Indaba on wildlife economy

HEADS of state, business leaders, technical experts and community representatives have gathered in Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls until Wednesday for the Africa Wildlife Economy Summit, aimed at radically changing the way the continental nature-based economy was managed.

Convened by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the AU and hosted by Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the summit launched the African Wildlife Economy Initiative – a new, Africa-led vision of conservation that linked the private sector with national authorities and local communities to design and finance conservation-compatible investments that deliver sustainable economic and ecological benefits to countries, people, and the environment.

At least 12 ministerial delegations, including from Angola, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Gambia, Zambia, Chad, and South Sudan were expected to attend, as well as private sector tourism and conservation investors, representatives from communities, conservation scientists and policymakers.

Businesses built on Africa’s natural landscapes and wildlife – including tourism, the harvesting of plants and natural products for food, cosmetics or medicines, wildlife credit schemes for direct payments for conservation, or fees, taxes and levies tied to the use of nature, among others – employ millions of people and earn governments billions of dollars in revenue. Alongside commercial rewards, conserved habitats drive local, regional, and global environmental benefits, UNEP said.

A working paper released at the summit showed that consumer spending on tourism, hospitality, and recreation in Africa, estimated at $124 billion (R1.7 trillion) in 2015, was expected to reach $262bn by 2030.