The Department of Environmental Affairs (the Department), on 4 September 2012, briefed the Portfolio Committee, on the African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. The African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (the Convention or ACCNNR), originally known as the Algiers Convention, was initially formulated in 1968, revised, and adopted by the African Union, in Maputo, in July 2003. The Convention has, however, yet to come into force. The purpose of the Convention is to take into account more modern international developments in approaches to the management of biological diversity and natural resources, such as the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The main objective of the Convention is to encourage individual and joint action for the conservation, utilisation and development of soil, water, flora and fauna, for the present and future welfare of humankind.