Midrand: Biodiversity offsetting has been identified as a crucial element for South Africa’s sustainable future. On 22 May 2025, a significant event took place at the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) in Gauteng. The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), and the South African National Parks (SANParks), gathered to mark the National Biodiversity Offset Conference alongside the International Day for Biological Diversity.
According to South African Government News Agency, this conference united diverse stakeholders from the government, academia, the private sector, NGOs, and local communities, all focused on the vital task of protecting South Africa’s rich biodiversity. The country is recognized globally as one of the world’s megadiverse regions, possessing unique landscapes, ecosystems, and species that contribute significantly to the nation’s econom
y, health, and cultural identity. However, South Africa’s natural resources face significant threats, necessitating urgent action.
In June 2023, South Africa advanced its conservation efforts with the introduction of the National Biodiversity Offset Guideline under the National Environmental Management Act. This guideline serves as a critical tool for biodiversity conservation, demanding a thorough assessment and mitigation of ecological impacts caused by development projects. The guideline emphasizes that if biodiversity damage cannot be avoided or restored, it must be offset in a structured and scientifically sound manner.
Biodiversity offsets are designed to ensure that development does not occur at the expense of irreplaceable biodiversity. By following a mitigation hierarchy-avoid, minimize, rehabilitate, and offset-offsets are positioned as a last resort. When properly implemented, biodiversity offsets can help halt and even reverse biodiversity loss, support the expansion of protected areas, and secu
re essential ecosystem services.
The DFFE, together with SANParks, SANBI, and the UNDP, is spearheading the Biodiversity Finance Initiative. This program aims to provide sustainable financing solutions for biodiversity projects. A national offset register and web-based portal have been developed to track and monitor biodiversity offset projects, ensuring transparency and accountability in conservation efforts.
The theme for this year’s International Day for Biological Diversity, ‘Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development,’ underscores the fundamental role of biodiversity in sustainable progress. It highlights that protecting nature is essential for human well-being, economic stability, and resilience against climate change.
As South Africa moves forward, it is imperative that all sectors-government, business, academia, civil society, and communities-embrace the shared responsibility of biodiversity stewardship. The National Biodiversity Offset Guideline signifies the beginning of a concerted effort t
o integrate development with conservation, paving the way for a future where both people and nature can thrive.
The call to action is clear: prioritize ecological sustainability in every development decision and hold one another accountable for the impact on the natural heritage. The future of biodiversity and the planet depends on these collaborative efforts.