From 27 to 30 January 2026, policymakers and technical experts from Comoros, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, and Zambia convened in Nairobi for the Subregional Workshop on Biodiversity Monitoring and Reporting in relation to Target 2 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The meeting was 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).

The workshop was opened by Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Dr. Deborah Mulongo Barasa. In a video message, the Executive Secretary of the CBD, Astrid Schomaker, emphasized the critical role of partnerships in addressing biodiversity loss, land degradation, climate change, pollution, and waste. The meeting brought together national focal points, policymakers, and technical institutions to strengthen subregional collaboration on biodiversity monitoring and restoration.

Discussions focused on accelerating implementation of Target 2 of the KMGBF, which aims to ensure that by 2030, at least 30 per cent of degraded terrestrial, inland water, and coastal and marine ecosystems are under effective restoration. Participants examined approaches for improving restoration data systems, indicators, reporting pathways, and institutional coordination.

Sessions addressed the need to align national restoration action plans with regional monitoring frameworks, strengthen reporting inputs to national and global processes, and support countries in developing harmonized approaches to ecosystem restoration monitoring. Presentations and exchanges reflected shared challenges related to data availability, institutional capacity, and long-term sustainability of monitoring systems.

The meeting also marked the official launch of RCMRD’s mandate as a Subregional Technical and Scientific Cooperation Support Centre. In this role, RCMRD will provide coordinated scientific, technical, and data-driven assistance to support countries in Eastern and Southern Africa in accelerating implementation of the KMGBF.

The workshop included discussions on governance arrangements, the establishment of a steering committee, and the role of training-of-trainers initiatives in strengthening long-term technical cooperation. These elements are intended to enhance regional coordination, knowledge exchange, and sustained support for biodiversity monitoring and restoration efforts.

Throughout the workshop, country representatives emphasized that effective implementation of Target 2 requires more than technical indicators alone. Progress depends on institutional coordination, stakeholder engagement, reporting systems, and integration within updated National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs).

The exchanges highlighted the importance of embedding restoration monitoring within broader NBSAP implementation processes and aligning national priorities with regional and global frameworks. Participants underscored the need for continued cooperation, capacity development, and coordinated support to translate restoration commitments into measurable outcomes.

Learn more about Kenya, Madagascar, Somalia, Uganda, and the progress of other country members on our Recent News page. Curious about the Facilitator Programme? Learn more about its critical role in accelerating NBSAPs here.