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The Regional Centre of Excellence for Biodiversity, Forests, and Seascape Ecosystems Management in Eastern and Southern Africa (RCoE-ESA), hosted by the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD), is proud to launch the RCoE-ESA Map Book, a dynamic new resource designed to support data-driven conservation and sustainable planning across the region. Nairobi, 16 June 2025.
Spanning 24 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa, the Map Book features rich spatial and thematic content, highlighting biodiversity hotspots, a comprehensive analysis of protected and conserved areas, and transboundary conservation networks. Through high-quality maps, it also identifies critical gaps in protection coverage, making it a vital tool for policymakers, conservation practitioners, researchers, and development partners.
As pressures such as climate change, habitat degradation, and unsustainable land use intensify, the need for informed, data-driven policy interventions has never been greater. The Map Book is a powerful new tool that is expected to guide conservation priorities, policy formulation, and sustainable land and sea use planning. The information presented is not merely for reference, but it is a call to action for policymakers, conservation practitioners, researchers, and development partners.
“Geospatial science is a powerful tool for conservation and sustainable development. Through data-driven planning and ecosystem mapping, we can restore biodiversity-rich forests, seascapes, wetlands, and other vital ecosystems,” said Dr. Emmanuel Nkurunziza, Director General, RCMRD. “This Map Book is a call to action and a key tool for strategic planning across our region.”
The RCoE-ESA Map Book also shows how the 24 countries are progressing toward Target 3 of the Global Biodiversity Framework, which calls for 30% of the Earth’s land and sea to be conserved through the establishment of Protected Areas (PAs) and Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs).
The launch is taking place during the RCMRD@50 Golden Jubilee celebrations, marking five decades of regional leadership in Geospatial Science, Earth Observation, and Capacity Development. With the support of its 20 Member States and development partners, RCMRD has grown into a trusted institution serving more than 500 million people in Eastern and Southern Africa.
Indeed, it has been a journey of five decades advancing geospatial excellence for sustainable development. This Map Book is a testament to that legacy,” added Dr. Nkurunziza.
The unveiling of the Map Book coincides with the Integrated Management Effectiveness Tool (IMET) Sensitization Training Workshop at RCMRD. IMET is a digital platform that supports planning, monitoring, and evaluation of protected and conserved areas to enhance ecosystem management and sustainability. The workshop will equip stakeholders with the skills needed to evaluate and enhance ecosystem management, paving the way for long-term delivery of ecosystem services to dependent communities.
