Swaziland - Overview

Remark:

Please note that this country profile has been prepared by the Secretariat on the basis of information provided in the NBSAP and national reports, but has not been reviewed by the Party concerned.

Status and Trends of Biodiversity

Overview

Swaziland supports a diverse assemblage of habitats, which are home to a wide range of organisms. Survey work has shown that significant portions of southern Africa’s plant and animal species occur here. The eastern region of Swaziland, for example, forms part of the Maputaland Centre of Plant Diversity, one of the world’s hotspots of floral and faunal species richness and endemism, while the western region is the Drakensberg Escarpment Endemic Bird Area also of global significance... More »

Number and Extent of Protected Areas

Approximately only 4% of Swaziland’s total land area is protected, represented in twelve conservation areas. The main conservation areas are 4 nature reserves: Malolotja, Mlawula, Mantenga and Hawane run by the Swaziland National Trust Commissin.

National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan

Major features of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

The main goals and objectives of the Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan are as follows: to reinforce awareness of the importance of policy reform concerning biodiversity and conservation; to identify activities to be undertaken by a proposed Global Environment Facility biodiversity conservation project; to draw upon traditional knowledge about environment management and alternatives to resource-based livelihoods; to integrate this knowledge with relevant international conventions and undertakings; to stimulate and maintain conservation both in situ and ex situ and to determine the current status of biodiversity... More »

Implementation of the Convention

Measures Taken to Achieve the 2010 Target

Several measures and initiatives have been put in place to modify the existing protected areas network and achieve protection of 10% of the full range of ecosystems. For example, taxonomic priorities were identified for the restoration, maintenance and reduction in the decline of populations of species of selected taxonomic groups... More »

Initiatives in Protected Areas

The main priority is to protect 10% of the full range of ecosystems. The Biodiversity Conservation and Participatory Development Project, together with Transfrontier Conservation Areas Programme, will seek to establish additional protected and community managed areas that are presently fragmented. 16 priority areas have been identified through a Protection-worthy Areas Survey in 2003/2004... More »

Initiatives for Article 8(j)

Some measures to enhance the capacity of indigenous and local communities to be effectively involved in decision-making are being undertaken. For instance, members of the community managed Shewula Nature Reserve, received training and support from an Italian NGO for capacity building. Community members surrounding the Malolotja and Mlawula Nature Reserves have received similar training on permaculture activities... More »

National Contacts

Full details of national contacts »

Convention on Biological Diversity

Mr. Stephen M. Zuke	CBD Primary NFP
Mr. Donald Ndwandwe	Resource Mobilization FP
Dr. Themb'alilahlwa A.M. Mahlaba	SBSTTA NFP
Mr. Titus S. Dlamini	Protected Areas NFP
Ms. Calisile F. Mhlanga	CHM NFP
Ms. Priscilla Dlamini	Traditional Knowledge NFP

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

Mr. Bongani Z. Nkhabindze

Cartagena Protocol Primary NFP, BCH NFP