Achare Elvis Ayamba, the Founder & Executive Director of the Environment and Food Foundation (E2F) and one of the FEE’s GAIA fellows, attended the Fifth International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC5), a global forum that brings together ocean conservation professionals and high-level officials to inform, inspire and act on marine protected areas.
The GAIA fellowship challenges young people to create and develop their own solution to an environmental-related problem and become sustainable leaders. Ayamba is committed to building a sustainable future for Cameroon and Africa where people and nature thrive, striving on a clear path to sustainable, low carbon, and resilient development.
Various topics were covered during IMPAC5, such as the urgency to protect ocean biodiversity, the importance of indigenous partnerships in order to have successful conservation programs in indigenous territories, and innovation and transformation change.
Protecting global biodiversity and working to promote sustainable management of the coastal zone is near and dear to our hearts. In fact, it’s one of the three overarching goals of our 10-year strategy, GAIA20:30.
The congress was a unique opportunity to exchange knowledge, best practices, and innovative ideas to ensure the full and effective implementation of target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, developed at the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP 15), which reads:
“Ensure and enable that by 2030 at least 30 per cent of terrestrial, inland water, and of
coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and
ecosystem functions and services, are effectively conserved and managed through
ecologically representative, well-connected and equitably governed systems of protected
areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, recognizing indigenous and
traditional territories, where applicable, and integrated into wider landscapes, seascapes
and the ocean, while ensuring that any sustainable use, where appropriate in such
areas, is fully consistent with conservation outcomes, recognizing and respecting the
rights of indigenous peoples and local communities including over their traditional
territories.”
Achare Elvis Ayamba, the Founder & Executive Director of the Environment and Food Foundation (E2F) adds:
“IMPAC5 has provided yet another wake-up call regarding the reality faced by many local communities around the world currently suffering and adapting to climate change. Through this Congress, we have learned and witnessed the extraordinary resilience, and innovation grounded in local and traditional knowledge.”
The congress provided valuable information on how FEE and Blue Flag can make a contribution to protect 30% of our oceans by 2030 and support the ecosystems supporting life.