The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework emphasizes ecological restoration as a key strategy for conserving biodiversity. The Global Biodiversity Standard promotes the use of native tree species, aligning with the Ecoregions2017Resolve global map, which enhances systematic planning for terrestrial biodiversity conservation. EcoregionsTreeFinder, a newly developed database, provides comprehensive lists of native tree species across 828 terrestrial ecoregions, aiding restoration projects, biogeographical studies, and tree presence observations. The dataset includes 48,129 tree species with 453,053 ecoregion-species records, detailing observations across bioclimatic zones based on Climatic Moisture Index, temperature thresholds, and water deficit metrics. The data spans 1946–2021, sourced from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, supporting biodiversity conservation efforts worldwide.
Tag: biodiversity conservation
Development planning in high-priority areas for biodiversity conservation and tourism development
The World Bank has supported Rwanda with financing from the PROGREEN initiative to improve sustainable management of the Congo-Nile Ridge (CNR) landscape. Despite past investments in parts of the CNR landscape, unsustainable land-use and management practices continue. These lead to, among other results, biodiversity loss, accelerated run-off and frequent floods. These, in turn, cause losses of lives, livelihoods, natural capital and infrastructure. Investments in addressing unsustainable land-use practices have often been fragmented, and have not led to permanent improvement in the situation. This is particularly true for biodiversity conservation planning.
Synthesis report can be accessed: here
Incentives and financing mechanisms for improved landscape management, biodiversity conservation, nature-based solutions and livelihood development
This study employed a multifaceted approach to evaluate existing incentives and provide financing mechanism recommendations for sustainable land management and biodiversity conservation in Rwanda. The approach used included a comprehensive literature review to gain a foundational understanding of the existing landscape; the administration of semi-structured questionnaires to 22 key actors; a stakeholder consultation workshop for district forest and natural resources officers from nine Congo-Nile Ridge (CNR) landscape districts; and focus group discussions with 15 sector forest officers and 21 lead farmers.
Synthesis report can be accessed: here
Supporting healthy environments and livelihoods in the Congo-Nile Ridge landscape of Rwanda. Synthesis report
Rwanda’s landscape restoration commitments, aligned with an overall supportive national policy framework, provide an important opportunity to intervene to better manage the nation’s forests and other lands. As well as supporting the environment, this alignment provides significant opportunities to benefit Rwanda’s people. At present, however, landscape management as practiced in Rwanda is often unsustainable, damaging the environment and negatively affecting local communities. The purpose of the present study was to guide investment opportunities for sustainable landscape management and enhanced livelihoods in the Congo-Nile Ridge landscape and surrounding region of western Rwanda. The current report is based on a number of technical studies undertaken in 2023 and 2024 in support of this objective. In total, 24 key recommendations that support healthy environments and livelihoods in Rwanda are provided.
The first five recommendations are in support of an efficient tree seed and seedling delivery sub-sector for improving planting material used in forest management and restoration. The next four recommendations are in support of well-managed public forests through the better operationalization of the management of forest landscapes, especially for the Congo-Nile Ridge landscape and its surroundings. The next eight recommendations are in support of well-managed biodiversity and sustainable tourism, through the putting in place of more supportive plans for enhancing biodiversity and livelihoods, especially for the islands of Lake Kivu and for Gishwati-Mukura National Park in western Rwanda, which were focus areas of attention in the current study. The final set of seven recommendations relate to developing stronger incentive mechanisms for supporting trees, forests, biodiversity, sustainable tourism and improved landscape management overall.
Considering landscape management broadly in the Congo-Nile Ridge region, the incentives applied to improve management and support livelihoods should place emphasis on wide community and local business participation in managing a wide range of native plant and animal species and habitats, through both species-level and ecosystem approaches. A diverse set of native species should be targeted for biodiversity monitoring and management, and a broad range of native trees should be included in planting and value chain development programmes.
Supplementary documents:
EcoregionsTreeFinder—A Global Dataset Documenting the Abundance of Observations of > 45,000 Tree Species in 828 Terrestrial Ecoregions
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework emphasizes ecological restoration as a key strategy for conserving biodiversity. The Global Biodiversity Standard promotes the use of native tree species, aligning with the Ecoregions2017Resolve global map, which enhances systematic planning for terrestrial biodiversity conservation. EcoregionsTreeFinder, a newly developed database, provides comprehensive lists of native tree species across 828 terrestrial ecoregions, aiding restoration projects, biogeographical studies, and tree presence observations. The dataset includes 48,129 tree species with 453,053 ecoregion-species records, detailing observations across bioclimatic zones based on Climatic Moisture Index, temperature thresholds, and water deficit metrics. The data spans 1946–2021, sourced from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, supporting biodiversity conservation efforts worldwide.
