Ochendo: An African Journal of Innovative Studies

Biodiversity conservation has increasingly been recognised as a fundamental determinant of public health, particularly within the African context where human livelihoods remain deeply interconnected with natural ecosystems. Biodiversity supports critical ecosystem services such as food production, water purification, climate regulation, and the provision of medicinal resources that directly influence human health and well-being. However, the accelerating loss of biodiversity due to deforestation, climate change, urban expansion, and unsustainable exploitation of natural resources poses significant threats to public health across the African continent. This study examines biodiversity conservation as a determinant of public health in Africa by focusing on three key dimensions: religious perspectives, policy gaps, and future prospects. The study adopts an interdisciplinary approach, drawing insights from environmental studies, public health research, and religious ethics. It argues that religious traditions which includes: African Traditional Religion, Christianity, and Islam, have historically played important roles in shaping environmental ethics and conservation practices across African societies. These religious frameworks often promote stewardship, sacred ecology, and moral responsibility toward the natural environment. Despite these ethical foundations, significant policy gaps persist in biodiversity governance, including weak institutional frameworks, limited integration between environmental and health policies, inadequate recognition of indigenous ecological knowledge, and socio-economic pressures that drive environmental degradation. The study concludes that effective biodiversity conservation is essential not only for environmental sustainability but also for safeguarding public health and achieving sustainable development in Africa.

Open Full Text (PDF)