THE ongoing coronavirus pandemic is a direct consequence of our broken relationship with nature. BY KEDDU SEBUNYA Scientists have long been warning us that humanity’s destruction of nature, left unchecked, will result in the spread of deadly diseases, droughts, famines and other disasters. For decades, amid the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, these warnings fell on deaf ears. But we no longer have the luxury to ignore the deep interconnection between human health and nature. The continuous loss of biodiversity is threatening the existence of all living beings, including us. This is where conservation comes into play. Conservation is the strongest weapon we have to protect the planet we call home. But while conservation is crucial for our survival, its importance is not being communicated to masses in an efficient way, especially where it matters the most — in Africa. In Africa, the conservation story has long been told from an external perspective – the perspective of science, and the West. The African peoples, cultures, heritage, knowledge and aspirations have only been a small part of the conversation, an afterthought. We need to change this, and reclaim our role in the fight to save the planet and the future of humans. Africa’s human population is expected to double by 2050. That would be 2,5 billion people, meaning more than a quarter of the world’s people will be in Africa. And almost 70% of Africans will be under the age of 40. This will undoubtedly add to the momentum of the continent’s development. But nature is already being destroyed at unprecedented rates in Africa in the name of development. The way we produce and consume food and energy, coupled with the blatant disregard for the environment entrenched in our economic system, have already brought the natural world of the continent to a breaking point. A rapid increase in population is likely to speed up this destruction. However, it is still possible to build a future in which the continent’s biodiversity is protected, its peoples are fed, industries are running, and its economies are sustainable and prosperous. To achieve this, we need to make conservation a primary concern for all Africans. And perhaps more importantly, we need to realise that we are not the only Africans. It is arrogant for us to think other species sharing this continent with us should pay the price for our development. Giraffes, for example, are only found in Africa, and they are as African as we are. They have a right to exist as much as we do. And their survival is tied to our survival. Africans can only truly understand this, if they are exposed to content underlining the importance of biodiversity and conservation frequently. It is no secret that television programmes, newspaper articles and social media determine what we talk about in our homes, workplaces and local eateries. We are what we watch and read. This is why it is high time the media — both traditional and social — steps up to its role of setting the agenda and turns its focus to what really matters: the environ