The Government of Rwanda has on October 7, 2025 officially launched the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP 2025–2030), reaffirming its commitment to protecting nature, restoring ecosystems, and ensuring sustainable use of biodiversity resources.

The launch took place during the ISO Annual Meeting 2025 in Kigali, attended by government leaders, development partners, conservation experts, and representatives from international organizations.

The NBSAP 2025–2030 serves as Rwanda’s national roadmap for biodiversity protection and sustainable development. It aligns with the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF) and integrates biodiversity conservation into the country’s Vision 2050, the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), and the Green Growth and Climate Resilience Strategy.

Over the past three decades, Rwanda has made remarkable progress in biodiversity conservation — increasing forest cover from 20% to 30.4%, restoring degraded landscapes, and earning global recognition for its protected areas, including Nyungwe National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Gishwati–Mukura Biosphere Reserve. Kigali has also been awarded the Ramsar Wetland City Accreditation, a first in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Speaking at the launch, Juliet Kabera, Director General of the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), reflected on Rwanda’s 30-year journey of restoring nature and people’s connection to it

“Thirty years ago, Rwanda stood at a crossroads — rebuilding not only our nation but also our connection with nature. Today, that journey tells a story of renewal. We restored our forests, revived our wetlands, and empowered communities to protect the environment. The NBSAP 2025–2030 marks the next chapter — a renewed commitment to regeneration, resilience, and reimagining our bond with nature. When nature thrives, so do we.” 

A Vision for the Future

The NBSAP 2025–2030 outlines Rwanda’s strategic priorities to:

• Restore degraded ecosystems and increase biodiversity-rich habitats,
• Integrate biodiversity into economic sectors and development planning,
• Mobilize finance for nature-positive investments,
• Strengthen research, data, and innovation for informed decision-making, and
• Promote inclusive conservation that benefits people and communities.

The strategy aligns national actions with Rwanda’s Vision 2050, the Green Growth and Climate Resilience Strategy, and the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2) — ensuring that economic growth and ecological health go hand in hand.

The NBSAP was developed through broad stakeholder engagement with support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and UNEP, and will guide Rwanda’s efforts to meet global biodiversity targets by 2030.

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