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A Kenyan proverb reminds communities to treat the Earth well because it is borrowed from future generations. In Kenya, this is not only cultural wisdom but an economic truth. About 42 per cent of the country’s GDP and 70 per cent of employment come from sectors that rely directly on natural capital and ecosystem services, including agriculture and tourism. Biodiversity loss therefore poses both an environmental and a development risk for millions of Kenyans.
Like many countries, Kenya has seen a steady decline in species driven by population growth, habitat destruction and climate change. In response, the country is pursuing a coordinated approach that links science, policy and business while placing communities at the centre of conservation. This model is increasingly seen as relevant beyond Kenya’s borders.
“Kenya’s leadership in inclusive biodiversity governance offers a promise of hope,” said Doreen Lynn Robinson, Deputy Director of the Ecosystems Division at the United Nations Environment Programme. She stressed that conservation efforts are most effective when policymakers, civil society and communities jointly decide how to protect natural resources and habitats.
A key part of this effort is Kenya’s ongoing update of its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, known as the NBSAP. The revised plan is being aligned with the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which sets global targets for 2030 on conserving and restoring ecosystems, addressing the drivers of biodiversity loss and integrating nature into economic decision-making. Kenya is also drawing on a global support network under the framework to access expert advice, scientific knowledge and new technologies to support implementation.
With only four years remaining before the 2030 deadline, aligning national plans with global commitments has become urgent. Robinson noted that while updating an NBSAP is complex, the real challenge lies in ensuring that all sectors of government and society translate policy into action on the ground.
To address this, Kenya has established a National Biodiversity Coordination Mechanism. Launched in August 2024 under the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, the mechanism brings together national ministries, county governments, civil society organisations, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, youth groups, research institutions, development partners and private sector actors. Rather than treating biodiversity as the responsibility of a single ministry, the platform promotes a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.
The mechanism is designed to align national biodiversity goals with global frameworks, strengthen cooperation across sectors whose decisions affect ecosystems, and enable non-state actors to contribute directly to solutions. It also supports monitoring and reporting through more coherent biodiversity information systems, helping to track progress more effectively.
This coordinated approach is already drawing regional and international interest as a practical example of how countries can operationalise inclusive biodiversity governance. It is also beginning to show results on the ground.
This year, the Kenya Wildlife Service announced that the country’s elephant population has risen to more than 36,000, marking a steady recovery after decades of decline. The population of black rhinos has also increased to over 850 individuals. Kenya hosts nearly 80 per cent of East Africa’s black rhinos, making this growth particularly significant. More recently, the government announced the opening of 3,200 square kilometres for rhino conservation in Tsavo, reported as the largest rhino sanctuary in the world.
Despite these gains, Kenya continues to face pressures common to biodiversity-rich countries, including the need for stronger policy alignment, implementation and monitoring. Yet the country’s experience shows that progress is possible when conservation is treated as a shared national project rather than a sectoral obligation.
For Africa, where many economies and livelihoods remain closely tied to land, water and wildlife, Kenya’s experience offers a timely reminder. Protecting biodiversity is not a luxury but a foundation for future resilience. As young nations balance development needs with environmental limits, inclusive and coordinated action may prove to be one of the continent’s most valuable assets.
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