How RCMRD and AWS are helping 24 African Countries map and protect nature
The target is part of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted by 196 countries at the UN Biodiversity Conference, COP15, in 2022. Its 23 targets include a requirement for countries to establish well-connected and effectively managed protected areas.
Nairobi, Kenya, September 4 – Protecting at least 30% of the planet's terrestrial, inland water, coastal and marine areas by 2030 is a global goal enshrined in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Africa's governments are tasked with expanding conservation efforts while meeting this ambitious target. The Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD) has launched the Regional Centre of Excellence (RCoE) for Biodiversity, Forests and Seascape Ecosystems Management to help 24 African countries map and protect their natural heritage.
The RCoE's crowdfunded, cloud-based platform brings together vital geographic data in a single, accessible system. AWS provides the underlying cloud infrastructure that stores and processes massive amounts of geospatial and Earth observation data. The RCoE's Geospatial Platform enables governments to identify conservation priorities, monitor environmental changes and compile evidence for international biodiversity reporting.
Since its launch in 2024, the platform has trained more than 5,000 people in geospatial technologies, supported 17 data-sharing agreements, and improved collaboration with four strategic partnerships. In Kenya, the platform helped streamline protected area planning and reporting for the country's Seventh National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity.
This real-world impact demonstrates how cloud-based technologies and Earth observation are transforming Africa's approach to biodiversity conservation and environmental decision-making.
Written by urgent.news from Capital FM Kenya's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
