In a significant move towards bolstering biodiversity conservation, Kenya has officially launched the National Biodiversity Coordination Mechanism (NBCM). The event was led by Eng. Festus Ng’eno, Principal Secretary for Environment and Climate Change, marks a critical milestone in the nation’s environmental protection agenda.
The NBCM aims to enhance the coordination and effectiveness of biodiversity-related activities across the country. It seeks to address the pressing challenges posed by climate change, habitat destruction, pollution, and resource over-exploitation that threaten Kenya’s rich natural heritage.
In his address, Eng. Ng’eno emphasized the importance of biodiversity for ecosystem services, food security, health, and climate resilience. He highlighted the need for collaborative strategies to combat biodiversity loss and align Kenya’s efforts with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). The KMGBF outlines a global roadmap to halt biodiversity decline, with a target to restore 30 percent of degraded ecosystems by 2030.
“Kenya is actively integrating its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) with KMGBF goals. The process involves setting national targets, developing indicators, and creating a resource mobilization strategy to support implementation”. said PS Ng’eno
“The NBCM will oversee these initiatives by fostering partnerships among government agencies, local communities, indigenous groups, civil society, and the private sector”. he added
Target 14 of the KMGBF, which focuses on integrating biodiversity values into public and private sector policies, will be a key area of focus. The NBCM is designed to facilitate policy reforms, capacity building, and community engagement to embed biodiversity considerations into all aspects of societal development.
The mechanism’s governance structure includes a National Steering Committee, Technical Advisory Committee, and Thematic Working Groups, ensuring comprehensive stakeholder involvement and strategic coordination.
The launch of the NBCM underscores Kenya’s commitment to international biodiversity conventions such as CITES and the Ramsar Convention, reaffirming its leadership role in global conservation efforts. The successful implementation of the NBCM will be pivotal in ensuring that Kenya’s biodiversity thrives and supports sustainable development for future generations.
Eng. Ng’eno called for unified action and collaboration among all stakeholders to achieve the NBCM’s ambitious goals and ensure the enduring prosperity of Kenya’s natural heritage.