Since Wednesday, May 22, the Togolese capital has been hosting a regional meeting devoted to the development of an integrated biodiversity database. The meeting initiated by the Observatory for Biodiversity and Protected Areas in West Africa (OBAPAO) brings together experts from 16 countries in West Africa.

For three days, the participants will have to examine the prospecting work carried out by the Observatory during the last 4 years. An exercise that will be crowned by the development of the database.

Concretely, this database will contribute to improving the long-term conservation and sustainable management of natural resources in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. The tool will also make it possible to better manage information on biodiversity and protected areas in West Africa.

This database development process is financed by the European Union through the 11th European Development Fund (EDF), and implemented by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Joint Research Center (JRC)

As a reminder, Togo recently updated its National Biodiversity Strategy and Plan (SPANB). The aim for the country is to comply with the new standards.