When one truly pays attention to such a topic, it is important to primarily ask the question, “Can laying out a price on Africa’s biodiversity save it?” Africa is one of the most biodiverse continents, hosting ecosystems ranging from savannas and tropical rainforests to deserts and coral reefs. It is home to iconic megafauna, including lions, elephants, and giraffes. It also hosts a significantly large amount of the world’s species, including one-fifth of all known birds, mammals, and plants. However, it is also equally noticeable that the continent is facing a large threat of habitat loss, overexploitation, and climate change, directing to a rapid decline in vertebrate populations and high-risk extinction for many species.
African leaders are now preparing for a crucial, high-end gathering to solidify permanently the continent’s commitment to environmental stewardship during the inaugural Africa Biodiversity Summit scheduled for November 2-5, 2025, in Gaborone, Botswana.
The Gaborone summit aims to bring the continent together to address the linked challenges of biodiversity loss, climate change, pollution, and land degradation.
The overarching theme of said summit, “Leveraging Biodiversity for Africa’s Prosperity,” also uses emphasis on “inclusive biodiversity governance,” according to announcements made by the pre-summit. The summit primarily aims to elevate biodiversity from being just a conservation issue to more of a strategic development priority. Participants and stakeholders of the event include heads of state and government from African Union member countries, regional economic communities, UN agencies, youth organizations, conservation leaders, and development partners.
The inaugural Africa Biodiversity Summit, which is the first continental summit of its kind, holds great importance not only for all African countries but also for Commonwealth countries in Africa that are directly affected by high biodiversity and climate vulnerability, including Southern, East, West, and Central African nations such as Botswana, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and others.
The summit aims to link African-specific conservation and development strategies with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The summit seeks to unlock funding, strengthen policy frameworks, and foster collaborative partnerships to protect biodiversity, restore ecosystems, and ensure the sustainable use of natural resources.
It also underscores environmental self-determination, with African nations assuming leadership and control over the management of their biodiversity.
The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) pledged US$ 30 million per year for conservation efforts across Africa, linking directly to the Summit.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) aimed to support African countries in developing effective biodiversity governance, enhancing sustainable resource management, and building the institutional and technical capacity needed to implement long-term conservation and development goals.
Participants conversed directly about revitalizing the Maputo Convention (regarding the environment and natural resources) to make it more dynamic and aligned with Agenda 2063 (the African Union’s long-term goal)..
The Summit goes beyond ecosystem conservation, aiming to leverage and boost biodiversity as an economic resource, turning natural systems into engines for development through job creation, nature-based solutions, and sustainable livelihoods.
It promotes and encourages locally driven approaches, encouraging African-led funding and management of conservation efforts instead of depending primarily on external support, which would only be a temporary remedy for a permanent ongoing challenge.
The outcomes could also inform and guide future legal and policy frameworks, helping African nations align domestic biodiversity strategies with global conservation objectives.
The Africa Biodiversity Summit 2025 sets a standard for sustainable, locally led conservation across Africa. It gives African and Commonwealth countries the tools, policies, and partnerships they need to protect biodiversity while also promoting economic growth. By connecting environmental stewardship with development goals, the Summit positions Africa’s natural resources to benefit future generations, enhance climate resilience, and assert the continent’s leadership in global biodiversity management.
