Rwanda Leads Global Green Revolution as ISO Biodiversity Standard Launches in Kigali
On 7 october 2025 in Kigali, the world’s attention turned to this country this week as Rwanda hosted the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Annual Meeting 2025, marking a historic moment with the unveiling of both the first-ever International Standard forBiodiversity Action (ISO 17298) and Rwanda’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP 2025–2030).
The launch signaled more than a policy milestone — it was a statement of intent. Rwanda, once scarred by environmental degradation, is now emerging as a global model of ecological leadership, investing $300 million (over 433 billion Rwandan francs) to restore nature and secure a sustainable future.
“Biodiversity is not just an environmental issue — it is an economic, social, and security issue,” declared Dr. Bernadette Arakwiye, Rwanda’s Minister of Environment.
“Protecting biodiversity is not about saving wildlife; it’s about saving ourselves and future generations.”
Her passionate message resonated across the conference hall, reminding the world that the survival of humankind depends on the health of the planet. She warned that the loss of biodiversity directly threatens food security, water access, and public health.
“Humanity must end its war against nature and work together — globally, regionally, and locally — to restore ecosystems,” she urged. “In protecting biodiversity, we are protecting life itself.”
Rwanda’s Green Comeback
Three decades ago, Rwanda’s landscape told a story of loss — bare hills, depleted wetlands, and vanishing wildlife. Today, it tells a different story: one of resilience and rebirth.
Juliet Kabera, Director General of the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), reflected on this transformation:
“Thirty years ago, our environment was on the brink of collapse. We realized that healing our nation meant healing our land. In Rwanda, nature is not separate from recovery — it is our recovery.”
Under the new biodiversity strategy, Rwanda plans to restore 30% of degraded ecosystems, expand green urban spaces, and empower citizens to integrate conservation into everyday life. The plan also focuses on eco-tourism, green industry, and sustainable agriculture.
Kabera celebrated the progress made so far: forest cover reaching 30.4%, wetlands restored, and national parks revived — from Akagera’s “Big Five” to Nyungwe and Gishwati–Mukura, now recognized as UNESCO sites.
“Rwanda’s greatest conservation asset is its people,” Kabera said. “Through Umuganda, communities plant trees, clean rivers, and restore land together every month. Conservation here is not imposed; it is lived.”
A Global Standard for Nature
The event also marked the launch of ISO 17298: Biodiversity for Organizations – Guidelines andRequirements, the first-ever global standard providing organizations with measurable and accountable frameworks for protecting nature.
Noelia Garcia Nebra, ISO’s Head of Sustainability and Partnerships, hailed the launch as a turning point.
“Until now, there was no globally agreed framework for organizations to integrate biodiversity into their operations. ISO 17298 moves the world from ambition to action.”
Nature as the Foundation of the Future
The Ministry of Environment estimates that 65% of Rwandans depend directly on biodiversity-related livelihoods — from farming and tourism to forestry and livestock. Yet, nearly a quarter of species in Rwanda face extinction risks without urgent action.
Dr. Arakwiye called on governments, businesses, and citizens alike to make conservation a shared responsibility:
“Let us live in harmony with nature, because in protecting biodiversity, we are ultimately protecting ourselves.”
“As Rwanda Kigali hosts the world’s environmental leaders, Rwanda’s message resonates beyond its borders: sustainable growth is not an option, but a necessity. With a population of over 13 million, Rwanda has increased its forest cover to 30.4%, protects more than 400 animal species and over 1,000 bird species, and continues to restore degraded ecosystems. For this small yet determined nation, protecting nature has become both a moral duty and a defining feature of its national identity.”
