Nairobi is hosting more than 120 conservation partners from across the world for the BirdLife International Global Partnership Meeting and Flyways Summit 2026.
The gathering has brought together conservationists and leaders from Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific to coordinate efforts to protect migratory birds and the habitats they depend on.
Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano said the summit would help countries and conservation organisations align their plans, form new partnerships and mobilise resources for areas facing growing environmental pressure.
“The Global Flyways Summit is our opportunity to align global plans, forge bold partnerships, and direct crucial funding to where it is needed most,” Miano said.
On Wednesday, the Cabinet Secretary welcomed Princess Takamado of Japan, the honorary president of BirdLife International, who is attending the meeting in Nairobi.
“Her steadfast global patronage continues to inspire transnational environmental action,” Miano said.
Other participants include BirdLife International Chair Mike Rands, Chief Executive Martin Harper and Nature Kenya Chief Executive Paul Matiku.
Miano said their participation would help connect international conservation policies with scientific research and community-led programmes.
“Their combined vision bridges international policy, scientific rigour and grassroots execution,” she said.
Kenya is home to more than 1,100 bird species, including resident birds and millions of migratory birds that travel through international flyways.
The country has 23 national parks, 28 national reserves and more than 160 community conservancies that provide critical habitats for birds and other wildlife.
“Together, these protected havens act as vital safe harbours for more than 1,100 bird species—nearly 10 per cent of the world’s total avian population,” Miano said.
The Cabinet Secretary also highlighted projects being implemented with Nature Kenya, including the restoration of 130,000 hectares in the Tana River Delta and reforestation initiatives on Mount Kenya.
Other interventions include training and supporting local monitors to protect vulture populations within the Maasai Mara and Amboseli ecosystems.
Miano said community participation remained central to conservation, particularly where wildlife habitats overlap with farms, settlements and other human activities.
She added that protecting migratory routes also safeguards wetlands, forests and landscapes that provide water, regulate the climate and support livelihoods.
“When global conversations turn to the preservation of life in the wild, Kenya naturally takes its place at the head of the table,” Miano said.
