“Experts on biodiversity have entered into an agreement to share information and scientific data that will help in addressing threats to biodiversity.

This includes issues of climate change, food production systems, poverty and weak governance.

The Africa Biodiversity and Collaborative Group (ABCG) and the Society for Conservation Biology in Africa (SCBA) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (Mou) in support of the sustainable use and management of biodiversity in Africa and globally.

The MoU outlines their joint commitment to address threats to biodiversity, including climate change, food production systems, poverty, and weak governance.

The announcement was made during the Society for Conservation Biology’s (SCB) 31st International Congress for Conservation Biology (ICCB 2023) taking place in Kigali, Rwanda, July 23-27, 2023.

The theme of the Congress, ‘The Future is Now: Sustaining Biodiversity for Today and Tomorrow’, reiterates and reinforces the urgency of collective action in protecting our natural resources.

Speaking at the event, ABCG Director Rubina James said the partnership is a milestone for conservationists in the region.

She said this will also go a long way in advancing the development implementation of conservation programs, advocacy and influencing activities that enhance the achievement of sustainable development and transformative policy shifts, among other benefits.

“By accessing the wide-ranging expertise and extensive networks of ABCG members throughout sub-Saharan Africa, ABCG is in a unique position to address critical conservation issues by developing, testing, and promoting innovative conservation approaches,” she said.

“We are excited as SCBA to collaborate with ABCG in advocacy and influencing activities that enhance our shared vision on conservation and work towards transformative policy shifts at government and the continent’s leadership levels. With our collective efforts as scientists and conservationists we can make big strides in the conservation of our planet,” Badru Mugerwa, President of the SCBA.

Participants of the meeting included researchers, students, agency personnel, environmental educators, practitioners, and other conservation stakeholders who met to address conservation challenges and present new research in conservation science and practice.

The 31st ICCB conference provides a platform for sharing the latest science and insights in biodiversity conservation with topics in genetics, ecology, biogeography, anthropology, history, psychology, economics, conservation marketing, and religion.

The consortium will also share their progress in engaging stakeholders to develop and mainstream land use planning in Africa towards climate-smart sustainable development.

The Africa Biodiversity Collaborative Group (ABCG) is a multi-institutional association that brings together cross-sectoral expertise to achieve a greater impact than any one individual organization.

The Society for Conservation Biology is a global community of conservation professionals, students and non-profits dedicated to advancing the science and practice of conserving biodiversity.