Science, practice, and policy expert dialogue on food systems and resilience: Key priorities for aligning global ecosystem restoration, biodiversity, climate resilience and sustainable food policies with local level action
The policy brief is a reflection upon key take home messages from the constellation of thinking and events in 2021 through a lens of science, practice, and policy with concrete examples from countries participating the Resilient Food Systems Programme. These include; the UN Food Systems Summit; updated evidence and deeper commitments to addressing climate change through the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC Climate Change 2021) and the 26th Conference of Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change; and opportunities to intensify efforts on biodiversity and restoring land health included in the Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UN CBD).
Leveraging mangroves to advance climate action in Africa: Zooming in on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)
Mangroves are vital for climate change adaptation and mitigation due to their efficient carbon sequestration and coastal protection roles providing often untapped opportunities for countries to enhance their national climate commitments (including the so-called Nationally Determined Contributions) under the Paris Agreement adopted at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP21 in 2015. In Africa, several countries possess mangroves and have signed the Paris Agreement, however, the level of integration of mangrove actions into the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) has not been adequately explored.
Using a systematic review methodology, 33 African countries possessing mangroves were selected and their NDCs were reviewed, scored, and ranked to assess their level of integration of mangrove ecosystems into their NDCs.
Countries like Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sudan demonstrate commendable progress and leadership in integrating mangroves within their NDCs. However, gaps in budgetary commitments, spatial planning, and temporal specificity for mangrove actions among a majority of the countries hinder broader mangrove inclusion. The study also revealed a disconnect between research outputs and policy frameworks, where countries with increased mangrove research output in Africa failed to integrate mangrove actions into their NDCs.
To increase African countries’ resilience to climate risks and contributions to global climate goals, there is a need to increase effective collaboration between mangrove researchers, local communities, and policymakers in mangrove-possessing countries. This will bolster public education on mangroves and their inclusion of mangrove actions in their NDCs, ultimately enhancing the implementation of mangrove actions on the ground.
Global strategy: Transformative Partnership Platform for quality tree seed and seedling delivery systems (Quality Tree Seed TPP)
Achieving tree planting targets in support of restoration and other tree planting goals requires effective tree seed and seedling delivery systems that provide high-quality planting materials, but current systems are suboptimal. This issue has gained prominence on the restoration agenda, with substantial investments being made to address current delivery bottlenecks.
Building on decades of research and practical experience in tree-planting interventions, and on extensive partner networks, the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) is leading the development of a Transformative Partnership Platform for quality tree seed and seedling delivery systems (Quality Tree Seed TPP).
This global strategy outlines the Quality Tree Seed TPP’s main objectives, scope, governance, and activities, plus related projects and a glossary of relevant terms. During the initial phase, the Quality Tree Seed TPP will be mainly supported by the Right Tree in the Right Place for the Right Purpose project (RTRP-Seed), funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German government. This project has at its heart the goal of addressing tree seed and seedling delivery bottlenecks for planting native tree species in African countries and is implemented CIFOR-ICRAF, Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) and Unique Land Use.
EcoregionsTreeFinder—A Global Dataset Documenting the Abundance of Observations of > 45,000 Tree Species in 828 Terrestrial Ecoregions
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework emphasizes ecological restoration as a key strategy for conserving biodiversity. The Global Biodiversity Standard promotes the use of native tree species, aligning with the Ecoregions2017Resolve global map, which enhances systematic planning for terrestrial biodiversity conservation. EcoregionsTreeFinder, a newly developed database, provides comprehensive lists of native tree species across 828 terrestrial ecoregions, aiding restoration projects, biogeographical studies, and tree presence observations. The dataset includes 48,129 tree species with 453,053 ecoregion-species records, detailing observations across bioclimatic zones based on Climatic Moisture Index, temperature thresholds, and water deficit metrics. The data spans 1946–2021, sourced from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, supporting biodiversity conservation efforts worldwide.
Aligning to Target 2: KENYA National Dialogue
Kenya is revising its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) 2019–2030 to align with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF). The updated NBSAP (2023–2030) includes national targets, such as Target 2, and the launch of the National Biodiversity Clearing House Mechanism (NBCM). Future steps involve developing an implementation plan, communication strategy, gender action plan, and resource mobilization strategy. The National Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration Strategy (2023–2032) aims to restore 10.6 million hectares of degraded ecosystems, achieving 30% tree cover by 2032. However, challenges such as policy incoherence, capacity gaps, and fragmented data hinder effective restoration. Addressing these issues through harmonized data platforms, capacity building, and coordinated monitoring will enhance Kenya’s restoration efforts and biodiversity conservation.