Sundaymail Editor
Tanyaradzwa Rusike
Africa should continuously invest in wildlife conservation as it is key in economic growth, Wild Africa chief executive officer Mr Peter Knights has said.
Mr Knights was speaking ahead of World Wildlife Day, which is commemorated annually on March 3.
Running under the theme, “Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet”, the 2025 commemorations aim to highlight the critical role of innovative financing in protecting biodiversity and securing a sustainable future for both nature and humanity.
“Without nature, we will not survive. Whether it is countering our carbon footprints, safeguarding our watersheds, maintaining jobs in tourism or keeping fishing to sustainable levels, investing in conservation is a necessity. A world without wildlife is not just an ecological disaster but an economic disaster too,” said Mr Knights.
Head of Climate Finance and Investment Banking for FBC Holdings Limited Zimbabwe, Mr Desire Nemashakwe, said addressing the conservation funding gap requires collaborative effort.
“Protecting our wildlife is an investment into future. Through prioritising sustainable financing models that encourage the wise use of resources, we can unlock the economic potential of conservation while safeguarding the incredible biodiversity that makes our planet unique,” he said.
Online Reporter