountains in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with about a third of them living in Virunga National Park. Gorillas live in family groups led by one dominant male, known as a silverback gorilla, because of the colouring of their coats when they mature. Male mountain gorillas show cohesive families, defending females and offspring from threats by charging and beating their chests. According to the Living Planet Report, conservation efforts to increase the numbers of these mammals have found success. Read more
Did Someone Send You This BiWeekly Digest? Subscribe To Receive Your Copy Directly

Other Top Stories

What We Know About The Ebola Outbreak In Uganda

In the past month, at least 64 people in Uganda have been — or are suspected of having beeen — infected with a rare species of the Ebola virus, for which no vaccines or treatments are available. Read more

Africa Can And Must Be A Leader In Clean Energy - William Ruto

Several African leaders at last month’s UN general assembly left dismayed after their calls for action on the climate crisis were overshadowed by the Ukraine war. One was Kenya’s new president, who writes here about why priorities must change. Read more

Africa In Space: Continent Has Much To Gain, But Proper Plans Must Be Put In Place

There is potential to apply space technology in various areas, including agriculture, transport, urban planning, environmental management, disaster management and natural resource management. Read more

Three Ugandan National Parks Certified By Forest Stewardship Council

With a combined area of 211,100 ha, the three parks—Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP), Rwenzori Mountains National Park (RMNP), and Kibale National Park (KNP)—represent one of the largest increases in FSC Forest Management (FM) certified area in Eastern Africa in a single year. Read more

This Digest Is Made In Africa But Globally Curious! 

Here is a selection of global news that caught our attention

Travesía Panda (Panda Ride) Hailed As The First WWF Sporting Event In Colombia

More than 300 people connected with nature through  Travesía Panda  (Panda Ride), the first sporting event that WWF has organized in the country, which took place during Colombia's National Biodiversity Day, on September 11. Read more

Can't Find Your Fishing Net? It Could Be Among ‘Staggering’ Scale Of Lost fishing Gear Drifting In Earth’s Oceans

Enough nets were lost or discarded each year to cover Scotland. If all types of lost line was tied together, it would be able to stretch round the Earth 18 times. Read more

Climate Justice: UN Rules Australia Violated Islander Rights

The committee ruled that the Australian government did violate islanders' rights in failing to implement adaptation measures to protect their homes, private lives and families. Read more

Billions Of Snow Crabs Have Disappeared Around Alaska. Scientists Say Overfishing Is Not The Cause

The Alaska snow crab harvest has been canceled for the first time ever after billions of the crustaceans have disappeared from the cold, treacherous waters of the Bering Sea in recent years. Read more

2022 Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity distinguishes IPBES and IPCC
 

What We Are Listening To

Managing Your Money In The Midst Of Inflation–- Dope Black Dads







 

What We Are Watching

 
WWF's 2022 Living Planet Report: How Much Wildlife Have We Lost?

Graphic Of The Week

Conflict Remains the Dominant Driver of Africa’s Spiraling Food Crisis

More than 80 percent of the record 137 million Africans facing acute food insecurity are in conflict-affected countries underscoring that conflict continues to be the primary driver of Africa’s food crisis.

Coming Up

 

World Health Summit - 16th to 18th October 2022

Finance In Common Summit - 18th to 20th October 2022

Sensitization Webinar for Universities on the Africa Youth Leadership MOOC - 26th October 2022

COP 27 - 6th to 18th November 2022

CITES COP - 14th to 25th November 2022

Useful Resources

RRI Launches The Tenure Tool – The World’s Largest Online Database On Indigenous And Local Communities Forest Tenure Rights
Share Share
Tweet Tweet
Forward Forward
Copyright © 2022 World Wide Fund for Nature, All rights reserved.


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp