Africa-Press – Eswatini. Government, through the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, has endorsed three crucial biodiversity reports before the submission deadline of 28 February 2026 on biodiversity conservation.
Minister Jane Mkhonta noted that in the spirit of His Majesty’s Government ‘Nkwee’ call and Transparency in leadership; they gathered to validate National Submission of Reports to the Convention on Biological Diversity and its subsidiary instruments, namely; the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing, and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.
This was on 25 February 2026 at Sibane Sami Hotel during a Stakeholders’ Validation Workshop.
“It signals our collective commitment to safeguarding Eswatini’s biodiversity and strengthening our national accountability in the implementation of the obligations under global environmental frameworks. I have been briefed that these reports have been prepared timeously and in an immensely consultative approach and garnered ownership from us all. Just by looking around the room, I am impressed by the presence of our most crucial user stakeholders who have since become the ambassadors and testament of the country’s rich biodiversity. This indeed marks a critical milestone in our national environmental governance process,” she said.
To us EmaSwati, the minister highlighted that biodiversity was not an abstract concept. It is the foundation of the nation’s food systems, water security, tourism sector, climate resilience, and rural livelihoods. It sustains the ecosystems and directly supports Eswatini’s socio-economic development.
Therefore, she said, reporting on biodiversity was not merely about fulfilling international obligations – it is about evaluating how effectively Eswatini was managing her natural capital for present and future generations.
“I recall that the Ministry has recently shared that parallel to this exercise, we have embarked in various crucial biodiversity initiatives; including Biodiversity Accounting which is underscored by our National Development Plan as one of the cornerstone of Eswatini’s sustainability agenda. The Seventh National Biodiversity Report tracks progress and reports on Eswatini’s implementation of the CBD, national policies and programmes and plans as well assessing the status of biodiversity in Eswatini,” she said.
She said the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety provides a framework to ensure the safe handling, transport, and use of living modified organisms, in order to protect biological diversity and human health. Meanwhile, the Nagoya Protocol governs access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilization. Both instruments, she said, were critical for safeguarding Eswatini’s rich biodiversity, supporting sustainable development, and promoting responsible use of Eswatini’s biological resources.
“I am proud to learn that the preparation of the reports to the Secretariats of the Nagoya and Cartagena Protocols was not merely an administrative process, but exposed our officials to tactics on conducting research and enhanced capacity in understanding these highly technical fields. The Ministry extends its acknowledgement of the Global Environment Facility who through the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), supported the preparation of these reports,” she said.
She recognised the team of consultants, whom she said was confident, had first-hand experience and knowledge of the country’s biodiversity. She believes they shared their skills and knowledge to stakeholders and partners for continuity in the preparation of these reports. She added that their dedication demonstrated that biodiversity conservation was a shared responsibility.
Minister Mkhonta further encouraged all participants to engage constructively in discussions to ensure that the reports Eswatini submits reflect a unified and a credible national position that demonstrated the highest level of patriotism.
