AFRICA BIODIVERSITY SUMMIT
2-5 November 2025
GABORONE, BOTSWANA
THEME ‘LEVERAGING BIODIVERSITY FOR AFRICA’S PROSPERITY’ CONCEPT NOTE

1. Introduction

Africa is richly endowed with natural resources that underpin its development aspirations. The sustainable management of these resources lies at the heart of the African Union’s vision and values. Agenda 2063 envisions an Africa where our unique natural heritage including ecosystems, biodiversity, wildlife, and wild lands is protected, healthy, and valued, contributing to climate-resilient communities and thriving economies.

Realizing this vision requires a united and sustained response to the triple planetary crisis: biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution, in addition to the emerging threat of desertication.

In response to this imperative, the African Union Assembly has mandated the African Union Commission (AUC) to convene the inaugural Africa Biodiversity Summit. The Summit will build on the growing momentum of international and regional environmental frameworks and be guided by the outcomes of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN). It will serve as a high-level platform to provide political leadership on biodiversity conservation, particularly in governance, resource mobilization, and Africa's contributions to global biodiversity negotiations.

2. Objectives of the Summit

The Africa Biodiversity Summit aims to:

1. ProvidepoliticaldirectionandsupportforAfrica’sbiodiversitypriorities,including Africa's engagement in global negotiations.

2. Strengtheningpartnershipsfortheeectiveimplementationofcontinentaland international biodiversity frameworks.

3. Mobilizenancialandtechnicalresourcestosupportbiodiversityconservation eorts across the continent.

3. Summit Structure

a. Summit Segment

• Opening Ceremony

• Statements by Heads of State and Government

• Key Messages from Development Partners and Civil Society

• Adoption of the Africa Biodiversity Summit Declaration

b. Ministerial Segment

• Ministerial Statements

• Ministerial Dialogues and Panel Discussions

• Adoption of the Draft Declaration for Consideration by the Summit

4. Technical Segment

The technical sessions will focus on the following key thematic areas:

a. Biodiversity Conservation for Socio-Economic Development

This thematic area will address sustainable management of both terrestrial and marine biodiversity, including natural capital accounting, development of a bioeconomy, and mitigation of human-wildlife conict to support inclusive economic growth.

b. Strengthening Biodiversity Governance

This will examine the legal and policy frameworks at national, regional, and global levels, and explore integrated approaches to addressing the interlinked challenges of climate change, desertication, and biodiversity loss. Emphasis will be placed on inclusive stakeholder engagement, particularly Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, in implementing National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets.

c. Enhancing Financial Flows for Biodiversity Management

Discussions will focus on innovative nancing mechanisms, public-private partnerships, and capacity-building to operationalize initiatives such as the Africa Biodiversity Fund. Other areas include the promotion of bioeconomy development, fair access and benet sharing from genetic resources, and leveraging biodiversity-based trade for sustainable livelihoods.

d. Africa’s Global Engagement on Biodiversity

The Summit will serve as a platform to coordinate Africa’s positions in preparation for key global biodiversity meetings, including CITES, CMS, UNOC-14, and the Bamako Convention. It will also provide political direction based on AMCEN’s recommendations.

5. Expected Outcomes

The Africa Biodiversity Summit will culminate in the Africa Biodiversity Summit Declaration, articulating collective political guidance from Heads of State and Government. The Declaration will reect Africa’s priorities and commitments across the key thematic areas and serve as a unied voice in global biodiversity fora.