Kenya is committed to integrating biodiversity values into national and local development and poverty reduction strategies, planning processes, and reporting systems. Chapter 5 Article 6(1) of the Constitution of Kenya mandates the conservation of biodiversity. Conservation of biodiversity is also a critical element of Kenya Vision 2030. Kenya is also a committed party to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and several other international environmental treaties. As such, the country has consistently worked towards fulfilling its obligations to conserve biodiversity for people and nature.
The most important framework for biodiversity conservation in the country is the Kenya National Biodiversity Strategy & Action Plan (NBSAP) 2019-2030. The NBSAP 2019-2030 augments the national vision 2030 “improving its economic performance and the lives of its citizens without undermining the environment upon which so much of its national earnings and individual people’s livelihoods depend” and hence, it is consistent with Kenya’s development vision 2030.
The vision of NBSAP is to ensure that by 2030, Kenya will have a highly valued, conserved and sustainably utilized biodiversity contributing to socio-economic wellbeing of the people. The six strategic defined goals of NBSAP are to mainstream biodiversity conservation and sustainable use into decision-making processes across all sectors to address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss; reduce the direct pressure on biodiversity and maintain their capacity to provide goods, services and support livelihoods; safeguard ecosystems, species and genetic diversity including, agrobiodiversity to improve the status of biodiversity; promote and enhance fair and equitable sharing of benefits accruing from utilization of biodiversity and ecosystem services; strengthen participatory planning, knowledge base and capacity building for biodiversity conservation; and mobilize Financial, Technological and Human Resources. Some of the major targets set in NBSAP are ensuring that by 2030, the rate of loss of all natural habitats, including forests, is brought close to zero, and degradation and fragmentation is significantly reduced, by 2030, Kenya’s forest cover has increased to at least ten percent of the land area of the country and by 2030, at least 17% of terrestrial and inland water areas, and 10 % of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are conserved including community conservation areas and conservancies.
The biodiversity conservation mechanism in Kenya was enhanced with the announcement on 9 August 2024, by the country’s Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry (MoECCF) of 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 NBCM provides 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 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.
The NBCM will be governed by a multi-tiered structure, including a National Steering Committee (NSC), Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), and Thematic Working Groups (TWGs). The NSC, composed of Principal Secretaries, key development partners, and representatives from various sectors, will provide strategic guidance and oversight. The TAC will offer technical advice, while the TWGs will focus on implementing specific biodiversity targets aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. A Secretariat, under the guidance of the MECCF, will coordinate NBCM activities, ensuring effective communication, sustainable resource mobilization, benefits to communities are mainstreamed at household level, effective monitoring and evaluation and the alignment of national biodiversity efforts with international commitments.
Speaking at the launch of NBCM, Dr. Eng. Festus Ng’eno, Principal Secretary, State Department for Environment and Climate Change, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry emphasized the importance of coordinated efforts in biodiversity conservation: “The launch of the National Biodiversity Coordination Mechanism marks a significant milestone in Kenya’s conservation journey. It is a clear demonstration of the country’s commitment to safeguarding its natural heritage through collaboration and strategic alignment across all sectors. The Ministry is proud to support this initiative, which will undoubtedly strengthen our collective capacity to address the challenges facing biodiversity today.”
