The commemoration of World Wildlife Day on 3 March this year has added significance as global stakeholders work towards a new set of targets to preserve nature under the Convention on Biological Diversity. The recently concluded United Nations Environment Assembly provided an opportunity to assess progress in the development of a post-2020 global biodiversity framework and consider African priorities related to biodiversity and development. Advertisement The fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5) is being convened in two parts, the first of which was held virtually from 22-26 February 2021. The world’s highest-level decision-making body on the environment provided a platform for stakeholder engagement and participation in defining the most significant threats to the environment, as well as discussing how they can be addressed through collaborative efforts. UNEA-5 was guided by the overarching theme Strengthening Actions for Nature to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, which emphasises safeguarding the environment while pursuing nature-based solutions in support of the UN Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.