22% of the world’s 34 biodiversity hotspots are in Africa. This represents natural capital whose loss in economic and ecological terms is not easy to fathom. These areas represent the last places to provide essential ecosystem goods and services necessary for current and future development and human well-being to which Africa now aspires. There is even an influential and understandably appealing response to the global initiatives on climate change and biodiversity loss mitigation to the effect that conservation is a luxury that poor countries cannot afford, that they should be allowed to follow the course that today’s industrialized countries followed, namely: “develop first and clean up later.” The evidence of the effects of the industrial age on the climate and nature is becoming more compelling, our job now is persuading more and more people that extractive economic growth is reaching its ecological limits. We are all uniquely positioned and qualified to help articulate, describe, and advise on a vision for the future of humanity in which nature coexists with modern cities, productive farmlands, greater expanded infrastructure and even manufacturing. Otherwise, how do you explain the lack of understanding of the connection with – investment in hydro energy with no attention to where water comes from, or billions for the agriculture sector without attention to rainfall that comes from forests? For example, among the 1.5 million people of Mombasa, Kenya, how many know that half of their domestic water is from Tsavo national park? What we have failed to unlearn is that Natural Resource Management and conservation are not only for the so-called tree huggers. These are shared resources that are meant to last past our lifetime and for generations to come. But the change starts from understanding that conservation is not going to be successful too - without development. This is the future of conservation in Africa. We have a golden opening 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 we act. The climate crisis threatens to undo the last fifty years of progress in development, global health, and poverty reduction, and to further widen existing health inequalities between and within populations. Africa sits in an unusual place of perception today. We have been called all manner of things over the years. From the hopeless continent to the fastest emerging market, from a wild land of conflict to a booming arena of opportunity. But what is clear to us who call this continent and its countries home, is that change is here. Much of it is positive. Africa is transforming right before our eyes. Roads, rails, malls, industries and even cities are rising at an unprecedented rate. But when it comes to ecological growth and development, there is a deafening silence. A disturbing silence. There is absence of a defined relationship between development and conservation. Yet we know that there are countless examples of regions and nations that went on a grand developmental spree, and now face the consequences of having to deal with terrible air quality, having chopped down the lungs of their cities. As Africans, we dare not follow their example and wipe out the natural attractions and benefits we have, that no technology or money can replicate or replace. It is not going to be easy – there are challenges - Africa is both the world’s sole remaining region with a rapidly growing population, and the most rapidly urbanizing region. We still lack 70% of the infrastructure we need for our Agenda 2063 development plan. We are still the world’s least energy-consuming region per capita. That energy deficit needs to be addressed if Africa’s economies are to develop. Here it is crucial to see that Africa’s energy needs are also creating new opportunities to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and green job growth across the continent. For our friends outside of Africa. 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 green 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 another global meeting on climate or campaigns to stop construction of coal power plants. It will require support to Africa in comprehensive planning for example, 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. If taken seriously, the collective actions towards the climate crisis by key countries – US, EU, China, and India – will definitely be a huge global success on climate. But on their own, without Africa, they will not be enough. The author is the Chief Executive Officer of the Africa Wildlife Foundation
