Photo Caption:Dr Robert Aruho, Head of the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, interacts with Mountain Bongo at the conservancy in Nanyuki, Kenya.
NANYUKI, Kenya, September 23, 2026 — Global conservation experts have gathered in Nanyuki for a high-level meeting aimed at strengthening coordinated action to protect threatened species and their habitats.
The two-day meeting, convened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission (SSC), brings together conservation scientists, practitioners and policy experts from across the world to identify conservation priorities and coordinate research, monitoring and habitat protection efforts.
Speaking at the opening of the meeting, IUCN SSC Chair Vivek Menon said the gathering was particularly significant as the commission’s Steering Committee was meeting in Africa for the first time.
“Hosting the SSC Steering Committee in Africa for the first time is a powerful recognition of the continent’s exceptional species richness and its pivotal role in shaping global conservation,” said Menon
.The meeting, which runs until September 24, brings together specialists drawn from IUCN’s network of Specialist Groups, covering different threatened species and conservation challenges.
Among them is the Antelope Specialist Group, which supports conservation efforts for more than 90 antelope species and their habitats across Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) Regional Director Luther Anukur said holding the meeting in Africa would provide an opportunity to strengthen the contribution of African experts to global conservation efforts.
“Bringing the SSC Steering Committee to the continent for the first time creates an important opportunity to elevate African expertise, perspectives, and leadership in advancing the future of species conservation,” said Anukur.
The meeting is also expected to strengthen collaboration among scientists, governments and conservation organisations as they respond to threats facing species and the ecosystems on which they depend.
Dr Robert Aruho, Co-Chair of the IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group, said effective species conservation required cooperation across countries and disciplines because wildlife and their habitats often extend beyond national borders.
“Antelope conservation is closely tied to the health of the landscapes these species depend on. The challenges span borders and disciplines, so no single organisation or country can address them alone,” said Aruho.
He added that the Nanyuki meeting would allow specialists within the network to exchange knowledge, establish priorities and translate their collective expertise into practical conservation measures.
The meeting comes at a significant time for Kenya’s efforts to conserve the Mountain Bongo, one of Africa’s most threatened antelope species
.Aruho, who co-chairs the international Antelope Specialist Group, also leads conservation work at the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy (MKWC) in Nanyuki, which hosts Kenya’s Mountain Bongo breeding and rewilding programme.
Kenya launched its National Mountain Bongo Recovery Plan on September 3, 2026, providing a coordinated national framework for efforts to recover the species.
The presence of international conservation specialists in Nanyuki provides an opportunity for experts to engage directly with Kenya’s Mountain Bongo recovery programme and other conservation initiatives being implemented in the region.
The discussions are expected to produce outcomes that will inform future conservation strategies and partnerships for threatened species, including antelopes.
The recommendations will also guide collaboration among governments, scientists and conservation organisations in coordinating conservation action across the region.
The organisers said the meeting would help strengthen links between scientific research, field conservation and policy, while promoting greater collaboration in protecting species and the habitats they depend on.
