On 1st March, 2017 RCMRD held a meeting with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to explore areas of collaboration between the two organizations at its premises in Nairobi, Kenya. The meeting focused on the structure of both organizations, mode of operation, membership, experiences, global initiatives and ongoing

activities in the Eastern and Southern Africa region. The need for a collaborative approach was deemed important because both RCMRD and IUCN are operating in similar areas. The two organizations agreed to sign an MOU for collaboration in training activities and project implementation. Common areas of interest identified included marine and coastal management, threatened species, invasive species, governance of natural resources, forest monitoring, climate change, landscape restoration, and RCMRD’s strategic partners within Member States. RCMRD was represented by Dr. Emmanuel Nkurunziza (Director General), Degelo Sendabo (Remote Sensing Officer) and Josphat Makanga (Senior Photogrametist). On the other hand, IUCN delegates included Luther Anukur (Regional Director), Robert Wild (Technical Director, People and Landscape Programme) Kaori Yasuda (Strategic Partnership and Programme Development Coordinator) and Edmund Barrow (Director, Global Ecosystem Management Programme). IUCN is the universal authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it. Read more here