BY TANDZILE DLAMINI
MBABANE – The Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs together with the Eswatini National Trust Commission (ENTC) launched a major initiative today, 27 August 2025, at King Sobhuza II Park to boost biodiversity conservation and promote gender equality in environmental work.
The initiative brings together the Umbrella Programme to Support the Update of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) with Eswatini’s Seventh National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the Accelerating Systematic Change in Gender Equality and Biodiversity Conservation component. It will guide the country in protecting biodiversity, restoring ecosystems, aligning national strategies with global goals, and ensuring that women, youth, and marginalized groups play an active role in conservation as leaders and custodians of traditional knowledge.
Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Jane Mkhonta-Simelane, said during the launch that the initiative will ensure Eswatini’s efforts are inclusive, equitable, and rooted in community realities. “Women, youth, and marginalized groups are not just beneficiaries of environmental policy, they are leaders, innovators, and custodians of traditional knowledge,” she said.
Chairperson of the ENTC Board, Dr Fortunate Shabalala, described the launch as a turning point for the country. She stressed that the programme aligns with the Global Biodiversity Framework and called for stronger partnerships across ministries, civil society, academia, and international partners. “This multi-stakeholder approach ensures that no voice is left behind and that our solutions are rooted in local realities,” she said.
Dr Shabalala also thanked the Global Environment Facility for funding the third NBSAP and the Seventh National Report, and the Government of Canada for supporting the gender and biodiversity component through the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership and the United Nations Environment Programme.
Both speakers emphasized that the success of the initiative will depend on collective action, transparency, and measurable impact. They said the launch marked not just the start of a new programme but also a renewed national commitment to preserving biodiversity for the benefit of all citizens.
