Kenya is proud to host this gathering at the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (
@RCMRD_ ), a cornerstone institution for our nation and the wider African region. It is therefore an honour to officiate the opening of this pivotal Subregional Workshop on Biodiversity Monitoring and Reporting for Target 2 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Our collective presence underscores a shared truth: the vitality of our forests, rivers, wetlands and coastlines is non-negotiable. These ecosystems, many under severe threat, are the bedrock of our water security, food systems, livelihoods and climate resilience. Restoration is not merely an environmental act; it is an investment in our collective future.
However, commitment alone is insufficient. The credibility of our global promise rests on our ability to measure, report and verify progress. This workshop is therefore critical, it is where ambition is translated into actionable, evidence-based strategies.
Kenya extends its profound gratitude to the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity for entrusting this region and RCMRD specifically, with this strategic role. We also acknowledge the indispensable technical partnership of the FAO-UN and our development partners for their sustained support.
The KMGBF represents a decisive global shift from ambition to implementation. Target 2, focusing on restoring 30% of degraded ecosystems by 2030, is central to this mission. For Africa, achieving this is both an ecological imperative and a core developmental priority.
As we look towards CBD COP17 in 2026, the worldโs focus will be on demonstrable results. Africa has both an opportunity and a responsibility to lead with implementation, backed by robust science and coherent regional data. Fragmented efforts will not suffice.
It is in this context that Kenya is immensely proud to formally launch RCMRD as a Sub-Regional Technical and Scientific Cooperation Support Centre under the CBD. This designation is timely and strategic. The Centre will be instrumental in harmonizing monitoring methodologies, leveraging geospatial data, and building the capacity for transparent, credible reporting across our continent.
In Kenya, our national restoration drive, including the 15 Billion Trees Programme, is integral to our Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). We are placing communities at the heart of restoration, generating sustainable livelihoods while directly contributing to global biodiversity targets. The success of such large-scale initiatives depends on the precise monitoring frameworks that this workshop and RCMRDโs new mandate will bolster.
Kenya reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the CBD and to fostering regional collaboration. I am confident that with strengthened institutions like RCMRD, Africa will speak with a united, evidence-powered voice on the global stage, turning commitments into tangible outcomes for nature and people.
I wish to extend my personal appreciation to Dr. Emmanuel Nkurunziza, Director General of RCMRD, and to Mr. Patrick Mucheleka, Chairperson of the RCMRD Governing Council and Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources of the Republic of Zambia, for their gracious welcome and steadfast leadership in advancing our regional environmental agenda.
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