1 June 2012: The “Africa Ecological Footprint Report: Green Infrastructure for Africa’s Ecological Security,” a joint report from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), presents an overview of the health of Africa’s ecosystems, trends in resource use and recommendations for implementing green development pathways in Africa.

Intended to provoke discussion on green development in Africa, the report highlights the loss of approximately 40% of Africa’s biodiversity over the last four decades. Combined with a rapidly increasing population, the biodiversity loss places the region’s future development in jeopardy. Although not yet in a biocapacity deficit, the report stresses, business-as-usual is not an option.

Immediate action is urged, including through entrenching good governance principles, stronger regional integration, community empowerment and involvement of all stakeholders to ensure better management of natural capital. The paper urges that green growth be people-centered development based on growth, poverty alleviation and sustainability. It stresses promoting gender and pro-poor economic growth.

The Africa Ecological Footprint Report is the first joint output of the AfDB-WWF partnership, which was formalized in July 2011. The Partnership aims to develop win-win partnerships with emerging economies and strengthen South-South cooperation; catalyze knowledge sharing and knowledge products for green growth and sustainable development; and collaborate on energy and water resource management and climate change. [AfDB Press Release] [Africa Ecological Footprint Report Website] [Publication: Africa Ecological Footprint Report: Green Infrastructure for Africa’s Ecological Security]