West African countries have taken a major step toward protecting nature and biodiversity by equipping conservation experts with advanced mapping and data analysis skills and tools.

The effort builds on commitments made by West African countries to help achieve the 30×30.

Following a request for support from Nigeria after a ECOWAS Target 3 regional workshop in Abuja in 2024, the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People (HAC for N&P) connected the West Africa 30×30 GIS and Mapping Working Group with technology company Esri. Through this partnership, Esri donated 30 Geographic Information System (GIS) software licenses that will benefit environmental ministries and agencies across 15 West African countries through the Centre de Suivi Ecologique, a leading conservation organization in the region and a CBD Technical and Scientific Cooperation Support Centre (TSCC).

A tailored training curriculum was also developed with support from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) in June 2026, with technical experts from 12 West African countries gathered in Abuja, Nigeria, for hands-on GIS training. Participants came from Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.

In the framework of Target 3 and Target 1 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, GIS technology helps conservation planners and policy makers map important ecosystems, identify critical habitats, and determine where protected and conserved areas may be created or expanded. By strengthening these technical skills, countries across the region will be better equipped to make informed decisions about conservation and land-use planning.

“West Africa is recognized as a global biodiversity hotspot, and our countries therefore have a significant role to play in the successful implementation of global 30 by 30 commitments,” said Ajibola Abimbola Abayomi, Forest Officer and GIS/Remote Sensing Specialist representing Nigeria within the regional GIS working group. He noted that the new skills will help experts identify the most effective locations for protected areas and support policymakers with science-based recommendations.

The 30×30 GIS working group training is expected to support the development of West Africa’s regional 30×30 implementation plan while fostering stronger regional collaboration. Regional leaders emphasize that continued investment in biodiversity conservation and technical capacity will be essential for safeguarding nature, supporting livelihoods, and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.