The World Bank-led study finds that South Africa's protected areas generate significant long-term economic, biodiversity and tourism benefits, contributing an estimated R303 billion annually to household income, supporting 7.6 million job-equivalents, and creating R7.7 billion in annual tourism value. The findings suggest that governments, development partners and private investors should treat conservation as a long-term development investment, integrating protected areas into economic growth, climate resilience and sustainable tourism strategies rather than viewing them solely as environmental assets.