Monthly Archives:November 2018

Green Connexion, IUCN and the COP 14

Between Green Connexion and IUCN there is a long love story. Already in 2008, it was under the guidance of IUCN that, as an independent consultant, Green Connection’s future founder, Dr GHOGUE Jean-Paul, conducted the assessment of the conservation status of freshwater plants of Central Africa. This work, which was evaluated and published in the 2009 IUCN Red List, was directly commissioned and controlled by the IUCN’s Freshwater Biodiversity Unit (https://www.iucnredlist.org/ ). At the end of this work, the author publishes a paper that summarizes in a way all that is currently known about freshwater plants in the sub-region (Ghogue, 2011).

Partial view of an IUCN working session at COP 14 with the participation of Green Connexion. Sharm el Sheikh (Egypt), November 22, 2018. Photo @ greenconnexion2018.

Green Connexion was born in 2011 when its founder was already a member of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC); and the same founder, Dr. GHOGUE, is now a founding member of the Freshwater Plants Experts Group and responsible for Africa of the Podostemaceae Subgroup, both of IUCN.

Green Connexion as an organization officially became a member of IUCN on November 21st, 2018 and is committed to supporting the IUCN Mission, which is to influence, encourage and assist companies around the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable.

In fact, Green Connexion and IUCN share the same vision of awareness and, above all, action in the service of biodiversity. As such, the two organizations have so far conducted many joint actions (roundtables, interviews, educational meetings, exhibitions and even implementation of joint projects).

IUCN Banner at COP 14. Photo @ greenconnexion, 22 November 2018.

It is with this background and kinship that the two organizations, Green Connexion and IUCN, arrive in Sharm El Sheikh for COP 14 in November 2018, where Green Connexion participated in most of the daily meetings of adjustment and orientation, organized by the IUCN Focal Point for the IUCN’s delegates and members.

Reference.

Ghogue J.-P. (2011). The status and distribution of freshwater plants in Central Africa. In Brooks E.G.E., Allen D.J. and Darwall W.R.T. The status and distribution of freshwater biodiversity in Central Africa. Redlist. 92 – 109.

Posted by Dr. GHOGUE Jean-Paul, Coordinator of Green Connexion, Sharm El Sheikh, November 25, 2018.

Green Connexion and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

By participating in COP 14 on biodiversity this year, Green Connexion is fulfilling a child’s dream of any environmental organization. Nonetheless, the terms of the CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity) are the very foundation of the creation of Green Connexion. Therefore, between the CBD and Green Connection exists an existential link. Already in its global strategy for the conservation of biodiversity in 2012, just one year after its official launch, Green Connexion already recognized that the CBD was the best model on which any organization recognizing itself in the protection of biodiversity and environment should base its strategy.

It was written: “Green Connexion is an environmental group. For the conservation of biodiversity, its strategy is essentially modeled on that of the CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity), and is based on the National Strategy and Action Plan for Biodiversity (NBSAP) in Cameroon. For the protection of the environment, Green Connnexion respects the Cameroonian law N ° 96/12 of 05 August 1996, framework law on environmental management, Title III, Chapter V on the management of natural resources and the conservation of biological diversity Article 62 “. That was six years ago, and even today, the experience of the job gives reason to the founders who had taken this option originally and launched the organization in the best way.

Dr Cristiana Paşca PALMER, Secretary General of the CBD and Dr Jean-Paul GHOGUE, Coordinator of Green Connexion. Sharm El Sheikh, 20 November 2018. Photo @ greenconnexion, 2018.

The same is true for education and capacity development, which are of great concern to Green Connexion. If we stick to a limited framework, we can note that object IV of the Global Strategy for the Conservation of Plants (SGCP) recommends the promotion of Education and awareness about plant diversity, its role in sustainable livelihood and its importance to all life on earth. In Target 14 of this Objective, the SGCP recommends incorporating the importance of plant diversity and the need for its conservation into communication, education and public awareness programs.

Green Connexion is actively seeking funding to support academic internships for students in the areas of biodiversity conservation and environmental protection; to organize educational discussions and seminars; to publish and educational posters and brochures; and to organize radio and television programs on conservation. Thus, Green Connexion will put its knowledge of nature at the service of environmental education of young people; its aim is to create or improve the emotional response of the child to the natural element.

Likewise, in its Objective V, the SGCP recommends capacity building and public enthusiasm to implement the Strategy; and in Target 15, it recommends a sufficient number of trained people working with the appropriate means, in relation to the national needs to achieve the Targets of the Strategy. Green Connexion is fully committed to this goal. His plan is to generally seek solutions for the

Dr. Jean-Paul GHOGUE, Coordinator of Green Connexion, posing with a group of young hosts and hostesses of COP 14. Sharm El Sheikh, November 22, 2018. Photo @ greenconnexion 2018.

implementation of the GSTP in Cameroon and in tropical Africa, but concretely, to seek funding for more social and environmental projects, in which it will be possible to train more people in the conservation of biodiversity and the protection of the environment. For example, for people to be trained in ecotourism, renewable energy techniques, forestry, crafts, food preservation, etc.

