From the vast savannas of the Serengeti to the rich marine ecosystems of the West African coast, Africa is a treasure trove of biodiversity. But this treasure is not just a matter of pride; it is the bedrock of our economies, our resilience to climate change, and the health and well-being of millions of people. If we are serious about sustainable development, we must put nature at the heart of it.
Yet conservation in Africa faces a difficult paradox: it must pay for itself.
Historically, biodiversity was often treated as a siloed priority, conservation for conservation’s sake. Today, that is no longer tenable. Conservation must “wash its face,” as the saying goes. It must demonstrate not just ecological impact but economic return. We need conservation models that protect the natural world and uplift the people who depend on it. In other words, conservation must become a partner, not a competitor, to development.
This isn’t about putting a price on nature for the sake of commodifying it. It’s about recognising that economic value flows from healthy ecosystems. Forests regulate water supplies and sequester carbon. Coral reefs support fisheries and coastal protection. Pollinators sustain crops. Nature’s contribution to Africa’s GDP is already enormous—but often invisible in our accounting systems.
Take tourism, for example. Wildlife tourism alone generates billions of dollars annually for African economies and supports millions of jobs, particularly in rural areas. But its success hinges entirely on the health of ecosystems and the species that inhabit them. Lose the biodiversity, and we lose the draw. Equally, mismanage tourism, and the ecosystems will pay the price. Harmony with nature demands balance.
Similarly, nature-based solutions to climate change, such as restoring wetlands, protecting mangroves, and regenerating degraded landscapes, offer triple dividends: biodiversity gains, carbon sequestration, and improved livelihoods. These are not just conservation wins but smart investments in Africa’s future.
But to unlock these opportunities, we must radically rethink how conservation is funded and delivered.
Traditional donor-driven models have limited reach and sustainability. Instead, we need blended finance, public-private partnerships, and policy frameworks that reward nature stewardship. We need landowners, communities, researchers, and investors pulling in the same direction.
At Oppenheimer Generations Research and Conservation, we believe research must inform every stage of this journey. Science gives us the tools to measure ecological health, understand socio-economic dynamics, and design interventions that deliver real impact. But it must also be collaborative, transdisciplinary, and grounded in local realities.
Too often, communities are treated as passive beneficiaries of conservation, rather than active custodians. That must change. Indigenous knowledge, community governance, and equitable benefit-sharing must be core to any sustainable conservation model. This is not only a question of justice, it’s a question of effectiveness. Conservation that excludes people inevitably fails. This is something we take very seriously and prioritise at our research sites. For example, at Shangani Ranch, we offer training to local communities on holistic land management, livestock care, and wildlife stewardship, creating jobs and fostering ownership of conservation goals.
Africa has an extraordinary opportunity to lead the world in integrating biodiversity into development planning. The continent’s young population, fast-growing economies, and abundant natural capital form a foundation for innovation. There are countless ways to align prosperity with planetary health, from wildlife economies to carbon markets, agroecology to ecotourism.
But time is short. Biodiversity loss is accelerating, and climate impacts are deepening. If we are to achieve true harmony with nature, we must move from ambition to action, grounded in evidence, guided by equity, and driven by collaboration.
Let us commit, this World Biodiversity Day, to seeing nature not as a constraint on development but as its enabler. Let us champion conservation that pays its way, economically, socially, and ecologically. And let us build an African future where biodiversity is protected, valued, restored, and celebrated as the foundation of sustainable development.
- Harmony with Nature: A Call for Sustainable Development Rooted in Biodiversity Conservation - May 22, 2025
- Science Beyond Boundaries - October 2, 2024
- Climate Change – Is enough being done to address the global threat? - November 26, 2023