Africa’s dedication to its Sustainable Agenda 2063 left a strong impression on me at the recent Africa Conservation Forum 2024 (ACF) in Nairobi, organized by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This is a crucial moment for Africa to assert its voice and shape the future of global conservation.
To achieve this vision, Africa must integrate conservation with long-term development, ensuring natural heritage and economic goals thrive together. This requires proactive engagement from governments, the private sector, and conservation groups. Africa needs to lead discussions on its biodiversity by setting policies and funding priorities, while unifying approaches to address regional needs.
The continent should prioritize expanding platforms for collaboration and knowledge sharing, ideally hosted within Africa to maximize impact. The inaugural Africa Conservation Forum highlighted numerous valuable discussions, and there is potential for more nations to participate in dialogues focused on Africa’s unique conservation challenges and solutions. With its rich biodiversity and strong conservation legacy, Kenya is well-positioned to become a central hub for these initiatives. By hosting African-led events, the continent can take up its lead role in fostering collaboration and advancing continental conservation goals.
A crucial element of effective conservation in Africa is demonstrating the value of conservation efforts to communities living near protected areas. Community-centred approaches are essential for successful conservation. Incorporating indigenous knowledge and ensuring that local communities directly benefit from conservation initiatives is both ethically necessary and strategically vital. When communities are engaged as stewards of their environments and see tangible benefits, sustainability becomes ingrained in their way of life rather than being a temporary project.
Education plays a crucial role in conservation. Integrating conservation education into school curricula across Africa is essential for fostering a deep appreciation of our natural heritage. Young Africans should be encouraged to lead the integration of conservation values. Prioritizing education and awareness programs in schools and recreational spaces from an early age will instil a lasting respect for preserving the environment. At MKWC, we recognize this importance and run community conservation education programs to raise awareness about the Mountain Bongo and sustainable resource management. By engaging directly with youth through schools and community partners, we aim to inspire the next generation to become dedicated stewards of the planet and address past environmental challenges.
While external support for Africa’s conservation efforts is valuable, the push for increased self-funding is particularly compelling. It represents an investment in our future, ownership of our conservation strategies, and alignment with our unique needs and values. Recognizing the true value of Africa’s biodiversity is both a practical necessity and an academic endeavour, essential for effectively allocating resources for future generations.
Private sector leaders and entrepreneurs across Africa are increasingly acknowledging the economic, social, and ecological benefits of supporting conservation. Many businesses view conservation as a moral and core business value. However, to convert this enthusiasm into actionable results, we need clear frameworks and incentives for investing that will drive collective progress.
Raising awareness about the long-term benefits of conservation is essential. Businesses must recognize that a healthy environment is foundational to sustainable development. Conservation protects the resources vital to key economic sectors such as tourism and agriculture. Investing in conservation ensures future prosperity for businesses.
To encourage private sector involvement, providing incentives is crucial. This can include tax breaks, subsidies, or access to green bonds for companies that adopt eco-friendly practices or support conservation projects.
My experience at the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy illustrates this well. Our Bongo preservation and rewilding program has achieved a 10% population increase in five years. However, scaling up requires more support. For example, if investors in conservation programs, like the Bongo initiative, were exempt from import duties on essential materials, it could spur significant investment and accelerate conservation efforts across Africa.
Establishing clear, enforceable regulations is crucial for successful conservation. These regulations should be consistent across the continent, focusing on penalizing environmentally harmful practices while rewarding businesses to integrate conservation into their core strategies. A supportive regulatory framework will promote long-term sustainability and enable economic growth to harmonize with environmental protection.
Africa must reconsider its approach to conservation, embrace innovation, and assert its role in global conservation governance. The continent has the potential, resources, and resolve to lead in biodiversity conservation, and this leadership deserves global recognition.
The time has come for a stronger commitment to protect Africa’s natural heritage. Safeguarding wildlife and landscapes is crucial not only for the future of our planet but also for the well-being of all its inhabitants, human and non-human.
We face a pivotal choice: Will we take proactive steps to build a sustainable future that benefits both our people and the planet, or will we remain passive, waiting for solutions? The answer depends on our collective resolve and action. The time to act is now.
