Time for African states to think about the future of their protected areas

Tourists watching elephants at Sarova Salt Lodge in Taita Taveta County. [Maarufu Mohamed, Standard]

To date, African governments have collectively designated over 6.7 million sq km as protected areas, corresponding to an area roughly three times the size of Democratic Republic of Congo - Africa's second largest country. This attests to the high level of commitment by African nations to the principles of conservation and sustainable development.

Protected areas are significant drivers to achieving biodiversity conservation and anchors that contribute to the implementation of sustainable development strategies. Apart from environmental benefits, protected areas are a source of economic opportunities for most African countries whose economies rely heavily on natural asset bases.