Minister Creecy to deliver Keynote Address on International Day of Biological Diversity

19 May 2023

The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms Barbara Creecy, will deliver the keynote address at an event to mark the International Day of Biological Diversity at Wits University on 22 May 2023.

This year the International Day for Biological Diversity is being held under the theme “From Agreement to Action: Building Back Biodiversity”. 

The event, which is being hosted in partnership with the Endangered Wildlife Trust, will provide a platform for businesses, policy makers and conservationists to engage on how to build back South Africa’s biodiversity. The discussions will explore ways in which the private sector can contribute meaningfully towards efforts to restore and protect the country’s biodiversity in alignment with the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, which mainstreams biodiversity into business.

International Day for Biological Diversity 2023 is the first to be held since the December 2022 adoption of the groundbreaking Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, also known as the new deal for people and nature. The Global Biodiversity Framework recognises the role of businesses and financial institutions working with all non-state actors in delivering the Convention’s objectives.

The event also forms part of the approved Global Environment Facility – Conservation International (GEF-CI) project to develop business advisory groups which assist to formulate business-related policy under the Global Biodiversity Framework.

Details of the event are as follows:

Date:  Monday, 22 May 2023
Time: 13:30
Venue: Origins Centre Museum, University of the Witswatersrand, Johannesburg

To RSVP please contact 

Noma Bolani
Tel: 066 112 3746 / 

For media enquiries contact 

Peter Mbelengwa
Tel: 082 611 8197