Call for Participation in the Africa Protected Areas Congress

This landmark forum aims to position Africa’s protected areas within the broader goals of sustainable development and community well-being. The event will provide a platform for holding honest discussions on the future we want for our protected areas and seek solutions to the persistent and emerging problems that stand on the way. The continent has lost over 50 percent of its ecosystems in the last 50 years, far higher than any other period in history. Both direct and indirect drivers of biodiversity loss are leading to an unsustainable future for our people and for life on the continent and the planet as a whole, putting our common future is in jeopardy.

The inaugural APAC Journalists’ Award was also launched to provide incentives for African journalists and media houses to be champions of conservation and drive more effort toward reporting on biodiversity in Africa, winners of the inaugural award will be announced, awarded during the November conference, applications are already open for Journalists.

Participants from Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western and Central Africa will share best practices that harmonize conservation and human development needs, and strategies for ensuring that Africa’s biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored and wisely used. We will come up with common agenda and a shared vision for Africa’s protected areas and ensure they contribute significantly to the “African Union’s Agenda 2063 on the Strategic Framework for the Socio-economic Transformation of the Continent. In addition, we will develop a strong consolidated input into the development of the Post-2020 Global Framework for Biodiversity. It’s time for Africa to have a strong united voice on matters of global importance pursuant to the vision of AU Agenda 63 of “an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in international arena”.

You are hereby invited to participate by sharing your experiences and lessons, building new partnerships, connecting with experts, inspiring new opportunities, discovering new solutions, providing leadership, influencing new policies and elevating ambitions for shaping the Africa we want.

The discussions and outcomes will be centred on how Africa’s protected areas can be more effective in:

• Conserving nature,
• Safeguarding Africa’s wildlife,
• Delivering vital life-supporting ecosystem services that underpin human welfare and livelihoods,
• Supporting sustainable development and,
• Conserving Africa’s cultural heritage and traditions.

WHEN: November 18 – 23, 2019

PROPOSAL DEADLINE: April 14, 2019

Learn more here: Africa Protected Areas Congress