Setting the scene

Abstract

Africa's extraordinary richness in biodiversity and ecosystem services, and wealth of indigenous and local knowledge, comprises a strategic asset for sustainable development in the region (well-established). Africa is the last place on Earth with a broadly intact assemblage of mammalian megafauna. Africa has significant regional, subregional and national variations in biodiversity that reflect climatic and physical differences, as well as the continent's long and varied history of human interactions with the environment. This natural richness, accumulated over millions of years, coupled with the wealth of indigenous and local knowledge on the continent, is central to, and constitutes a strategic asset for, the pursuit of sustainable development in the region. Africa's rich and diverse ecosystems generate flows of goods and services that are essential in providing for the continent's food-, water-, energy-, health- and secure livelihood- needs (well-established). Tangible assets such as food, water and medicinal plants, and intangible assets such as sacred sites and religious spaces underpin nature's contribution to the economy and are central to a multitude of other livelihood strategies. Nature's contributions to people are generally of immense benefit to the inhabitants of the continent and others across the globe, but can occasionally be detrimental as a result of losses or of conflicts over their uses.