WINDHOEK: Namibia was awarded the Silver Future Policy Award 2012 during an awards’ ceremony held at COP 11 in Hyderabad, India on Tuesday.
The 11th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP 11) to the United Nations’ Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), organised by the CBD Secretariat, commenced on 08 October this year and ends on Friday.
The World Future Council Foundation said in a media statement issued on Wednesday that the only international award that celebrates policies rather than people was given to Namibia in recognition of its Marine Resources’ Act of 2000.
The Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Kilus Nguvauva, received the award.
“It gives me great pleasure to stand before you today to receive the Future Policy Award 2012 on behalf of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources and indeed, the entire Namibia.
My presence here is a testimony to over 20 years of Namibia’s efforts to rebuild the stocks of its marine resources, and manage the fisheries on a sustainable basis as envisaged in the cardinal law of the land, in Article 95(I) of the Namibian Constitution,” he noted.
The Gold Award was given to Palau, which is situated in the western Pacific Ocean, for two marine policies – the Protected Areas’ Network Act, initiated in 2003, and the Shark Haven Act of 2009.
The Philippines also won silver for its Tubbataha Reefs’ Natural Park Act (2010).
The founder of the World Future Council and the Right Livelihood Award, Jakob von Uexkull called on guests at the ceremony to spread exemplary policy solutions.
“With our Future Policy Award, we champion policies that create better living conditions for current and future generations. I call on you to go out and spread the word that good solutions for the challenges of our time exist,” he beamed.
Meanwhile, Namibia will also receive the Markhor award for its success in game and wildlife conservation at the same event on Thursday.
This prestigious prize is given by the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation for biodiversity conservation, and for the application of the principles of sustainable use.
Environment and Tourism Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is leading the high-level delegation to Hyderabad, where her Ministry and the Namibian Association of Community-Based Natural Resources’ Management Organisation will jointly receive the award.
The CoP 11 meeting is covering a range of topics such as resource mobilisation, living modified organisms and biodiversity, access and benefit-sharing as well as marine and coastal biodiversity.
CoP is the governing body of the Convention, and meets every two years where it brings together 189 parties, including Namibia, to the Convention to review progress.