New Map Book Launched to Guide Conservation Efforts Across Eastern and Southern Africa

In a major boost to conservation planning across Africa, the Regional Centre of Excellence for Biodiversity, Forests, and Seascape Ecosystems Management in Eastern and Southern Africa (RCoE-ESA) officially launched the RCoE-ESA Map Book on June 16, 2025, in Nairobi, Kenya. The event took place during the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD), which hosts the RCoE-ESA.

The Map Book is a data-rich resource that aims to support policymakers, conservation practitioners, researchers, and development partners in promoting informed conservation and sustainable development across 24 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa. Malawi’s Minister of Lands, Hon. Deus Gumba, presided over the official launch.

With high-quality maps and detailed spatial analysis, the Map Book provides a comprehensive overview of biodiversity hotspots, protected and conserved areas, and transboundary conservation networks. It also identifies gaps in protection coverage, contributing to regional efforts to address climate change, habitat degradation, and unsustainable land use.

“Geospatial science is a powerful tool for conservation and sustainable development,” said Dr. Emmanuel Nkurunziza, Director General of RCMRD. “Through data-driven planning and ecosystem mapping, we can restore biodiversity-rich forests, seascapes, wetlands, and other vital ecosystems. This Map Book is a call to action and a key tool for strategic planning across our region.”

Importantly, the publication showcases progress toward Target 3 of the Global Biodiversity Framework, which calls for protecting 30% of the world’s land and sea areas by 2030 through Protected Areas (PAs) and Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs).

The launch also featured a training workshop on the Integrated Management Effectiveness Tool (IMET), a digital platform for monitoring and improving the effectiveness of protected and conserved areas.

The RCoE-ESA Map Book is now available to the public and can be explored online at rcoe-mapbook.rcmrd.org.

For more photos of the event, click here