A safe, healthy and sustainably managed environmental and natural resource base provides critical eco-system services that are a foundation for economic and social development. 

Our rich species, ecosystems and natural heritage which form the very foundation of our economy and society, providing eco-system services such as food security, clean and secure water provision, flood attenuation, biomass energy and building material as well as a resource base for the sustainable development and growth of the tourism, bio-technology, pharmaceutical, bioenergy, agriculture, forestry, fisheries and indigenous knowledge based sectors of the economy are threatened by growing human population and their increasing demands on the environment, climate change and invasive alien species amongst others.

The focus of the biodiversity and conservation programme is on the regulation and management of all biodiversity, heritage and conservation matters in a manner that ensures equitable and sustainable use, conservation, management and, where necessary, the restoration of this resource base as well as to mitigate threats to them as a basis for sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development facilitates sustainable economic growth and development.

Biodiversity richness is one of South Africa’s important natural assets as it provides goods and services which are vital for human well-being. The department is mandated to ensure the equitable and sustainable use, conservation, management and, where necessary, the restoration of this resource base as well as to mitigate threats to them as a basis for sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development.