How universities can help deliver global biodiversity goals

How universities can help deliver global biodiversity goals Gaby Clark Scientific Editor Andrew Zinin Chief Editor "Taking Action for Nature" was the theme of CoP 17, the UN Biodiversity Conference 2026, which is drawing to a close in Yerevan, Armenia. A new analysis of African national biodiversity strategies and action plans shows how academic and research institutions can respond to this theme and help translate scientific evidence into taking action for nature. Led by Newcastle University and CASCADE, a collaborative consortium of UK higher education institutions and their partners, the international study demonstrates how academic institutions can support biodiversity policy not only through scientific research, but also by connecting researchers, policymakers and other stakeholders. The authors represent a diversity of roles across science and policy development and implementation, so the study addresses a need for global policy implementation. Fostering a whole-of-society approach The study explored how academic institutions can support the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), a landmark agreement ratified in 2022 by parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity that outlines ambitious goals to combat biodiversity decline. The Conference of the Parties (CoP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has called on academic and research institutions to support the KMGBF. It has also established regional Technical and Scientific Cooperation Centres (TSCCs) to help parties access scientific and technical expertise. However, the extent to which academic and research institutions can contribute to these efforts remains unclear. To address this gap, an international team of researchers led by Newcastle University analyzed the expected contributions of academic and research institutions to implementing national biodiversity strategies across 52 African countries. Published in Conservation Science and Practice, the study finds that the CBD's regional support centers and academic and research institutions can play complementary roles in supporting implementation of the KMGBF. The findings highlight the role of academic institutions in both generating and sharing knowledge. They also suggest that training researchers to connect scientific evidence with policymakers' needs could help research have a greater influence on biodiversity policy. Dr. Élie Pédarros, from Newcastle University's School of Natural and Environmental Sciences and CASCADE and lead author of the study, said, "Mobilizing academic and research institutions and promoting individual researchers' engagement in policy processes are essential to fostering the whole-of-society approach needed to implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), drawing on the richness and diversity of their collaborative networks. "To make this happen, it is critical that academic institutions present a more unified and coherent way for TSCCs and parties to engage with them, rather than each university or research institution acting alone. When academia operates as a coordinated consortium, such as CASCADE or the African Academy of Sciences, it streamlines engagement for policymakers by providing a 'single point of entry' for knowledge and facilitation." Reflecting on the implications of the study for African countries, study author Onyeka Nwosu, who represents Nigeria on the CBD's Informal Advisory Group on Scientific Cooperation and who co-chaired two contact groups at CoP17, said, "The ambitious goals and targets of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework provide a significant opportunity for African countries to advance biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. "The technical and scientific cooperation centers can play a transformative role with the potential to be game changers by strengthening regional capacities, fostering effective research networks, and ensuring that the best available scientific knowledge informs evidence-based action and implementation across the continent." Although the study analyzed national biodiversity strategies and action plans across Africa, and the role of the technical and scientific cooperation centers in supporting countries and academic networks in implementing them, the study's findings are relevant globally. Study author Mohammad Khalid Sayeed Pasha, the regional coordinator for IUCN Protected, Conserved and Heritage Areas who has responsibility for the technical and scientific cooperation center hosted by IUCN-Asia Regional Office, said, "The Convention on Biological Diversity has established a global network of technical and scientific cooperation centers to support countries in implementing the Global Biodiversity Framework. A key message from this analysis is that integrating academic institutions as true partners in the work of TSCCs would be strategic to sharpen support and build lasting capacity in parties." The study team has also produced a two-page policy brief for parties and others involved with implementing the KMGBF that outlines the key findings and how they can be applied in practice. More information Élie Pédarros et al., The potential for academic and research institutions to support the Kunming‐Montréal global biodiversity framework, Conservation Science and Practice (2026). DOI: 10.1111/csp2.70433 Key concepts biodiversityProvided by Newcastle University