Mbabane- Business Eswatini (BE) has called for a practical approach to protecting Eswatini’s biodiversity, urging government to ensure that the country’s new conservation targets can be implemented by businesses across different sectors.
The call was made by Business Eswatini Head of Trade and Commerce Musa Maseko during a technical review meeting on the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) 3.0, attended by businesses, the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs and the Eswatini National Trust Commission.
Maseko said businesses recognised the importance of healthy ecosystems to the country’s economy, particularly in agriculture, forestry, tourism and water supply. He said protecting biodiversity therefore required businesses to be part of the implementation process.
He cautioned, however, that biodiversity targets should take into account the different sizes, capacities and environmental impacts of companies.
Maseko urged businesses participating in the review to identify targets that could be difficult to implement and explain the challenges they could face.
“Where you see a proposed target that will be difficult to implement, explain why,” he said.
He also encouraged companies to identify environmental systems they already have in place that could support the implementation of the biodiversity strategy.
Maseko said businesses should also use the process to identify opportunities where they could contribute to biodiversity conservation through investment and collaboration.
“Where you see opportunities for investment or collaboration, identify them,” he said.
He further called for greater clarity from government on the responsibilities of the different stakeholders involved in implementing the strategy.
Maseko said the private sector should have an appropriate role in the governance, implementation and review of the biodiversity plan, rather than only becoming involved when businesses are expected to comply with environmental requirements.
The strategy comes as Eswatini seeks to strengthen its approach to conserving biodiversity while integrating environmental considerations into economic activities.
Mseko said successful implementation would depend on genuine partnerships between government and businesses, with stakeholders developing a shared understanding of their responsibilities and addressing implementation challenges as they emerge.
The review meeting provides an opportunity for businesses to contribute to the practical design of the strategy before its implementation, particularly by identifying existing environmental practices, potential investment opportunities and areas where further government guidance is needed.
Discussion about this post