Remarks of Deputy Head of Mission at the World Conservation Day 2026 Juba, 24 July 2026

It is a great honour and pleasure to stand here and address you at the World Conservation Day to celebrate the richness of nature and reaffirm our collective responsibility to protect and conserve it for present and future generations. 

This day is to raise awareness about protecting natural resources, preserving biodiversity, safeguarding endangered species and – act. There is a lot you and I, everyone of us, can do – produce less waste, leave less pollution, consume less plastic, raise awareness, clean up your street your road your forest etc. 

Protecting nature is not a luxury, it is necessary for our survival, our resilience and prosperity. Nature is good for the body, good for the mind and soul and good for business. 

Protecting nature is our lifeline. Clean air and clean water lead to clean food, strong and healthy cattle and boost resilience and brainpower. Nature is contributing to health and well being, both physically and mentally – a walk in the forest, hearing birds sing, how wonderfully refreshing can this be for our soul and mind. A blue flower, a bird’s voice, the elegant flight of an eagle. 

As reflected in today’s theme, South Sudan has unique natural resources, extraordinary natural wealth, vast wetlands, soil, rivers, wildlife, the Great Nile Migration Landscape - assets other countries can only dream of. 

But there are threats such as droughts, floods, degradation of biodiversity. We are all asked to address these challenges. We all have a role to play and we all can make a difference. Remember the kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, a tiny seed contains immense hidden power that works quietly from inside out to change its surroundings. Individuals like a Swedish school girl or a British documentalist or a Kenyan woman planting trees have huge impact on the way we perceive nature and the need to conserve it and protect it. 

The EU is committed to support environmental conservation and climate resilience in Sout Sudan, for example through NaturAfrica. Through NaturAfrica we invest in sustainable management of key landscapes across Africa to conserve biodiversity, wildlife habitat, promote livelihood and economic opportunities. Overall, NaturAfrica protects an area of 431.OOO km2 with a population of 60 Million people and EUR 1.400 million grant funding. 

The World Conservation Day should encourage us to strengthen our commitment to sustainable resource management and the protection of nature, with small and big gestures. We have the power to change things.

God bless the landscapes and nature of South Sudan and its assets and its people. 

Thank you!