RCMRD, EU launch Regional Biodiversity Outlook to bolster conservation
NAIROBI: THE Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD), in collaboration with the European Union (EU), has launched the Biodiversity Outlook for Eastern and Southern Africa (BOESA), a regional resource aimed at strengthening access to biodiversity information and supporting 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, being held in Nairobi from September 22 to 24, 2026.
BOESA brings together biodiversity information, regional perspectives and practical experiences to enhance understanding of biodiversity in Eastern and Southern Africa and actions required to conserve it.
The resource covers 24 countries in the region and highlights the importance of accessible, credible and locally relevant information in supporting conservation planning and decision-making.
Speaking at the launch, Regional Partnerships representative at the EU Delegation to Kenya, Sanne Willems, said collecting data alone was not enough unless it was translated into information that could support policy and action.
“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,” she said.
Ms Willems said the programme was translating collected data into accessible information for young people and decision-makers while building the capacity of countries to take action based on the information.
The launch comes as countries work towards achieving the 2030 targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), ahead of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17), scheduled for October 19 to 30, 2026, in Yerevan, Armenia.
COP17 will include the first global review of collective progress in implementing the KMGBF, making regional knowledge resources such as BOESA important for understanding progress, identifying gaps and strengthening conservation efforts.
RCMRD Director General Dr Emmanuel Nkurunziza said BOESA demonstrated the importance of bringing together data, knowledge and regional experiences to support informed decisions on biodiversity conservation.
“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,” he said.
He said developed under the RCoE-ESA initiative, the publication reinforces RCMRD’s efforts to apply geospatial information, Earth observation and knowledge-sharing in addressing environmental challenges and promoting sustainable development.
According to RCMRD, BOESA will provide a platform for shared learning, greater regional visibility and stronger collaboration as countries intensify efforts to meet the 2030 biodiversity targets.
RCMRD is an intergovernmental organisation that promotes the use of geospatial information, Earth observation and related technologies to support sustainable development and resource management in Eastern and Southern Africa. It currently has 20 contracting member states, including Tanzania.
