As world leaders gather in Baku, Azerbaijan for 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference, commonly known as COP29, the focus will be on climate action commitments to protect biodiversity and promote environmental sustainability. For Eastern and Southern Africa, COP29 offers a crucial moment to prioritise regional strategies for managing our unique ecosystems, which include forests, marine, and wildlife habitats, which support millions and sustain diverse biodiversity. Among the most critical actions we can take is to embrace data-driven ecosystem management and address the governance challenges that often stand in the way of effective conservation. In recent years, data has come to be seen as “the new oil” in conservation — a resource with immense potential to improve ecosystem management. Data-driven decision-making involves using data to make informed decisions, rather than relying on intuition or experience. With accurate, timely data, policymakers and conservationists can track biodiversity trends, detect environmental changes, and target conservation efforts where they are needed most. The Regional Centre of Excellence for Biodiversity, Forests, and Seascape Ecosystems Management in Eastern and Southern Africa (RCoE-ESA) is one of the key players in this field. The centre developed a Data Geoportal, a centralised platform that aggregates environmental data from 24 countries in Eastern and Southern African. This Data Geoportal has the potential to transform conservation across the region by abridging the data gap to enhance collaborative efforts in conservation initiatives. It fosters collaborative data contribution and sharing by different stakeholders. At the heart of Regional Centre of Mapping of Resources for Development’s (RCMRD) strategy is the Data Sharing Agreement, a collaborative framework being signed with the 24 countries we serve. This agreement ensures that the environmental data we receive is authenticated and verified by governments, providing a solid foundation for transparency and trust among all stakeholders. By standardising data-sharing practices, the agreement supports informed decision-making, enabling better strategies for ecosystem protection and restoration. It also strengthens the functionality of the Data Geoportal. RCMRD plays a pivotal role in helping countries update information on protected and conserved areas, which are key to biodiversity conservation. This effort was amplified with RCMRD’s contribution to the recently published Protected Plant Report 2024. The report, produced by UNEP-WCMC and IUCN is the first global assessment of protected and conserved areas since the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework was agreed. It highlights countries’ progress on commitments to protect 30% of Earth by 2030. Yet, as COP29 discussions aim to strengthen global commitments to biodiversity protection, we must also confront a significant barrier: the governance issues around data sharing. Each country in Eastern and Southern Africa has unique policies on data privacy, ownership, and access, leading to significant discrepancies that impede cross-border conservation efforts. While some countries restrict access to data due to security concerns or prioritize national control over ecological information, others face institutional gaps that limit their ability to contribute to regional data-sharing initiatives. This fragmented approach makes it difficult to create a unified conservation strategy, particularly for ecosystems that transcend borders, such as migratory corridors and forest reserves. Moreover, issues of data sovereignty are increasingly prominent, with countries viewing environmental data as a national asset. While protecting national interests is valid, restricting data access or failing to engage in collaborative data platforms like the RCoE-ESA Geoportal weakens conservation outcomes across the region. This lack of coordination not only impacts biodiversity but also threatens regional stability, as ecological disruptions can trigger resource conflicts, displacement, and economic losses. To leverage data effectively in conservation, Eastern and Southern African countries must commit to harmonizing policies on data governance. Regional leaders should prioritize the development of shared standards for data privacy, ownership, and cross-border access. A unified framework will allow countries to contribute to data-driven initiatives without compromising national interests, ensuring that all stakeholders—governments, conservation organizations, and local communities—benefit from a collaborative approach. Countries can share data in a way that respects national privacy concerns and boundaries while maintaining the integrity of national boundaries and safeguarding sensitive information. The time is ripe for Eastern and Southern Africa to champion data-driven ecosystem management and to establish a unified governance framework that supports transparent data sharing. By aligning on these critical issues, the region can lead the way in demonstrating how data can drive effective, sustainable conservation. Data must be the foundation of conservation efforts, backed by robust governance, regional cooperation, and the full support of our communities. The author is a Communications Specialist at the Regional Centre of Excellence for Biodiversity, Forests, and Seascape Ecosystems Management in Eastern and Southern Africa (RCoE-ESA).
