Speakers at the Africa Regional Centres of Excellence (ArcX) forum, held in Nairobi, Kenya, are urging African governments, research institutions and development partners, to work in a more integrated and coordinated fashion, to manage the continent’s biodiversity and ecosystems, including forests, water bodies, vegetation and wildlife.
Policymakers, researchers, donors, regional institutions, civil society and private sector representatives, are at the meeting , which forms part of the EU–Africa partnership.
Its aim is to explore how science, technology and innovation (STI) can accelerate Africa’s green transition and sustainable development.
Launched in 2023 and funded by the European Union, the ArcX programme supports regional collaboration across Africa in five priority areas: Agroecology, Biodiversity & Forests, Water, Ocean and Climate.
The Biodiversity and Forest component of the programme is implemented by the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) in collaboration with the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD) in Eastern and Southern Africa, the Central Africa Forest Observatory (OFAC) in Central Africa and Centre de Suivi Ecologique (CSE) in West Africa.
Ondrej Simek, the Deputy Head of the European Union Delegation in Kenya, said “we believe that through science, technology and innovation, we can address the most pressing challenges of our time. We can build stronger connections, foster deeper collaboration and create lasting impact.”
Experts have emphasised the interconnected ecosystems are deeply. Forests regulate water cycles, which sustain wetlands and rivers. Healthy vegetation provides food and shelter for wildlife while pollinators and animal species are essential for agriculture. When one part of this system is weakened, the entire network of life is affected.
Dr. Robert Nasi, Director General of the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), and the Director of Science of CIFOR-ICRAF, said “Africa is losing its forests at an alarming rate. This has severe economic consequences, threatening not only forests but also agriculture, which employs a huge proportion of Africa’s population. The result is rising unemployment, desertification, the loss of habitats for countless species, declining biodiversity and damage to the tourism sector—a major contributor to our economies.”
Participants also stressed that farming systems must work in harmony with nature.
Picture of delegates, by Kelvin Muchiri/CIFOR-ICRAF.