Africa is a continent well known for its breathtaking scenery, complex ecosystems, and extraordinary wildlife. The continent boasts a remarkable biodiversity, ranging from savannas to deep rainforests, to even vast swaths of deserts. This complex tapestry of life not only captivates the mind but also plays an important role in sustaining ecosystems and promoting human health.
The basis of ecosystem services that support life and supply vital resources for human well-being is biodiversity. These services are essential to Africa’s tourism, healthcare, and agriculture industries, among others.
For example, a range of crops and medicinal plants that are necessary for traditional medicine are provided by different plant species, which contribute to food security. Moreover, ecotourism—which is fueled by Africa’s distinctive wildlife, produces a sizable amount of income and job possibilities, bolstering local economies and ways of life.
Congo basin
According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), ecosystem services account for more than 50% of global GDP, as seen in the report by Yahoo Finance.
The WEF estimates that protecting natural ecosystems and boosting biodiversity may open commercial possibilities worth $10 trillion per year while also creating around 400 million new job opportunities.
A report by The Swiftest a data analytics platform, on which this list is based, noted that “biodiversity is vital for our planet. However, over the past century, the world has seen an unprecedented decline in biodiversity triggered by climate change, habitat loss, overexploitation, pollution, and pesticides.”
Fortunately for Africa, the continent boasts some of the world’s most biodiverse landscapes. However, Africa also has some of the world’s least bio-diverse countries.
With that said, here are the 10 most biodiverse countries in Africa
| Rank | Country | Global biodiversity index | Global rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Democratic Republic of Congo | 214.43 | 16th |
| 2. | Tanzania | 213.10 | 17th |
| 3. | South Africa | 207.94 | 19th |
| 4. | Kenya | 179.72 | 23rd |
| 5. | Cameroon | 172.41 | 24th |
| 6. | Madagascar | 162.29 | 26th |
| 7. | Angola | 160.67 | 27th |
| 8. | Guinea | 153.43 | 30th |
| 9. | Mozambique | 144.30 | 31st |
| 10. | Uganda | 136.65 | 33rd |
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