The African Development Bank (AfDB) President, Donald Kaberuka has emphasized the importance for development institutions to make appropriate choices for sustainable development, especially in the areas of wild life protection. Kaberuka made the remark in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, at a recent meeting with World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)) Special Representative to the AfDB, Hawa Sow.

During the meeting, the AfDB President and WWF Representative discussed their joint publication titled 'Africa Ecological Futures' to be launched in May on the sidelines of the AfDB 2015 Annual Meetings in Abidjan. The report takes a 50-year high profile future view of Africa, using scenarios to describe potential development pathways, the social and ecological implications of these different scenarios, and the drivers and pathways of change to preferred scenarios. "The choices made today about Africa's infrastructure, energy and food production will shape our opportunities and options far into the future," President Kaberuka said.

Kaberuka and Sow also discussed steps both institutions need to take to join the international battle against wildlife crime. "We really value the collaboration with the African Development Bank, as we recognize that we cannot work in silos. These are times of opportunity. Never before has there been so much political will and attention on wildlife crime as a serious crime. And having the African Development Bank as a partner in the fight is very encouraging," Sow said.