Africa launches first major summit to advance inclusive biodiversity governance – Farmers Review Africa

Report on the Inaugural Africa Biodiversity Summit 2025

This report outlines the objectives, structure, and strategic importance of the inaugural Africa Biodiversity Summit, scheduled for 2–5 November 2025. The summit, convened by the African Union Commission (AUC) under the theme “Leveraging Biodiversity for Africa’s Prosperity,” aims to integrate biodiversity conservation with the continent’s socio-economic development frameworks, particularly Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Summit Mandate and Strategic Objectives

The African Union Assembly has mandated the AUC to establish a high-level platform to address the “triple planetary crisis” of biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution. The summit will provide political leadership and mobilize resources to protect Africa’s natural capital, which is fundamental to achieving multiple SDGs.

Core Objectives and SDG Alignment

• Provide Political Direction: To establish and support Africa’s biodiversity priorities and guide engagement in global negotiations, directly contributing to SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
• Strengthen Partnerships: To enhance collaboration for the effective implementation of continental and international biodiversity frameworks, reinforcing SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
• Mobilise Resources: To secure financial and technical resources for biodiversity conservation across the continent, a key target within SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Thematic Focus Areas and Contribution to the 2030 Agenda

The summit’s technical sessions are structured around four thematic areas, each directly linked to the achievement of specific Sustainable Development Goals.

1. Biodiversity Conservation for Socio-Economic Development

   This theme focuses on integrating the value of nature into economic planning.

   • SDG 14 (Life Below Water) & SDG 15 (Life on Land): Addressed through the sustainable management of terrestrial and marine biodiversity.
   • SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) & SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure): Supported by the development of a sustainable bioeconomy and natural capital accounting.
   • SDG 1 (No Poverty) & SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): Advanced by mitigating human-wildlife conflict and securing nature-based livelihoods.

2. Strengthening Biodiversity Governance

   This area emphasizes the need for robust and inclusive institutional frameworks.

   • SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions): Promoted by strengthening legal and policy frameworks at all levels.
   • SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): Advanced through the mandated inclusive engagement of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in national biodiversity strategies.
   • SDG 13 (Climate Action) & SDG 15 (Life on Land): Supported via the implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets.

3. Enhancing Financial Flows for Biodiversity Management

   This theme explores mechanisms to fund conservation and sustainable use.

   • SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): Realized through the exploration of innovative financing, including public-private partnerships.
   • SDG 1 (No Poverty) & SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): Supported by leveraging biodiversity-based trade to create sustainable livelihoods.
   • SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) & SDG 15.6: Addressed by ensuring fair and equitable benefit-sharing from the utilization of genetic resources.

4. Africa’s Global Engagement on Biodiversity

   This area focuses on creating a unified African voice on the world stage.

   • SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): Strengthened by coordinating Africa’s collective position for key global biodiversity conventions and fora.

Expected Outcomes and Strategic Importance

The Africa Biodiversity Summit Declaration

The summit will culminate in the adoption of the “Africa Biodiversity Summit Declaration” by Heads of State and Government. This declaration will provide collective political guidance and serve as Africa’s unified position in global biodiversity negotiations, reinforcing the continent’s commitment to the 2030 Agenda.

Contribution to Sustainable Development

The summit signifies a strategic shift towards positioning biodiversity as a critical driver of sustainable growth, resilience, and inclusion. By emphasizing the involvement of Indigenous and local communities, the summit champions an inclusive governance model essential for achieving SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), ensuring that conservation efforts are both effective and equitable.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 13: Climate Action: The article directly mentions the “triple planetary crisis” which includes climate change and the goal of achieving “climate-resilient communities.”
• SDG 14: Life Below Water: The article discusses the sustainable management of “marine biodiversity” and references Africa’s engagement with the “United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNOC-14).”
• SDG 15: Life on Land: This is the most central SDG. The article’s entire focus is on biodiversity conservation, protecting ecosystems, combating desertification, and the sustainable management of terrestrial biodiversity and natural capital.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The summit’s focus on “strengthening biodiversity governance,” establishing “legal and policy frameworks,” and ensuring “inclusive stakeholder engagement” directly relates to building effective and inclusive institutions.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article highlights the summit’s objectives to “Strengthen partnerships,” “Mobilise financial and technical resources,” and coordinate Africa’s “global engagement on biodiversity,” which are core elements of this goal.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The summit’s theme, “Leveraging Biodiversity for Africa’s Prosperity,” and its focus on “socio-economic development,” “thriving economies,” “development of bioeconomy,” and “sustainable livelihoods” connect biodiversity conservation to sustainable economic growth.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. The article mentions the development of “Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)” as a key area of focus.
2. Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts. The article explicitly mentions the “sustainable management of … marine biodiversity” as a key thematic area.
3. Target 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil… and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world. The article identifies the “growing threat of desertification” and the implementation of “Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets.”
4. Target 15.9: By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies and accounts. The article highlights the importance of “National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs)” and “natural capital accounting.”
5. Target 15.a: Mobilize and significantly increase financial resources from all sources to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity and ecosystems. A main objective of the summit is to “Mobilise financial and technical resources for biodiversity conservation.”
6. Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels. The article emphasizes “inclusive stakeholder engagement, especially of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.”
7. Target 17.14: Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development. The summit aims to forge a “unified path” and adopt a declaration to serve as “Africa’s unified voice in global biodiversity fora,” promoting policy coherence across the continent.
8. Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships. The summit’s objective to “Strengthen partnerships” and the mention of “public-private partnerships” directly align with this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 15.3.1: Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area. The article’s reference to addressing “desertification” and setting “Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets” implies a focus on measuring and reducing land degradation.
• Indicator 15.9.1: (a) Number of countries that have established national targets in accordance with or similar to Aichi Biodiversity Target 2 of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020 in their national biodiversity strategy and action plans, and the progress reported towards these targets; and (b) integration of biodiversity into national accounting and reporting systems, defined as implementation of the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting. The article explicitly mentions “National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs)” and “natural capital accounting” as key instruments for governance, which serve as direct indicators of progress.
• Indicator 13.2.1: Number of countries that have communicated the establishment or operationalization of an integrated policy/strategy/plan which increases their ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change, and foster climate resilience and low greenhouse gas emissions development in a manner that does not threaten food production. The mention of “Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)” serves as an indicator of countries integrating climate action into their national policies.
• Indicator 17.14.1: Number of countries with mechanisms in place to enhance policy coherence of sustainable development. The planned adoption of the “Africa Biodiversity Summit Declaration” to create a “unified voice” is a mechanism to enhance policy coherence at a continental level.
• Indicator 16.7.1: Proportions of positions in national and local institutions, including (a) the public service… which are held by women, indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities and other population groups. The specific mention of ensuring “inclusive stakeholder engagement, especially of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities” implies a commitment to measuring their participation in decision-making processes.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: farmersreviewafrica.com