The Kingdom of Eswatini’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP 3.0) establishes the national framework for biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, sustainable use and equitable benefit-sharing for the period 2026 to 2035. Aligned with the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), the strategy responds to key pressures on biodiversity, including ecosystem degradation, land-use change, invasive alien species, pollution and climate change.

NBSAP 3.0 sets out GBF-aligned national targets operationalised through nine Strategic Action Programmes covering biodiversity-inclusive spatial planning, protected areas and Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs), ecosystem restoration, species conservation, sustainable production, invasive alien species and biosafety, pollution, urban biodiversity, and enabling systems for equitable governance and biodiversity finance.

Implementation adopts a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, promoting the integration of biodiversity into sectoral and local planning, strengthening institutional coordination, and mobilising sustainable financing. Gender equality, inclusive participation, community rights and equitable benefit-sharing are cross-cutting priorities. A Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Review (MERR) framework will support implementation tracking, adaptive management and national reporting against biodiversity commitments.

By 2035, Eswatini aims to strengthen biodiversity conservation and ecological connectivity, restore priority degraded ecosystems, reduce pressures on biodiversity, promote sustainable production systems, improve biodiversity financing and information systems, and advance inclusive and equitable biodiversity governance.

NBSAP 3.0 provides the strategic and implementation framework through which Eswatini will advance its biodiversity commitments, strengthen ecosystem resilience and integrate biodiversity into sustainable development. Its effective implementation will depend on coordinated institutional leadership, adequate and sustained financing, reliable information, strengthened technical capacity, meaningful stakeholder participation and accountability across government and society.