Today at hashtag#SBSTTA28 and hashtag#SBI7 in Nairobi, We had the opportunity to contribute to the Target 3 Community of Practice dialogue led by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas.

Today at hashtag#SBSTTA28 and hashtag#SBI7 in Nairobi, We had the opportunity to contribute to the Target 3 Community of Practice dialogue led by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas. During the discussion, We shared experiences from our work at the Ruvuma Landscape through Connect Tanzania , where, with the support of WWF Tanzania, we are working alongside local communities to strengthen community-led conservation, promote Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs), as a response to implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework targets and Tanzania's NBSAP. While sharing our experiences, We highlighted both the opportunities and challenges facing grassroots organizations and local communities in delivering conservation agenda. Our key message was clear: achieving the 30x30 target will require more than global commitments it requires sustained investment in the local NGOs and people implementing conservation on the ground. We called for stronger support in: 🌱 Expanding awareness and understanding of OECMs and Target 3 among local communities. 🌱 Investing in capacity building and technical support for community organizations and local conservation actors. 🌱 Increasing direct and accessible financing for grassroot initiatives that are already delivering conservation outcomes. 🌱 Strengthening partnerships that place local communities, youth and Indigenous knowledge holders at the centre of biodiversity governance and implementation. The future of biodiversity conservation depends on empowering the communities who protect nature every day. Global frameworks become meaningful only when they translate into action, resources and lasting partnerships at the landscape level.