Regional Leaders Push for Strong Monitoring to Turn Biodiversity Restoration Pledges into Action
Participants of the Subregional Workshop on Biodiversity Monitoring and Reporting in relation to Target 2 of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).
Countries in Eastern and Southern Africa have been urged to fast-track ecosystem restoration efforts by strengthening monitoring, reporting, and data systems to ensure global biodiversity commitments translate into real change on the ground.
The call was made at a during the a Subregional Workshop on Biodiversity Monitoring and Reporting in relation to Target 2 of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), which opened in Nairobi. The four-day meeting, running from 27 to 30 January, brings together policymakers and technical experts from 11 countries to build capacity for tracking restoration progress and reporting results ahead of the 2030 deadline.
The workshop is jointly convened by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD), and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
Speaking during the launch, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Dr. Deborah Mulongo Barasa, said restoration commitments must be backed by credible systems that show what is working, what is not, and where investments are making a difference.
“Ecosystem restoration is central to tackling biodiversity loss, climate change, and sustainable development,” Dr. Barasa said. “But restoring ecosystems is not enough. We must be able to measure progress, demonstrate impact, and learn from experience. The next few years will determine whether our commitments become reality or remain promises on paper.”
She noted that effective restoration protects livelihoods, secures water resources, supports food production, and strengthens climate resilience, making it both an environmental and development priority for Africa.
Echoing these remarks, Patrick Mucheleka, Chairperson of the RCMRD Governing Council and Permanent Secretary in Zambia’s Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, emphasized the importance of regional cooperation in meeting global targets. He said countries in the region face similar challenges, including land degradation, limited data, and technical capacity gaps, but also share a responsibility to act collectively.
“This workshop is about practical progress,” Mucheleka said. “It is about understanding what is happening on the ground, learning from each other, and communicating honestly about our achievements and challenges.”
In a video message, CBD Executive Secretary Astrid Schomaker called for stronger partnerships and a whole-of-government, whole-of-society approach to address the interconnected crises of biodiversity loss, climate change, land degradation, and pollution.
The workshop brings together delegates from Comoros, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, and Zambia. Discussions focus on accelerating implementation of Target 2 of the KMGBF, which commits countries to restoring at least 30 per cent of degraded terrestrial, inland water, coastal, and marine ecosystems by 2030.
The meeting also marked the official launch of RCMRD as a Subregional Technical and Scientific Cooperation Support Centre under the Convention on Biological Diversity, alongside the establishment of its steering committee. In this new role, RCMRD will support countries with harmonized methodologies, geospatial data, and technical tools to improve monitoring, reporting, and evidence-based decision-making.
“With this mandate, RCMRD is ready to provide the data, tools, and coordination needed to deliver on Target 2,” said Dr. Emmanuel Nkurunziza, RCMRD’s Director General. “Strong regional institutions are essential for turning global commitments into measurable outcomes.”
Participants also include representatives from other African subregional support centres, including COMIFAC, CSE, OSS, and SANBI, highlighting growing continental collaboration on biodiversity implementation.
The workshop comes at a critical time as countries prepare for the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP 17) to the Convention on Biological Diversity in 2026, where progress under the Global Biodiversity Framework will be closely scrutinized. Regional leaders said Africa has an opportunity to demonstrate leadership by showing credible, science-based results in ecosystem restoration.
As the meeting continues, delegates are expected to agree on practical steps to strengthen monitoring systems, improve data comparability, and align national restoration efforts with regional and global reporting frameworks.
