The National Biodiversity Strategy (NBS) is Belgium’s response to the CBD’s formal commitment to submit a revised or updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans, including national targets, by the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP-16, October 2024). It provides a framework for policy development and future action development. It incorporates existing regional and federal frameworks and action plans and supports their integration and adaptation. It aims to provide strategic policy guidance so that biodiversity stakeholders in Belgium can work together in partnership to contribute at national and international levels to achieving the target of halting biodiversity loss by 2030. This will be achieved by ensuring a more effective and coherent implementation of the three targets of the CBD. The strategy pays particular attention to creating greater coherence and filling gaps in existing Belgian instruments, and to optimising biodiversity integration at national and international levels.
The NBS comprises a set of 16 strategic objectives and 82 operational objectives. The objectives formulated in the strategy provide a common basis and serve as a guide for implementation by the relevant authorities. Following the recommendations to update the NBS, the structure of the targets was revised to better align and reflect the K-M GBF and the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 (see Annex 4). The text of the NBS clearly identifies, for each objective, the link with the articles of the CBD, the relevant objectives of the K-M GBF, thematic work programmes, directives, etc. adopted under the Convention, as well as relevant EU commitments. The main focus is on the sectoral integration of biodiversity. Where necessary, federal and regional governments and other relevant actors will take implementation measures in a coordinated manner.
The updated strategy has been prepared for a 6-year period (2025-2030). Monitoring of progress and obstacles to implementation of the NBS will be included in national reports to the CBD. Information on the implementation of the NBS is also published on the website of the Belgian Clearing House Mechanism for the CBD (www.biodiv.be).
Many different actors need to play an active role in implementing the strategy: ministries and governments, advisory bodies, research institutes, NGOs, information centres, individuals and communities, etc. A variety of activities will have to be carried out simultaneously in different sectors and - after further consultation and coordination - at different administrative levels.
The Updated Belgian National Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 publication is available only in electronic version and can be downloaded in various languages from this page. The text is available in English, French, Dutch and German.
If you would like to know more about the last version of the strategy and the process of its update, please have look here.
