AFRICA’S critical protected areas and habitats cannot exist without our wildlife species since there are keystone species like elephants, great apes, and carnivores that modify and sustain these systems though processes such as seed dispersal and grazing to stimulate the grasses and regulation of grazers through predation. In addition, combined with wildlife, our protected areas provide recreation and improved quality of life for local and international visitors. These areas should be protected so that they are large sized, interconnected, representative and able to fulfil their ecological and socio-economic roles. Without viable and ecologically functional wildlife populations and natural habitats, our economic development as a continent will slow and ultimately fail. This is why we have been gathered here in Kigali, this past week (18th to 23rd July 2022), with evidence of effects of the industrial age on the climate and nature becoming more compelling, it is persuading more and more people that extractive economic growth is reaching its ecological limits. Diligent leaders, thinkers and ordinary people, the youth in particular, are increasingly asking soul searching questions of values and meaning. Is consumption the only measure of man? This is the perspective of development motivating this congress. The sooner we all realize that Africa’s economic development is non-negotiable, the better. We must recognize the ambitions of our people. And luckily sitting through the congress this past week, we realized that we are all uniquely positioned and qualified to help articulate, describe, and advise on a vision for the future of Africa in which wildlife coexists with modern cities, productive farmlands, greater expanded infrastructure and even manufacturing. We can and must chart a forward course that leapfrogs development in Africa into a green economy, where growth and nature coexist. We see ecological awareness as an opportunity to reconcile these two goals. Are we obliged to relive history, or can we, drawing from our heritage, leapfrog into a new paradigm of progress that values harmony with nature as our ancestors did only a few generations ago? Incidentally, our reflections, analysis and review of the evidence suggests that they are far from being conflicting, Africa’s ecological and economic imperatives are in fact convergent. I am therefore very proud that this congress has for the first time offered Africans the golden chance to reset and recalibrate our mindsets towards sustainable avenues that will ensure the wellbeing of wildlife and their habitats is safeguarded. For once, we are certain that the future will not be like the past. If uncritically following conventional wisdom down a well-trodden path has failed Africa, navigating uncharted waters with old maps is even more perilous. The question post – APAC is whether Africa will follow the western model or embark on a novel trajectory – this will have a extremely large impact on our future. The population growth numbers of 2050 – about 2.5 billion Africans, is already baked in - because of the current young population. Africa is both the world’s sole remaining region with a rapidly growing population, and the most rapidly urbanizing region. At the same time, it still the world’s least energy-consuming region per capita. That energy deficit needs to be addressed if Africa’s economies are to develop. Africans need and have a right to more consumer electricity use, more transportation, more energy input to agriculture and manufacturing, more housing construction. Africa needs energy and growth, and it will not walk away from investments in coal-powered generation unless it has alternatives. Here it is crucial to see that Africa’s energy needs are also creating new opportunities to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and job growth across the continent As noted, African leaders are already aware of the possibilities and are developing green development strategies. Where we chose to have this conference this past week – Rwanda is a good example of this. Through diplomacy and development assistance, the global community have an important role to play in supporting Africa’s efforts to develop and adopt pathways designed to help African countries advance through clean energy growth. Ensuring that Africa’s largest and fastest growing countries do not experience rapid growth in CO2 emissions as they develop will require more than just stopping the construction of coal-fired power plants. It will require comprehensive planning to adjust to a low-carbon economy, including electrified transport, renewable energy generation for as many by-products as possible, energy-efficient design and construction (especially for rapidly growing cities in the region), and low-emission agriculture. To be successful in beating extinction and postponing its inevitability, we will need strong alliances that bring different sectors together if we are to overcome the challenges of wildlife protection and conservation and save the future of our planet. These alliances are what brought us here this week to forge an agenda for the conservation of Africa’s wildlife and Protected areas is crucial at this time to ensure their place on the continent’s development vision to achieve sustainability of human populations and biodiversity. As we put on our thinking hats and get to the real work, let me encourage us all in our greatest role as managers of conservation and protected areas, to fully commit to broker successful co-existence between African communities and African wildlife. The writer is Kaddu Sebunya, CEO, African Wildlife Foundation.
