Leveraging Biodiversity for Africa’s Prosperity
African Leaders Call for Urgent, Unified Action to Protect the Continent’s Natural Wealth at the Inaugural Africa Biodiversity Summit
26 November 2025 - African Heads of State and governments, leaders, policymakers, and partners converged in Gaborone, Botswana, for the Inaugural Africa Biodiversity Summit, a landmark gathering under the theme “Leveraging Biodiversity for Africa’s Prosperity.” The Summit held from 2-5 November 2025, hosted by the Government of the Republic of Botswana in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC), marks a new era in the continent’s efforts to elevate biodiversity governance to the highest political level.
The high-level segment, which was followed by the experts and ministerial back-to-back sessions, endorsed the historic ‘African Leaders Gaborone Declaration on Biodiversity’.
In her opening address, H.E. Ambassador Selma Malika Haddadi, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, emphasized that the summit represents a pivotal moment in Africa’s continental journey toward safeguarding Africa’s rich, unique, and irreplaceable biodiversity. She extended heartfelt gratitude to H.E. President Advocate Duma Gideon Boko and the people of Botswana for their leadership and hospitality in convening this historic event.
“Africa’s ecosystems are more than scenic wonders; they are the lifeblood of our economies, the foundation of our cultures, and the guardians of our future yet they are under siege from climate change, pollution, land degradation, and unsustainable exploitation. These multiple crises demand a triple commitment: to act, to invest, and to transform.” said Amb. Haddadi.
Ambassador Haddadi reaffirmed the AUC’s readiness to work with Member States, regional bodies, civil society, and the private sector to implement the African Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, aligning it with Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. She urged African Heads of State and Government to champion biodiversity as a strategic asset by integrating it into national development planning and empowering youth and indigenous communities as stewards of the continent’s natural wealth.
Delivering an address on behalf of H.E. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola and Chairperson of the African Union, H.E. Ana Paula Chantre Luna De Carvalho Pereira, Angola’s Minister of Environment, underscored that biodiversity is not merely an environmental issue, but a matter of sovereignty and justice.
“For us Africans, conserving biodiversity is much more than an environmental duty: it is a matter of sovereignty, dignity, and climate justice, there can be no lasting development without balance between economic growth and the preservation of natural resources.” She affirmed.
Minister Pereira outlined three key priorities for collective continental action: strengthening environmental governance and integrating biodiversity into national policies; mobilizing sustainable and predictable financing, including green investments and partnerships; and deepening regional and continental cooperation, given that “biodiversity knows no borders.”
In his keynote address, H.E. Advocate Duma Gideon Boko, President of the Republic of Botswana, reaffirmed his country’s longstanding commitment to conservation and called for the establishment of an Africa Biodiversity Fund to close the continent’s conservation finance gap.
“Botswana has set aside forty percent of her territory as protected areas and wildlife management zones, our track record in conserving our wildlife, including elephants, is second to none. Yet, the world today stands at a crossroads; biodiversity loss and climate change threaten not only species and ecosystems, but also the well-being of our communities.” Remarked President Boko.
President Boko stressed that the Summit must translate political will into tangible action, urging African nations to embed biodiversity into all sectors, from agriculture and mining to infrastructure and energy. He concluded with a call for a unified continental approach, urging delegates to make the Summit a turning point and opportunity to renew political will, commit resources, seal partnerships, and establish the Africa Biodiversity Fund.
About the Africa Biodiversity Summit
The Africa Biodiversity Summit is convened by the African Union Commission under the leadership of the Directorate of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy. The Summit serves as a continental platform for aligning Africa’s priorities under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and advancing the African Union Biodiversity Strategy. It aims to mobilize evidence-based policies, financing, and partnerships to promote biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable use of natural resources.
African Union Commission