Biodiversity and Inclusive CSR: Exploring an Integrative Framework for Ecological Sustainability in Africa

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) intensifies trade and demand for Africa’s natural resources, hence, heightens the risks to Africa’s biodiversity and ecosystems. We explored the integration of biodiversity into corporate social responsibility (CSR) framework and posited an eco-centric approach to managing the biodiversity crisis. The inclusive CSR model aligns biodiversity with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles. The implications of the eco-centric framework are action steps requiring businesses, governments, institutions, and policymakers to adopt eco-centric strategies that balance economic growth with ecological preservation through biodiversity-inclusive CSR policies and ESG reporting regimes to preserve Africa’s natural environment.