As a contracting party to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Malta is required under Article 6 of the convention text to develop a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) in order to implement the convention on a national scale while contributing to the achievements of the goals of the CBD at an international level.

The NBSAP consists of a document with two main components as shown in the flowchart below. The overall goal of the document is hence to conserve, sustainably use and manage biodiversity on a national level in a holistic manner, as well as integrate biodiversity concerns into cross-sectoral plans, policies and programmes.

Milestones involved in developing a NBSAP include the following:

• setting up an administrative structure to oversee the entire process to completion;
• carrying out a country study to provide an information base on which to build the NBSAP;
• consultations to agree on the vision, objectives and actions that shall fall part of the NBSAP document;
• preparation and presentation of the first completed draft document;
• revisions following additional consultation;
• approval of NBSAP document, followed by official launch and publicity.

The need to establish the NBSAP for the Maltese Islands has been recognised in Malta’s National Reform Programme and also Malta’s National Strategy for Sustainable Development. The process of developing Malta’s NBSAP is currently ongoing. This biodiversity planning exercise has so far included the implementation of various endeavours including data gathering on which to build the strategy. Various entities have been contacted to collaborate in providing information. Other consultations are envisaged as the process progresses.

A participatory approach is deemed crucial to the success of developing and eventually adopting the NBSAP. Involving a wide range of stakeholders in the process ensures broad ownership of the final document  as well as its active implementation following its adoption.