04 Nov 2025

Young people across Africa have been called to take the lead in transforming the continent’s natural wealth into sustainable prosperity, with biodiversity described as Africa’s ‘competitive advantage’.

Speaking during the youth-led session of the Africa Biodiversity Summit in Gaborone on Monday, Minister of Environment and Tourism, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi urged them to spearhead efforts to turn Africa’s vast biodiversity into a driver of sustainable growth.

Mr Mmolotsi noted that Africa’s youthful demographic was both a challenge and an opportunity, pointing out that over 60 per cent of the continent’s population was under 25 years old, adding that future of biodiversity rested in their hands,.

“When young innovators are supported to lead, the continent not only safeguards its natural heritage, it accelerates development,” he said.

He further commended the participation of young leaders, innovators and environmental advocates from across the continent. 

He further called on governments, investors and communities to support youth innovation in the green economy transformation.

The minister cited real-world examples of youth-driven environmental innovation across Africa, from transforming indigenous plants into cosmetics and food products to developing sustainable tourism, circular economies through waste recycling, and digital tools for agriculture and conservation.

“Young people here today prove that a green future through leveraging biodiversity is not a distant dream,” he said.

Mr Mmolotsi encouraged youth to seize networking opportunities provided by the summit, particularly an intergenerational session linking young innovators with policymakers and investors.

He reiterated his appeal to private investors and financial institutions to invest meaningfully in youth-led green innovation. 

“Invest in young enterprises, not as charity, but because they are the future of the industry. Create accessible and flexible financing, support incubation and mentorship and remove barriers that prevent youth from leading green economic transformation,” he said.

Mr Mmolotsi expressed optimism about the youth’s role in shaping an inclusive, sustainable future.

“Your passion is powerful, your leadership is essential, the world is looking forward to your guidance,” said Mr Mmolotsi. 

He explained that the summit’s theme: Leveraging Biodiversity for Africa’s Prosperity, emphasised that biodiversity was not merely a conservation concern, but Africa’s competitive advantage.

“Africa’s rich natural capital provides food, jobs, cultural identity, climate resilience and global value,” he said, adding that leveraging biodiversity meant turning natural wealth into sustainable enterprises, skilled employment and inclusive growth, especially for the youth while protecting the ecosystems that sustained people.

Mr Mmolotsi stressed that biodiversity protection should not be viewed as a cost, but as an investment in economic stability, dignity and shared wealth.

Minister Mmolotsi reaffirmed Botswana’s commitment to integrating biodiversity into its economic and cultural identity.

“In Botswana, biodiversity is central to identity and development, we remain committed to a green economy that values community-based resource management, sustainable tourism and wildlife co-management,” he said.

He added that Botswana was advancing initiatives in indigenous crop value chains, botanical product manufacturing and data-based enterprises, sectors that demonstrated how environmental stewardship could support local economies. ENDS