Kana Nuclear (Say NO to Nuclear)

Nairobi, Kenya - Friday, 9 August - The Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry (MoECCF) proudly announces the launch of Kenya's National Biodiversity Coordination Mechanism (NBCM), a vital initiative aimed at bolstering the conservation and sustainable use of the nation’s rich and diverse biological resources.

The conservation of biodiversity is not only a constitutional mandate, as outlined in Chapter 5, Article 6(1) of the Constitution of Kenya, but also a critical element of Kenya’s Vision 2030, which underscores the importance of sustainable natural resource management for long-term economic growth and livelihood improvement. As a committed party to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and several other international environmental treaties, Kenya has consistently worked towards fulfilling its obligations to conserve biodiversity for people and nature. The National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) has been central to these efforts, guiding national actions to protect and sustain Kenya’s natural heritage. However, the effective coordination of biodiversity conservation efforts among various stakeholders has been a persistent challenge.

The newly established NBCM addresses this challenge by providing a robust framework for the coordination and collaboration of state and non-state actors involved in biodiversity conservation across the country. The mechanism will facilitate the alignment of biodiversity conservation goals, policies, and practices at the national, county, and community levels, ensuring a unified approach to protecting Kenya’s natural resources.

The process of establishing the NBCM has been highly consultative, involving over 60 participants from various sectors, including state and non-state actors, indigenous peoples and local communities, youth, the private sector, academia, and research institutions. This inclusive approach ensured that diverse perspectives and expertise were integrated into the design and structure of the mechanism. This will also be important for the successful implementation of the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

The development of the NBCM was supported by a broad range of partners, including the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, WWF-Kenya, African Wildlife Foundation, among others. Their contributions were invaluable in shaping a mechanism that is both comprehensive and responsive to the needs of all stakeholders involved in biodiversity conservation in Kenya.

Source: IUCN