By Joyce Chimbi
Nairobi, Kenya: The conversion of natural landscapes into human-dominated areas has been identified as one major threat to the existence of biodiversity. Human activity has already altered three-quarters of the land on Earth and two-thirds of the ocean amidst an unparalleled triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss.
To halt and reverse the alarming crises, the 26th session of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical, and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was held in Nairobi from May 13 to 18, 2024, paving the way from the fourth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI-4) all in support of the implementation of the CBD. SBSTTA is a science body of the United Nations biodiversity treaty.
Scientists from the National Museums of Kenya who conduct critical biodiversity research at the national level, were part of the SBSTTA 26 and SBI-4 events and negotiations. SBSTTA is a platform to discuss hard science, technical skills, and technology as part of its advisory role so that parties to the Convention or the CBD can leverage the best available science to reverse biodiversity loss and promote conservation efforts at national and international levels.
The CBD was enacted in 1993 and is the first global agreement to cover all aspects of biological diversity. Towards meeting the objectives of the Convention, 196 Parties to the CBD had in 2022 agreed on the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework which is also known as The Biodiversity Plan.
The Plan is named after China and Canada where negotiations for its development took place and is a blueprint to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030, and sets out a pathway to reach the global vision of a world living in harmony with nature by 2050 using four goals and 23 targets.
SBSTTA is an open-ended intergovernmental scientific advisory body set up to provide the Conference of the Parties (COP) and, as appropriate, its other subsidiary bodies, with timely advice relating to the implementation of the CBD. Multidisciplinary and open to participation by all Parties, SBSTTA comprises government representatives competent in the relevant field of expertise to ensure that policies are informed by the best available science at the time.
SBSTTA has parallels with the National Museums of Kenya’s Centre for Biodiversity which was set up by the government through recommendations from the United Nations Environment Programme for a coordinated approach to implement the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Within this context and to contribute to the global biodiversity agenda while meeting national targets to conserve biodiversity, the Museums’ Centre for Biodiversity continues to coordinate country biodiversity studies and direct its subsequent operations in consultation with relevant government agencies.
In the same way, SBSTTA leverages hard science to inform the Conference of Parties on the best available science towards the implementation of the CBD and now the Biodiversity Plan, the center provides invaluable evidenced-based research on Kenya’s state of biodiversity.
The Museums’ Biodiversity Map Viewer is an invaluable tool that “provides access to high-quality information on species distribution in Kenya and its neighbouring environs, revealing the areas that need concentrated efforts. Additionally, by visualizing the species on a map, one can find out the species diversity which means the number of different species that are represented in a given locality.”
Thus far, the species inventory has 5, 452 recorded and they include 58.60 percent birds, 13.46 percent reptiles, 13.35 percent plants, 11.28 percent amphibians, and 3.30 percent fish. The species map provides a visualization of where these species are to be found across the country.
Recognizing the impact that human activity has on biodiversity, scientists from the National Museums of Kenya continue to conduct groundbreaking scientific research to ensure that the East African nation conserves and preserves its biological hotspots for generations to come. This aim is in line with the global Biodiversity Plan which has four ambitious goals and 23 targets – to protect and restore nature, to prosper with nature, to share benefits fairly, and to invest and collaborate for nature.
One of the most outstanding examples of collaboration for nature was in the recent critical research and findings obtained under the auspices of the National Museums of Kenya titled ‘Habitats Heterogeneity Affects Bee Species Assemblage in an Urban Green Space: A Case Study of Nairobi Museum Botanic Garden, Kenya’ published on February 22, 2024.
Authored by Jane Muthoni Macharia1and George Gatere Ndiritu, the research findings were a collaboration effort between the Museums and Katarina University. The study was conducted on the basis that “the conversion of natural landscapes into human-dominated areas has been identified as one major threat to the existence of biodiversity. However, properly managed anthropogenic biomes can act as areas of biodiversity conservation with the potential to provide ecosystem services similar to those obtained in natural habitats.”
According to the study, classic examples are botanic gardens that have become popular in urban centers as examples of nature-based solutions to landscape loss and degradation. To assess the importance of botanic gardens as biodiversity habitats, a study was carried out in the Nairobi Museum Botanic Garden (NMBG).
The findings of this study reiterated the importance “of science-supported, natural-based solutions during restoration and rehabilitation of urban-impacted landscapes. The four habitats including succulent, herbal, memorial, and quarry were purposely vegetated with suitable vegetation to promote the conservation of threatened and ecologically important species of succulent plants, medicinal plants in the herbal garden, and educational and recreation ones in memorial and quarry areas.”
The findings demonstrated that botanic gardens can act as important habitats and refugia for bees in human-dominated landscapes. Therefore, the establishment and conservation of botanic gardens in urban areas is one way to contribute to Sustainable Development Goal 11 of ensuring sustainable cities and human settlement.
Over the years, the Museums’ Centre for Biodiversity has not only coordinated “multidisciplinary projects in Kenya, but has also been designated as a National Scientific Authority for various Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs). In addition to liaison with other National Museums of Kenya research centres, the center brings together five main research units including Marine and Wetlands Programme, Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge, Molecular Genetics Laboratory, and Coastal Biodiversity Conservation Unit.”
These issues were at the heart of the 26th session of the SBSTTA in Nairobi where recommendations on oceans, synthetic biology, health, and the monitoring of biodiversity were made. SBI or the Subsidiary Body of Implementation started on May 21 to 29 and the Parties to the CBD observed the International Day for Biological Diversity on May 22, 2024.
