Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is about 35 years ago when the Heads of State and Governments of Africa gathered in Algiers to adopt the African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.
At the time, this was a milestone. A milestone because it was declaratory of a new era, in that many of the countries had just acquired their political independence; and now with the convention, they were seeking self-governance even in matters of management of the continent's natural heritage. The African Convention also represented a new era because it was the first treaty worldwide to consider the natural environment of a whole continent as an asset upon which to build the future.
With over 30 African States having ratified it, the African Convention was for many years hailed as a model.
But treaties, like humans become aged. They are overcome by conceptual, as well as legal and institutional developments. The Algiers Convention is no exception to this rule. Since its inception, Africa and the World at large have changed. New international agreements have come into being, a good number of them addressing the very issues that the African Convention focused on. And being up-to-date, these new agreements have rendered the African Convention redundant in many respects.
But, above all, the perception of the role of the natural environment and natural resources in the development process has evolved. As a result of this evolution, African States have become Parties to a large number of global treaties which make them important partners in the global web of rights of States towards their natural resources, as well as important partners in the global web of obligations of the same States to maintenance of ecological processes, biological diversity and environmental conditions that allow sustainable development to flourish.
In parallel to the evolution of other treaties, African States have developed regional structures that also address various developmental issues, of which the African Union and the Abuja Treaty on the African economic Union are the latest expressions.
These are the reasons why a revision of the aged model has become necessary. There is no doubt that the African Convention needs to be overhauled and adapted to modern concepts and legal frameworks.
Even more importantly, there is need for change that relates to the mechanisms through which, and by which a modern binding instrument
can play an important role of providing a regional forum for discussion of environmental issues of the day, including - but not limited to - the global issues which are on today's agenda.
Viewed in this light, a revamped African Convention will have a role to play in providing a platform for African discussion of global issues, as well as discussion of Africa's own issues and concepts, particularly in relation to the existing organizational structures.
To achieve this role, there will be need for an effective Secretariat; a Secretariat that is able to serve the needs of the Parties, not only by providing opportunities for the Parties to meet and discuss, but also by being well informed about the effectiveness of the Convention.
Ladies and Gentlemen, you have in front of you a draft which attempts to meet these needs - both substantive and institutional. As experts from the region, you will no doubt have a lot to add and change. This meeting is therefore a key part of the process which African States have themselves called for, and in fact is part of a vision which started about a decade ago.
From the IUCN point of view, I should say that we are proud to have been able to play an important role in the early days of this agreement. As many of you know, IUCN provided technical expertise to the then young OAU in developing the Algiers Convention.
We are very pleased to have been requested yet again to assist, together with UNEP and the OAU secretariat, in this process of improving the existing agreement.
We look forward to working with you in this meeting, and pledge IUCN's continued technical assistance as may be required.
I wish you fruitful deliberations.
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