Sharm El Sheikh, November 23rd, 2018. (Dr. JP. GHOGUE)

The Cameroonians of the COP 14, Egypt 2018

Although Green Connexion and Coeur d’Afrique of his Excellency Roger Milla are the only Cameroonian Non-Governmental Organizations to have been officially invited to COP 14, the fact remains that Cameroon is member of the CBD. As such, the country is represented in Egypt by an official delegation, but also by other Cameroonians from different backgrounds and origins. In the corridors of COP 14 and in the role of observer assigned to it, Green Connexion met some of these Cameroonians of the CBD, and that he presents you below:

Dr. GHOGUE Jean-Paul
Green Connexion’s Coordinator

Mme Prudence GALEGA
CBD’s Focal Point – MINEPDED

Mme Aurèlie DINGOM Taylor
ABS’s Focal Point – MINEPDED

Sa majesté Honorable LEKUNZE NEMBO Andrea
Senator and King of the Bamumbus

Dr. NGUENANG Guy Merlin
GIZ

Maimuna UMARO
REPALEAC

NGUTY NKENG Elisabeth
WWF

Mr NTEP Rigobert
MINEPDED

Mme AYI Monique Epse NKAMGNA
Mayor of Dzeng

Mr Stanislaus LEBAGA
MINEPDED

Aliou MUSTAFA
GEF SGP

Mme FANTA Sylvie
MINEPDED

TAMOIFO Marie
MINEPDED

Marcelin BEMA
MINEPDED

Mme Priscilla SONG
MINEPDED

MBAH Peter NFORSI
CRTV

NGEFOR Anita NGU
MINEPDED

Green Connexion participates in COP 14

A view of the sign of the conference in Sharm El Sheikh. @greenconnexion. November 17th, 2018.

Green Connexion was honored this year by being invited to participate in COP 14 (Fourteenth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations’ Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)), held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. 17 – 29 November 2018. The theme of COP 14 is “Investing in Biodiversity for People and the Planet”. By putting people in the center and even in front of the planet, this theme draws attention to the primordial role of the human being in the preservation of his unique space, the planet earth. The earth is indeed our host and our nanny. Although it may have several characteristics (agriculture and small-scale hunting, collection and marketing of products derived from biodiversity, definition of exploitation policies, etc.), investing in biodiversity always has an economic and conservation character. So we do it for ourselves and for the planet that hosts us.

To sit as an observer  

Green Connection sits as Observer. If it cannot participate in the decisions (to take part in the votes), it can attend the meetings, participate in debates and, in this chapter, its long experience in the field biodiversity conservation counts. By inviting Green Connexion and many other Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) around the world, the United Nations is leveraging all its credibility resources to add value to the global event that is COP 14.

Dr. GHOGUE Jean-Paul, Coordinator of Green Connexion, posing next to the acronym for COP 14 (Sharm El Sheikh, November 17, 2018).

A universal summit

Apart from the objective of developing and maintaining the Convention on Biological Diversity, the approximately 2500 participants at COP 14 come from all over the world. They are represented by the parties (196 to date), observers, NGOs, researchers, industrialists etc. Through the clothing port at the opening, one can witness the impressive diversity that constitutes the world culture in its totality. Another great diversity is expressed through the multitude of parallel events organized and the great variability of individual interests or distinct groups.

Green Connexion and the 25 years of the CBD

Green Connexion is a relatively young organization. It’s created in the years 2011 only. However, to date, it has made its way in the field of conservation. It has already to its credit most of what is known about the conservation of freshwater aquatic plants in Central Africa. As such, it has demonstrated this year the 25th anniversary of the Convention on Biological Diversity with the splendor justified by this enthusiasm that is generally found among the youngest. And the organization is coming to Sharm El Sheikh with a lot of confidence.

 

Some photos

Forward and from left to right: Dr. GHOGUE Jean-Paul (Coordinator of Green Connexion); His Majesty Senator Lekunze Nembo Andrea (Superior Chief of the Bamumbu Group (SW)); Mohamadou Labarang (Ambassador of Cameroon to Egypt); Mrs. Prudence Galega (CBD Focal Point – Cameroon). @greenconnexion, November 17, 2018.

 

Joyful view at the Cameroon stand in Sharm El Sheikh @ greenconnexion, November 17, 2017.

 

Dr. GHOGUE Jean-Paul, coordinator of Green Connexion, posing with Egyptian artists. @greenconnexion, November 17, 2018.

 

By J.-P. Ghogue, Green Connexion, from Sharm El Sheikh, novembre 19, 2018.