The African continent is known for its breathtaking landscapes, complex ecosystems and extraordinary wildlife. Africa has a remarkable biodiversity, ranging from savannahs to deep rainforests and vast areas of desert. This complex chain of life not only captivates the mind, but also plays an important role in maintaining ecosystems and promoting human health.
The basis of the ecosystem services that sustain life and provide vital resources for human well-being is biodiversity, and these services are essential for Africa’s tourism, healthcare and agriculture industries.
For example, there are a number of crops and medicinal plants, necessary for traditional medicine, which are provided by different plant species and which contribute to food security. In addition, ecotourism – which is fuelled by Africa’s characteristic wildlife – produces a considerable amount of income and employment possibilities, strengthening local economies and ways of life.
According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), ecosystem services account for more than 50 per cent of the world’s GDP, as can be seen in the Yahoo Finance report.
The organisation estimates that protecting natural ecosystems and increasing biodiversity could open up commercial opportunities worth 10 billion dollars a year, as well as creating around 400 million new job opportunities.
A report by The Swiftest, a data analysis platform on which this list is based, states that “biodiversity is vital for our planet. However, over the last century, the world has seen an unprecedented decline in biodiversity, triggered by climate change, habitat loss, overexploitation, pollution and pesticides.”
Fortunately, the African continent has some of the most biodiverse landscapes in the world, but it also has some of the least biodiverse countries in the world.
Below are the ten most biodiverse countries in Africa.
Business Insider
