A collaborative effort to conserve and restore the African continent’s biodiversity, was formed by the Southern Africa (DBSA) and other partners.
Other member partners of the initiative are esteemed institutions such as Standard Chartered, KCB, Equity Bank, Ecobank, Access Bank, Zanaco, FirstRand, Investec, Sanlam, Old Mutual, CalBank, ICEA LION, and Fidelity Shield.
The initiative is now called the African Natural Capital Alliance (ANCA), formed to respond to mounting evidence indicating the loss of biodiversity.
Loss of biodiversity is driven by factors such as overexploitation, overpopulation, land-use changes, and climate change, which have contributed to the erosion of Africa’s natural wealth.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the annual value of natural capital lost to Africa is estimated at a staggering $195 billion.
ANCA will primarily address the financing needed for the conservation of Africa’s biodiversity. Its members have pledged support for conservation and restoration initiatives, emphasising the integration of nature into their decision-making processes and the promotion of sustainable financing solutions.
The ANCA has a collective asset base estimated at US$390 billion.
South Africa’s biodiversity is dwindling to endangered levels, according to the Convention on biological diversity . National Red List assessments indicate an increase to threatened species such as 10% of birds and frogs, 20% of its mammals and 13% of its plants.