Mainstreaming of biodiversity conservation concerns into all relevant sectors of government and business seeks to ensure that biodiversity values are taken into account in decision- and policy-making across governments, economic sectors, and society.  The multiple values of biodiversity are not widely reflected in decision-making, in large part because of a lack of understanding of potential impacts, but also because government development departments often act in the absence of cooperation with resource managers in other departments.  Integrating and reflecting the values of biodiversity into relevant strategies, policies, developments, and reporting systems is important to ensure that conservation and sustainable use are recognized and reflected in policies at all levels of government and in the private sector.  This target provides a contribution to many of the SDGs, including 1, 2, 5, 10, 13, 14, and 15.

Currently, there is little dialogue between the main resource management Ministries and Departments and those responsible for development and infrastructure decisions, such as roads and dams.  Decision-making and policy development that considers the conservation of  biodiversity and the ecosystem services it provides, requires improved cooperation among government agencies.  The current government has an impressive agenda, much of which will improve conservation if implemented.  To accomplish this agenda successfully, however, requires mainstreaming of biodiversity into policies at all levels of government.

Responsible Ministry(ies): All ministries

Actions:

1. Form a national-level government-wide environment committee with a mandate to consider cross-cutting issues related to development, including issues such as: biodiversity, climate change, gender, tourism, capacity-building and education, and human health.

2. Continued implementation of the Environmental Licensing programme for any new developments, as a prerequisite for approval. (National Decree No. 5/Feb 2011). (Ongoing Programme)

3. Improve the system for obtaining Environmental Licensing to make the process more transparent to the public, including with public consultation for major development projects and respecting the rights of local communities.

4. Coordination and communication with petroleum authorities and mining authorities to only provide environmental licenses to companies with environmental protection built into the permit, and after an EIA has been completed.