Image: Freepik
“We owe it to ourselves and to the next generation to conserve the environment so that we can
bequeath our children a sustainable world that benefits all”
– Prof. Wangari Maathai, Nobel Peace laureate
In 2009, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming 22 April as International Mother Earth Day. Since then, the day has become a global day of recognition of the Earth and its ecosystems as humanity’s common home and the need to protect her to enhance people’s livelihoods, counteract climate change and stop the collapse of biodiversity.
Climate change, man-made changes to nature as well as crimes that disrupt biodiversity, such as deforestation, land-use change, intensified agriculture and livestock production or the growing illegal wildlife trade, can accelerate the speed of destruction of the planet.
The African Union (AU) marks environmental action through the annual Africa Environment Day/Wangari Maathai Day on 3 March, commemorating the legacy of the Kenyan Prof. Wangari Maathai, the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004. It also focuses on tackling challenges like climate change, deforestation and biodiversity loss.
Wangari Maathai was the founder of the Green Belt Movement. She emphasized that environmental protection is intrinsically linked to democracy, peace and poverty alleviation. Her famous quotes champion individual action, for example, “It’s the little things citizens do. That’s what will make the difference. My little thing is planting trees.”
As the world annually pauses to reflect on the urgent need to protect our planet, for Africa, this reflection is not abstract—it is lived daily in the struggle to balance development, livelihoods and ecological stewardship. The continent holds a disproportionate share of the world’s intact ecosystems, biodiversity and carbon sequestration potential, yet historically has captured only a fraction of related capital flows. Conservation and biodiversity credits are now emerging as powerful tools to change that equation, helping Africa fight climate change while strengthening communities.
Africa’s forests, savannahs, wetlands and mangroves are not just landscapes—they are carbon sinks that absorb millions of tonnes of CO₂ each year. Protecting them prevents emissions from deforestation and degradation, which remain among the largest drivers of climate change. Conservation also safeguards water systems: in South Africa, for example, high‑yield catchments cover only 10% of land but supply more than half the country’s water. Healthy ecosystems underpin food security, pollination, soil fertility and fisheries, all of which buffer communities against climate shocks such as droughts and floods.
Animal conservation is equally vital. Protecting species like elephants, lions and wild dogs preserves ecological balance and tourism revenues, while also maintaining biodiversity that supports resilience. Communities living alongside wildlife often act as custodians of these ecosystems, and conservation programmes that channel revenue back to them reduce reliance on destructive practices like illegal logging or poaching.
Richie Laburn is the CEO of Save the Sand, a project that blends conservation, carbon finance and community empowerment across the Sabie-Sand River catchment in South Africa’s Mpumalanga province. Revived from a government water initiative, it now aims to plant 2.5 million indigenous trees, sequestering seven million tonnes of carbon over 40 years while strengthening local livelihoods. The scheme integrates ecological restoration, agroforestry and benefit-sharing frameworks, positioning communities as central stewards rather than peripheral stakeholders.
He adds: “the rights of communities are the foundation of this project. For us, in terms of an equity reality, a tree custodian on Bush Buck Ridge is doing the same ecological work as a carbon engineer in London. And we believe that it’s time they got paid like it.” [Read the full interview here.]
Azaria Kilimba, Operations Manager at Carbon Tanzania concurs on Africa’s vital role in high‑integrity carbon markets, stressing permanence, transparency and community sovereignty. With deforestation driving most of Tanzania’s emissions, Carbon Tanzania’s projects protect forests, biodiversity and endangered species while securing livelihoods. Certified under international standards, credits are rigorously verified and attract price premiums due to their social and ecological benefits.
Kilimba highlights that the most rewarding aspect is seeing communities use carbon finance to meet daily needs and reduce deforestation drivers, while the greatest challenge lies in strengthening governance and dispelling misconceptions about community‑led avoidance projects. [Read full interview here.]
In order to attract finance to nature-based projects, innovative bond structures, including green, blue and wildlife conservation bonds, are being used to finance nature-positive outcomes.
A well-known example is the so-called Rhino Bond, a multi-million, 5-year sustainable development and outcomes-based bond issued by the World Bank in 2022 to support black rhino conservation in South Africa’s Addo Elephant National Park and Great Fish River Nature Reserve.
“Outcome-based bonds are just some of the tools that we use in terms of designing de-risking instruments in order to help attract private sector investors to support nature conservation and biodiversity projects across Africa” says Mookho Mathaba, Climate Finance Specialist at the Development Bank of Southern Africa. [Read full article here].
Currently, Africa is estimated to have around 30 accredited biodiversity credit projects underway, though the market is still in its early stages compared to carbon credits. These projects are concentrated in East and Southern Africa.
These credits are crucial to closing Africa’s projected $25 billion annual biodiversity finance gap. They provide new revenue streams for schools, clinics and jobs, making conservation economically viable. They also complement carbon markets, ensuring that ecological richness—not just carbon storage—is valued. By monetising ecosystem services, biodiversity credits align local incentives with global climate goals.
– This article first appeared in the Green Economy Express newsletter, published by Africa’s Green Economy Summit.
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