Ecological evaluation of the Key Landscapes for Conservation and Development (KLCDs) in Africa
This study is a response to a policy request submitted to the EC Knowledge Centre for Biodiversity (KCBD) by the EC Directorate General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA) through the KCBD ticketing system. The EU NaturAfrica initiative is a flagship program designed to tackle biodiversity loss in Africa through a people-centered approach that combines conservation with sustainable job creation. Aligning with the European Green Deal and the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, the initiative directs support towards crucial ecosystems to foster both environmental protection and human development. This report details a technical assessment conducted to support the prioritization of intervention areas for NaturAfrica’s second phase. Focusing on 45 Key Landscapes for Conservation and Development (KLCDs) across Sub-Saharan Africa, the study provides a spatially explicit characterization of their ecological value. The analysis evaluated these landscapes based on five main dimensions: (1) threatened species richness; (2) species endemicity; (3) the integrity of protected and conserved areas, considering human modification and fragmentation; (4) connectivity between protected and conserved areas; and (5) ecosystem services, specifically regarding carbon and water services. The results reveal high variability across the landscapes, with no single KLCD ranking consistently superior across all metrics. While the Congo Basin forests displayed internal similarities, other regions showed diverse ecological profiles. Consequently, the report recommends avoiding a single aggregate ranking for funding prioritization. Instead, policymakers should select intervention areas based on specific targets — such as species conservation, connectivity, or water security — within each biogeographical region. The findings highlight the importance of interpreting spatial data alongside local stakeholder validation to ensure effective implementation during NaturAfrica’s expansion.
CAPITANI Claudia;
DELLI Giacomo;
MANDRICI Andrea;
ROGGERI Paolo;
DUBOIS Gregoire;
VASILAKOPOULOS Paraskevas;
VELASCO GOMEZ Marcela;
2026-03-04
Publications Office of the European Union
JRC145021
978-92-68-37749-9 (online),
1831-9424 (online),
EUR 40647,
OP KJ-01-26-080-EN-N (online),
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC145021,
10.2760/0838052 (online),
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