IUCN Africa Protected Areas Congress concludes with Kigali Call to Action

Under the theme "For People and Nature," the Congress identified priority actions to strengthen Africa's protected and conserved areas in a just, equitable, and fair manner.

Rwanda: The first IUCN Africa Protected Areas Congress (APAC) concluded on Saturday, July 23, 2022, with the adoption of the Kigali Call to Action by over 2,400 participants from across the continent and beyond.

Under the theme "For People and Nature," the Congress identified priority actions to strengthen Africa's protected and conserved areas in a just, equitable, and fair manner.

These actions include strengthening indigenous peoples' and local communities' rights, increasing public and private financial investment in nature conservation and protected and conserved areas, and improving Pan-African collaboration, cooperation, and partnership for protected and conserved area systems across the continent.

“Rwanda was proud to host the Africa Protected Areas Congress. We are glad it has been a success. We must put people at the centre of conservation if we are to achieve the goals we have set for ourselves and move to actions", said the Honourable Dr Jeanne D’Arc Mujawamariya, Minister of Environment of Rwanda.

“This inaugural IUCN Africa Protected and Conserved Areas Congress has highlighted that Africa’s protected and conserved areas are vital for nature and biodiversity, but also for African peoples’ livelihoods and cultures”, said IUCN Director General Dr Bruno Oberle. “It has formed an unprecedented and diverse coalition that includes governments and civil society stakeholders such as youth, indigenous peoples and local communities as well as protected area directors and rangers to strengthen protection and conservation.”

“The Africa Protected Area Congress has further exhibited that the importance of conservation is non-negotiable. Therefore, we call upon all African governments to actualize their commitments to safeguard nature and actively engage with all relevant stakeholders in the creation of A-Pan African Conservation Trust that honours the strong statements within The Kigali Call to Action. Let us get to work.” said Kaddu Sebunya, CEO of African Wildlife Foundation.

Representatives of youth and Indigenous Peoples groups delivered statements during the closing plenary, which was followed by the formal adoption of the Kigali Call to Action and closing remarks from the event's co-conveners, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the African Wildlife Foundation, and the Government of Rwanda.