Human population growth in Africa remains a significant driver of threats to biodiversity, as the population is expected to double from 1.2 billion in 2018 to 2.5 billion in 2050. The challenge will be meeting the needs of this growing population while conserving biodiversity - according to the 2018 IPBES report, growing pressures on species, fisheries, and land will cause widespread food insecurity. Climate change will result in 20 percent decrease in productivity in African lakes and plants. There are 155 million women with unmet need – meaning they are interested in delaying or avoiding pregnancy but are not using contraception. This session will increase participant knowledge of the potential needs and impacts from a growing population, and potential ways (through PHE) that we can meet these needs while conserving biodiversity and how partnerships between reproductive health and conservation can help achieve conservation and human well-being outcomes.
