SPATIAL BIODIVERSITY ASSESSMENT
In 2022, Rwanda completed its inaugural national Spatial Biodiversity Assessment (SBA), a systematic, map-based analysis of its ecosystems. This assessment was spearheaded by the Center of Excellence in Biodiversity and Natural Resource Management (CoEB) and the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), in collaboration with both national and international experts, including partners from South Africa and the US.
The SBA establishes two new headline metrics for evaluating biodiversity: Ecosystem Threat Status and Ecosystem Protection Level. Its core objective is to offer a high-level overview of biodiversity health for policymakers across various sectors, which can be consistently updated over time.
The assessment employed a recognized scientific methodology and covers themes like ecosystem classification, environmental pressures, and protected areas. Moving forward, CoEB will work with government agencies to integrate these findings into national strategies and land-use plans. Acknowledged as a preliminary foundation, the SBA 2022 is a dynamic work in progress intended to be refined as new data emerges.
Full report here
