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Natural capital depletion threatens Africa

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President of Botswana Seretse Khama Ian Khama said late Wednesday that the depletion of natural capital is threatening social and economic sustenance of Africans and reduces their capacity to attain sustainable development.

Khama made the remarks at the 5-year anniversary and inaugural forum of ministers conference for the Gaborone Declaration for Sustainability in Africa (GDSA) held in Maun.

Khama, also the chairman of the GDSA, added that given the natural resources endowment in the African continent, it is something Africans should avoid at all cost.

In 2012, African heads of states and governments and international partners gathered in Gaborone, where they committed to implementing all conventions and declarations that promote sustainability for development.

As signatories to the GDSA, they agreed to take action on a number of priority areas for future development, including inter alia, that they must integrate the value of nature through capital accounting into their national policies and programs, recognizing that nature is needed for economic growth and sustainability.

Furthermore, it was agreed that countries must reduce poverty by transitioning agriculture, extractive industries, fisheries and other economic uses of nature to practices that promote sustainable employment, food security, sustainable energy and the protection of nature including protected areas.

Khama said he was happy to note that they have made progress on a number of these issues since the first meeting.

He added that as member states they committed to the Gaborone Declaration upon realization that natural capital forms the backbone of many African economies considering the continent’s abundant natural wealth.

He further said that the long-term benefits of natural assets are however threatened by economic development models that take the contribution of nature for granted or do not sufficiently consider natural capital as an integral part in their planning, national accounting and policy making systems. Enditem

Source: Xinhua/NewsGhana.com.gh

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