Ghana and Malawi Strengthen Biodiversity Data Management with Bioland Training

Ghana and Malawi are intensifying efforts to improve biodiversity data access through a capacity-building workshop aimed at centralizing national information on the Bioland Clearing House Mechanism (CHM) Portal.

Held in Accra, the two-day workshop brought together stakeholders from government, academia, NGOs, and research institutions, and was jointly organized by Ghana’s Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) and the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS).

The training focused on integrating Ghana’s scattered biodiversity data into a single national platform. This effort supports reporting under international frameworks such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which seeks to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.

Mr. Han de Koeijer, Belgian Focal Point for CHM, said the Bioland tool—developed under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)—helps countries overcome technical challenges in setting up national biodiversity information systems.

“Bioland allows countries to upload and link biodiversity data to national targets, improving access and coordination across institutions,” he said.

Dr. Peter Dery, Director of Environment at MESTI, emphasized the tool’s role in shaping domestic conservation policies and ensuring effective international reporting. He noted that Ghana’s revised National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) is in progress and expected by September 2025.

Participants gained practical skills in data uploading, goal alignment, and policy integration using the platform. Currently, 36 countries use Bioland-powered CHM sites, with 24 more in testing.

By centralizing biodiversity data, the Bioland platform aims to support research, inform policy, and boost public participation in environmental conservation.