AU Environment ministers call for renewed focus on Maputo Protocol
Gaborone, Botswana (PANA) – African ministers of environment and tourism attending the First Africa Biodiversity Summit have emphasised the need for renewed focus on the Maputo Protocol to revitalise efforts to end environmental degradation.
The Maputo Protocol, known as the “Mother of Africa environmental conservation”, offers a broader scope on how to deal with degradation of land, water, air, biodiversity pollution.
However, the protocol is in need of a re-look to accommodate fresh environmental challenges slowing green revolution, including sustainable use of natural resources, chemical pollution and urbanization, according to the UN Environmental Programme.
The African Union Commissioner for Blue Economy, Sustainable Development and Agriculture, Moses Vilakati, said on Tuesday the Ministerial Conference of the Biodiversity Summit, should dedicate itself to a thorough examination of the various protocols on environmental conservation.
“Let us forge partnerships that transcend borders and mobilise resources for the conservation of the environment to ensure the Biodiversity Summit leaves an indelible mark in our efforts to conserve biodiversity,” Vilakati told the ministerial level meeting held on Tuesday 2025.
In his speech at the Summit, Wynter Mmolotsi, Botswana’s Minister of Environment and Tourism, urged countries in the continent to focus on adjusting their national environmental conservation policies to match the continental policies and new realities.
Mmolotsi said environmental conservation policies should consider the demands of the local communities where the resources are based and promote their wealth generation goals.
The Minister urged the African Union member states to rise up to the occasion and draft a new administrative document to aid the implementation of the Maputo Protocol.
The development of the additional treaties to support the Maputo Protocol, should focus on establishing technical committees that would track pollution from chemicals, waste, climate action, adaptation and land management.
Mmolotsi said the administrative rules to aid the implementation of the Protocol would help revitalise it through new measures to address urgent environmental priorities and define afresh, Africa’s leadership role in regional and international climate negotiations.
Proposals have been tabled at the Biodiversity Summit, including the need for the introduction of policies through the convention, to address current environmental challenges. These include ensuring the AU’s flagship Agenda 2063 should be inserted into the new protocol.
The experts also called for holistic sustainable development which integrates policies governing use of national resources such as park entry fees for expanded animal conservation.
-0- PANA AO/MA 5Nov2025
