05 Nov 2025

Africa has been called to safeguard the rich tapestry of life that defines Africa’s natural heritage.

Speaking at the First Africa Biodiversity Summit in Gaborone, African Union Commission (AUC) - Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy, director, Mr Harsen Nyambe, underscored the urgency of safeguarding Africa’s biodiversity as the foundation of sustainable development and resilience on the continent.

Mr Nyambe highlighted Africa’s extraordinary ecological wealth, spanning the rainforests of the Congo Basin, the Serengeti’s savannahs, the coral reefs of the Indian Ocean and the vast deserts of the Sahara.

“These diverse ecosystems are not simply landscapes but lifelines that sustain livelihoods, regulate climate, provide food, medicine and hold cultural, spiritual identity for millions of Africans.

However, he cautioned that those invaluable natural systems were facing unprecedented pressure from land degradation, climate change, pollution and unsustainable exploitation, stressing that, the urgency to act had never been greater.

Describing the technical segment as the engine room of the summit, Mr Nyambe urged participants, comprising researchers, policymakers and practitioners to engage collaboratively and think boldly.

He called for the integration of African science, indigenous knowledge systems and regional cooperation to design actionable strategies that would not only shape the outcomes of the summit but also influence global biodiversity frameworks.

Reaffirming the African Union’s commitment to environmental sustainability, Mr Nyambe cited ongoing efforts under the African Union Biodiversity Strategy and the African Green Stimulus Programme.

He also noted the alignment of those initiatives with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, ensuring Africa’s unified and influential participation in global environmental governance.

“We must ensure that biodiversity is mainstreamed across sectors, from agriculture and infrastructure to finance and education, so that conservation becomes a shared responsibility and a cornerstone of development,” he emphasised.

Mr Nyambe called on delegates to act with clarity, courage and conviction, reminding them that the outcomes of the summit would shape Africa’s environmental future for generations to come.

“The youth of Africa are watching, they are counting on us to protect the natural legacy that is their birthright,” he said.

Ministry of Environment and Tourism, permanent secretary, Mr Boatametse Modukanele also made a call for action on Conservation and Sustainable Development, calling for unity, collaboration and concrete action to protect the continent’s natural heritage.

“For the first time, our continent has come together, not just to celebrate Africa’s rich natural heritage, but to take concrete steps to secure it for future generations,” said Mr Modukanele.

He described the technical session as a crucial platform where science met policy, a space designed to translate knowledge into action.

Participants were urged to explore how to strengthen biodiversity monitoring, restoration and governance, mobilise financing for conservation and integrate biodiversity into national development plans.

Mr Modukanele underscored the importance of ensuring that deliberations at the summit moved beyond theory and led to practical, measurable outcomes on the ground.

“Our task is to ensure that these discussions do not remain theoretical, but inform real, practical actions, we must be bold enough to translate technical knowledge into policies that work, budgets that prioritise nature and partnerships that deliver results,” he said and explained that implementation was the most critical step.

Mr Modukanele called for partnerships that would enable Africa not only to conserve its biodiversity but to harness it for sustainable economic growth.

The First Africa Biodiversity Summit has brought together policymakers, scientists, civil society representatives and development partners from across the continent to discuss strategies for biodiversity conservation, sustainable land management, and ecosystem restoration.

The summit aims to align continental priorities with global biodiversity targets while promoting inclusive, science-driven approaches to environmental protection. 

ENDS