NATURAFRICA INITIATIVE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Eco and Env)

Context: The European Commission (EC) has removed Tanzania from the list of countries eligible for its 18 million Euro conservation grant to be launched in East Africa as part of its NaturAfrica initiative.

NaturAfrica Initiative

• About: It adopts a forward-thinking strategy that emphasizes the involvement of local communities and stakeholders in biodiversity conservation efforts.
• Focus: It focuses on identifying crucial landscapes for conservation and development, ensuring targeted efforts to preserve biodiversity while fostering economic growth.
• Aim: To safeguard ecosystems and wildlife, recognizing their intrinsic value and importance to both present and future generations.
• Implementation and Collaboration:  EU delegations collaborate closely with various stakeholders, including government entities, local communities, civil society, and the private sector, to design and implement NaturAfrica programmes.
• Two Pillars: 

oShort-Term Actions: Prioritizing actions in key landscapes, NaturAfrica leverages the positive impacts of protected areas on society and the economy, fostering networks and knowledge-sharing.

oMedium-Term Strategy: Extending support beyond key landscapes, NaturAfrica addresses underlying causes of biodiversity loss and environmental degradation, integrating these concerns across various sectors through "mainstreaming biodiversity."

European Union (EU)

• About: EU is a supranational political and economic union of 27 member states that are located primarily in Europe.
• Number of Countries: 27 Countries
• Objective: EU promotes democratic values in its member nations and is one of the world's most powerful trade blocs.
• Headquarters: Brussels (Belgium)
• Values: Value, Freedom, Democracy, Equality, Rule of Law, Human Rights and Human Dignity.