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South Africa hosts the flagship celebration of IDB 2026
This year, South Africa is hosting the Global Flagship Event dedicated to the celebration of International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) under the theme of "Acting locally for global impact". Articulated around a validation workshop on the mega biodiverse country's National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), the event will highlight national achievements, illustrating South Africa's commitment to meeting the global ambition of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).
The Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Astrid Schomaker, and H.E. Willie Aucamp, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment of the Republic of South Africa, will attend the event on 22 May. The celebration will be livestreamed starting at 11:00 AM local time.
South Africa holds an extraordinary diversity of life, from genes and species to ecosystems. The Rainbow Nation's biodiversity permeates a remarkable mosaic of landscapes ranging from coastlines and wetlands to mountains and grasslands. It is home to three global biodiversity hotspots and of the world's most biologically productive marine ecosystems. The high rates of endemism mean that many species in South Africa are found nowhere else on Earth.
In the global race to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, here are three aspects worth celebrating about South Africa's endeavours:
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It is for nature and people, together
South Africa is currently finalising its NBSAP for the 2026-2035 decade. Its development has sought to reflect the whole of government and whole of society approach in line with the KMGBF, involving indigenous peoples, local communities, women and youth groups, academia, civil society, and the private sector to help shape the country's biodiversity future.
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Local biodiversity actors are empowered for impact
The country's whole-of-society approach to safeguarding biodiversity involves enabling community-led local action. There are many examples illustrating settings where people are finding ways to live in harmony with nature.
In Limpopo, the northernmost province of South Africa, communities are undertaking stewardship initiatives that support local development while yielding benefits for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. To the east in Mpumalanga, restoration efforts in the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve are restoring ecosystems while creating opportunities for communities.
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Protected areas are expanding with a commitment to effective conservation
Thanks to its Biodiversity Stewardship Programme, South Africa has extended protection to 2.76 million hectares across 469 sites nationwide, representing 90 per cent of South Africa's terrestrial protected area expansion since 2003.
Through partnerships with indigenous peoples and local communities, landholders, and local institutions, the national authorities are working to ensure effective protection through participatory management and inclusive approaches to addressing human-wildlife conflict.