DNK International By Our Correspondent,Nairobi.
A major international conference on biodiversity and cultural heritage has brought together more than 300 participants from over 20 countries to discuss pressing environmental and heritage conservation challenges while promoting sustainable solutions for communities.
Speaking during the conference, Organizing Committee Chairperson Prof. Esther Kioko said the event is addressing key biodiversity and cultural heritage issues affecting societies across the globe.
She noted that the conference has also invested in the next generation of conservation leaders through pre-conference training that empowered more than 100 early-career scholars.
“These young scholars are champions for change in biodiversity and cultural heritage conservation in Africa and beyond,” she said.
Dr. Namikoye Samita, Chairperson of the Association of Kenyan Entomologists (AKE), which is co-hosting the conference alongside the National Museums of Kenya and the Sino-Africa Joint Research Centre, highlighted the role of partnerships in promoting nature-based solutions and biodiversity conservation.
She said AKE focuses on disseminating information on best practices in nature-based solutions and bioprospecting, particularly in insect-related fields such as biological control, sericulture, beekeeping, and insect-based feeds.
The association also mentors undergraduate and postgraduate students to build capacity in conservation and research.
Keynote speakers including Prof. Linnet Gohole, Prof. David Braun of George Washington University, and Dr. Mwangi Githiru emphasized the importance of working closely with local communities to conserve biodiversity and cultural heritage.
The speakers noted that conservation efforts can create economic opportunities for communities through sustainable resource management, ecotourism, and other conservation-linked enterprises.
They stressed that involving local communities in conservation initiatives is critical to ensuring both environmental protection and long-term socio-economic benefits.
The conference is expected to strengthen international collaboration, promote innovative conservation approaches, and contribute to sustainable biodiversity and cultural heritage management across Africa and beyond.
PHOTOS/Nicholas Odol
[DNK-International@June 8,2026]
