Ivan Zhakata

Herald Correspondent

BIRDLIFE International will launch its latest State of the World’s Birds Report in Nairobi, Kenya, on September 11, 2026, during the Global Flyways Summit, with the report expected to inform international efforts to conserve migratory bird populations and their habitats.

The report, published every four years, will assess the status of migratory birds globally, focusing on population trends, extinction risks and the condition of critical habitats that support the species during their annual migrations.

It will also assess Key Biodiversity Areas and other critical habitats along the world’s major flyways, while examining growing threats facing migratory birds, particularly migratory shorebirds, which are among the most threatened groups of birds globally.

The report will be launched during the Global Flyways Summit, which is being co-hosted by BirdLife International and Nature Kenya.

The summit is expected to culminate in the adoption of the Nairobi Flyways Declaration, which will bring together governments, institutions, funders and conservation partners to commit to policy, conservation and financial measures to protect migratory birds and the ecosystems on which they depend.

BirdLife International chief executive officer Mr Martin Harper said the report will provide an assessment of the status of migratory birds and identify areas where urgent action was required.

“This edition of the State of the World’s Birds will provide an authoritative assessment of how these species are faring and where action is most urgently needed,” he said.

Mr Harper said the report will also highlight conservation measures that were already yielding positive results.

“By bringing the latest science together with leaders from around the world in Nairobi, we have an opportunity to turn evidence into action and strengthen commitments to protect migratory birds and their flyways worldwide,” he said.

Nature Kenya executive director Dr Paul Matiku said Kenya’s position along the African-Eurasian Flyway made it a suitable venue for the global meeting.

“As a country situated along the African-Eurasian Flyway, we see first-hand the importance of international cooperation in conserving migratory species,” he said.

Dr Matiku said the summit presented an opportunity for Africa to contribute to international efforts to protect migratory birds, biodiversity and communities that depend on natural ecosystems.

The African-Eurasian Flyway is one of the world’s major migratory routes, linking Africa, Europe and Asia.

Migratory birds depend on a network of wetlands, feeding grounds and resting sites along the flyway, with conservationists warning that the loss of a single critical site can disrupt migration and threaten the survival of the species.

BirdLife International said conservation efforts should therefore cover entire flyways rather than individual countries.

Senior Government officials from Kenya, international institutions and representatives of the global conservation community are expected to attend the summit.