The African Union (AU) is exhorting its member states to take “collective action” to safeguard the continent’s biodiversity to intensify its development, sovereignty, and climate resilience.
The appeal came at Tuesday’s opening of the Africa Biodiversity Summit which was held at the Royal Aria Convention Centre in Gaborone, Botswana under the theme “Leveraging Biodiversity for Africa’s Prosperity”.
Delivering the opening statement, Harsen Nyambe, Director of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy at the African Union Commission, underscored the urgency of united action to preserve Africa’s natural wealth.
“Africa’s ecosystems; from the rainforests of the Congo Basin to the deserts of the Sahara are not merely landscapes; they are lifelines,” Nyambe said. “They sustain livelihoods, regulate our climate, and hold deep cultural and spiritual value. Protecting them is not an option; it is our obligation to future generations.”
Speaking at the event AU Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment Moses Vilakati called for efforts to strengthen policies and invest in nature.
“We must move beyond declarations to decisive actions,” Vilakati said, stressing that “it is about time we start being action-oriented.”
He said that biodiversity is not a secondary issue but a “foundation for our economies, food systems, health, and cultural identity.” Vilakati stressed the need for robust policy frameworks, investment in nature-based solutions, and the empowerment of youth and indigenous communities as conservation leaders to achieve the AU’s Agenda 2063 vision for an integrated and prosperous Africa.
The administrative and regulatory frameworks discussed at this summit are expected to guide the implementation of the Maputo Convention.
Calling for tangible results, Botswana’s Minister of Environment and Tourism Wynter Mmolotsi said the Maputo Convention is a critical “call to action” which should drive “concrete change on the ground.”
The Maputo Convention is formally known as the “African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.” It was first adopted in 2003, and the revised convention was adopted in 2013, then entered into force in July 2016, according to the AU website.
Themed “Leveraging Biodiversity for Africa’s Prosperity,” the Africa Biodiversity Summit, lasting from Nov. 2 to Nov. 5, is expected to adopt the Africa Biodiversity Summit Declaration at the Summit Segment on Wednesday.
MG/abj/APA