RCMRD Launches Biodiversity Outlook for Eastern & Southern Africa to Strengthen Regional Conservation Action
On September 22nd, 2026 at Nairobi, Kenya; The Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD), in collaboration with the European Union, has launched the Biodiversity Outlook for Eastern & Southern Africa (BOESA), a regional resource designed to strengthen access to biodiversity knowledge and support evidence-based conservation and policy action.
The publication was launched during the Regional Workshop on Integrated Landscape Seascape Modelling for Climate Resilience Development in East Africa, taking place in Nairobi from 22–24 September 2026.
BOESA brings together biodiversity information, regional perspectives and practical experiences to support a deeper understanding of the region’s biodiversity and the actions required to conserve it.
Covering 24 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa, the resource highlights the importance of accessible, credible and locally relevant information in informing conservation planning and decision-making. “We have seen many programmes over the years conduct incredibly valuable research, but we often lack the next step of translating it into policy and, therefore, into action. Collecting data is not enough. This programmeis translating that data into very accessible information for young people as well as decision-makers, while also building the capacities of different countries to take action based on the information collected,” said Sanne Willems, Regional Partnerships, Delegation of the European Union to Kenya. The launch comes at a critical time as countries work towards the 2030 targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).
It also precedes the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17), scheduled to take place in Yerevan, Armenia, from 19–30 October 2026. COP17 will feature the first global review of collective progress in implementing the KMGBF, making regional knowledge products such as BOESA important references for understanding progress, identifying gaps and strengthening action for nature.
“BOESA reflects the importance of bringing together data, knowledge and regional experiences to support informed decisions for biodiversity conservation,” said Dr Emmanuel Nkurunziza, Director General, RCMRD. “By making this information more accessible, we aim to support policymakers, conservation practitioners, researchers, development partners and communities in advancing nature-positive action across the region.”
Developed under the RCoE-ESA initiative, the publication reinforces RCMRD’s commitment to applying geospatial information, Earth observation and knowledge-sharing to address environmental challenges and support sustainable development. As countries intensify efforts to meet the 2030 biodiversity targets, BOESA provides a platform for shared learning, regional visibility and stronger collaboration towards a nature-positive future.
Jean Claude Mutuyeyezu
About Author
