Keynote address by Mr Narend Singh, Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment on corporate experience in nature at Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden
- SANBI Board Chair Dr Mmaphaka Tau;
- the CEO of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA), Mr Tshifhiwa Tshivehengwa
- Board members of the TBCSA
- CEOs; Leaders of business and industry experts
- World renowned artist Mr Anton Smit, a supporter and partner of SANBI,
- Representatives from partner organisations, SANBI Staff and friends from the private sector
- Distinguished guests; Ladies and gentlemen.
- Your excellency, Fumio Shimizu
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.
Thank you for joining us this evening at the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden — one of South Africa’s flagship National Botanical Gardens, managed by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). This beautiful space serves as both a premier conservation site and a popular nature-based tourist attraction in Gauteng. We are delighted to host you and look forward to building lasting partnerships that benefit nature, people, and the economy.
You are here because you recognise a fundamental truth: nature is the foundation of economic activity. Healthy ecosystems provide essential services such as clean water, fertile soils, pollination, climate regulation, and raw materials for industry and agriculture. When ecosystems degrade, businesses face disrupted supply chains, reduced production capacity, threats to food security, and risks to long-term profitability.
Global research confirms that a substantial share of economic output depends directly on nature. Biodiversity loss is therefore not only an environmental issue — it is a material business risk. Integrating biodiversity considerations into corporate strategy, risk management, and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) frameworks is now essential for resilience and sustainable growth.
For South Africa, one of the most biodiverse countries on Earth, protecting and investing in our natural heritage is both an environmental responsibility and an economic imperative. When nature thrives, our societies, businesses, and economies thrive with it.
Ladies and gentlemen, interconnected global challenges — climate change, environmental degradation, unsustainable consumption and production, and resource scarcity — affect economies, human health, and well-being. These challenges can only be addressed through collective action at international, national, and local levels.
SANBI leads the National Biodiversity Assessment (NBA), South Africa’s most comprehensive evaluation of the state of our biodiversity. Prepared in partnership with over 110 institutions from government, academia, civil society, and the private sector, the latest NBA paints a concerning picture. Pressures on biodiversity are intensifying: habitat loss from agriculture, settlements, mining and infrastructure development, invasive alien species, pollution, overexploitation, and climate change continue to drive ecosystem degradation and species decline. Freshwater systems — rivers, wetlands, and estuaries — are among the most threatened. Nearly one-third of our terrestrial ecosystems are classified as threatened.
These findings highlight an urgent reality, but they also show a clear path forward. Through concerted, collaborative efforts, we can slow biodiversity loss, restore critical habitats, and secure the ecological infrastructure that supports our economy and well-being. Partnerships are indispensable — combining public leadership with private-sector innovation, resources, and expertise.
A prime example is our Strategic Water Source Areas — mountain catchments, wetlands, and rivers that cover only 10% of our land yet supply more than 50% of the country’s water. These areas face severe pressure from pollution, invasive species, and altered flows. While some progress has been made, far more urgent action is required to protect this vital ecological infrastructure for water security. Healthy freshwater flows to estuaries and oceans are equally important for marine fisheries and coastal resilience.
Our terrestrial and marine ecosystems are vast, but pressures are concentrated in specific landscapes. This demands smart spatial prioritisation — ensuring every rand invested in restoration delivers maximum impact, especially in degraded wetlands, estuaries, and coastal zones.
Encouragingly, some species have shown improved protection status through our protected areas and stewardship programmes. These successes prove what is possible when conservation efforts are sustained and well-supported.
Ultimately, our success will be measured by strengthened livelihoods, restored ecosystems, and robust environmental governance built on trust. This is where the private sector plays a vital role.
Ladies and gentlemen, meaningful progress depends on policy reform, targeted finance, and strong partnerships. Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) have proven powerful, enabling the private sector to drive investment, create jobs, and advance shared goals through corporate social responsibility and innovation.
Sound environmental governance requires modernising our regulatory frameworks to make them more transparent, efficient, and aligned with the objectives of people, planet, and prosperity. Strong institutions — both public and private — are essential for building peaceful, just, and inclusive societies.
By forging innovative partnerships across government, business, and civil society, we can overcome barriers such as data gaps and regulatory challenges, and fully unlock the potential of ESG frameworks and sustainable investment in South Africa.
A collaborative, whole-of-society approach to conserving our natural assets will be central to achieving our social and economic development goals. It requires coordinated action, secure livelihoods, and a nation united in purpose.
I therefore call on the business community to partner with us in the conservation and infrastructure enhancement of South Africa’s national botanical and zoological gardens. Your support can expand these spaces, improve visitor experiences, advance research and education, and contribute directly to national biodiversity targets.
Thank you for the opportunity to share these insights this evening, and for taking time to enjoy the natural splendour of this garden. I encourage you to visit these special places often with your teams and families — not only for personal well-being, but to help advance our country’s commitment to a resilient and sustainable environment for generations to come.
South Africa is a proud Party to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework sets ambitious targets to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030, with a vision of living in harmony with nature by 2050. Target 19 emphasises the need to mobilise substantial resources — including from the private sector — to support this mission.
It is in this spirit that SANBI hosts engagements such as this — to build relationships and facilitate meaningful investment in biodiversity through partnerships.
Government already invests significantly in biodiversity through the fiscus and various entities. However, closing the remaining resource gap requires active private-sector involvement — partnerships that deliver environmental protection, social benefits, and economic returns.
The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2026 again highlights environmental threats, including extreme weather events. In the longer term, biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse rank among the most severe global risks.
Last week, I officiated the opening of the steering committee for the new Cali Fund in Kirstenbosch. This fund, established at CBD COP16, aims to ensure fair benefit-sharing from digital sequence information on genetic resources. While international financing mechanisms advance, South Africa must strengthen domestic funding to safeguard our biodiversity for ecological resilience, social development, and economic prosperity.
SANBI, working with the environmental sector and Statistics South Africa, will continue to provide reliable biodiversity and ecosystem data for informed planning and decision-making.
On 22 May 2026, South Africa will join the global community in celebrating the International Day for Biological Diversity under the theme “Acting locally for global impact.” This theme calls for community-level action and a whole-of-society approach to meet the Kunming-Montreal targets. I invite you and your organisations to participate in the events leading up to the national celebrations, details of which will be shared by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) soon.
In closing, I reaffirm South Africa’s strong commitment to multilateralism in addressing the environmental threats facing humanity.
Thank you once again for your presence and engagement. Let us work together — government, business, and civil society — to secure a thriving natural heritage that underpins a prosperous and sustainable South Africa.
I thank you.
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