Zambia Sign MoU for Marine Biodiversity Conservation
Zambia has officially signed the United Nations Convention on the Conservation and Sustainable use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), joining a coalition of over 80 other Member States.
The signing ceremony, held at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Zambia to the United Nations in New York, saw Zambia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Dr. Chola Milambo, affixing the country’s signature to the Treaty on behalf of the Zambian government.
The BBNJ Treaty, commonly referred to as the High Seas Treaty, marks a pivotal milestone in international efforts to conserve and sustainably manage marine biodiversity beyond national borders.
Adopted by the United Nations through consensus on June 19, 2023, after 19 years of deliberations and negotiations, the Treaty aims to establish comprehensive ocean conservation measures while ensuring fair and equitable sharing of ocean resources.
Dr. Milambo expressed his delight at Zambia’s accession to the Treaty, emphasizing the nation’s recognition of the importance of marine conservation despite lacking a seacoast.
He underscored the critical role of maritime transportation in facilitating over 80 percent of international trade, highlighting its direct impact on import and export costs and, consequently, on prices of goods and services for Zambian consumers and producers.
Furthermore, Dr. Milambo highlighted the numerous benefits of Zambia’s participation in the BBNJ Treaty, including the opportunities it presents for young Zambian scientists and geologists to engage in marine research, capacity-building, and training.
This is contained in a statement issued by Namatama Njekwa, First Secretary Press and Public Relations,Permanent Mission of the Republic of Zambia to the United Nations
