South African Minister: effective biodiversity economy must be based on the conservation of natural areas

The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy, thanked all participants for their valuable contributions to the development of the National Biodiversity Economy Strategy.

Through collaborative efforts, a programme of action was created to address biodiversity challenges. Finding financial support, securing access to land for biodiversity projects, developing human capital and scientific support, and research and demand creation were important activities.

The Minister noted that an effective biodiversity economy must be based on the conservation of natural areas capable of sustainable utilisation of diverse resources. This is reported by the official website of the South African government.

Conference participants emphasised the diversity of successful approaches to the economics of biodiversity, which promoted environmental sustainability and opened up new opportunities for development.

As part of the discussions, delegates emphasised the need to reform the biodiversity sector in South Africa.

Participants agreed to work on documenting the biodiversity landscape and expanding the project portfolio. The Department encourages all stakeholders to review the National Biodiversity Economics Strategy and provide comments for further refinement.