IUCN Rwanda Calls for Urgent Action to Address Climate-Biodiversity Crisis at Kigali Climate Talks

Kigali, Rwanda – In a compelling address at the Third Edition of the Kigali Climate Talks on Friday, Ms. Kaori Yasuda, Country Representative of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Rwanda, emphasized the urgent need for action to tackle the intertwined crises of biodiversity loss and climate change.

The session, which focused on enhancing the climate-biodiversity nexus for resilient ecosystems, served as a platform for discussing innovative solutions and community engagement.

Yasuda set the stage by outlining the current environmental landscape in Rwanda.

“We are living in a biodiversity and climate crisis,” she stated, highlighting the critical relationship between the two issues.

“Both sides of the same coin.”

This context underscores the importance of implementing nature-based solutions and fostering community participation to secure both biodiversity and climate resilience.

Rwanda, known for its rich biodiversity and nature-based economy, has emerged as a leader in integrating biodiversity conservation within sustainable development frameworks.

Yasuda praised the Rwandan government’s commitment to mainstreaming biodiversity into major economic sectors, particularly agriculture.

“Thanks to the government’s strong leadership, Rwanda is putting nature and biodiversity conservation at the center of sustainable development,” she noted.

Responding to questions about local community engagement, Yasuda highlighted the IUCN’s development of science-based guidelines for a community-centric restoration approach tailored for Rwanda.

This initiative is part of a broader collaboration with the Rwandan government to empower local communities.

One exemplary project, the EU-funded DeSIRA Agroforestry Action Research Project, has successfully adopted a community-driven model to promote agroforestry conservation and sustainable farming practices in semi-arid regions of the country.

“To date, the EU-funded DeSIRA project has planted 59,000 agroforestry trees,” Yasuda reported, underscoring the project’s impact. “Community members were trained to disseminate knowledge through a village-to-village model, improving agroforestry systems and enhancing environmental stewardship.”

Yasuda stressed the importance of combining scientific knowledge with local expertise to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems, and enhance community well-being.

“When people feel ownership and see their needs met in both the short and longer term, they are more inclined to adopt sustainable methods,” she explained.

Inclusiveness was also a key theme in Yasuda’s address. The IUCN ensures that all stakeholders, particularly those who may be positively or negatively affected by land use and restoration activities, are actively involved in decision-making processes.

“This approach not only fosters awareness but also builds community capacity in ecosystem restoration,” she concluded.