As Rwanda promotes the integration of biodiversity into business and organisational planning, participants from academia, government institutions, financial institutions, environmental NGOs, SMEs and international organisations met in Kigali on Monday to discuss how biodiversity standards can be integrated into business activities to support economic growth, investment, innovation and long-term resilience.
The discussions took place during a one-day workshop organised by the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), in partnership with the Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN II) project.
Speaking during the workshop, Irene Iradukunda, Biodiversity Finance Analyst at UNDP, highlighted the connection between biodiversity, ecosystem services, natural capital and Rwanda’s economy.
Irene Iradukunda highlights the strong link between biodiversity, nature and Rwanda’s economy.
“Biodiversity is not only essential for the environment; it is also a valuable economic asset that creates opportunities for Rwanda’s sustainable growth and development,” Iradukunda said.
She explained that healthy ecosystems provide essential services that support economic activities and livelihoods, including agriculture, tourism, water supply and energy.
According to her presentation, about US$44 trillion, or more than half of the world’s GDP, is moderately or highly dependent on nature.
In Rwanda, this connection is particularly important because sectors such as agriculture and tourism depend on healthy soils, water resources, forests, wetlands and wildlife. Protecting these natural assets can therefore contribute to sustainable economic development and strengthen the resilience of businesses and communities.
The workshop focused on helping organisations understand their relationship with biodiversity and identify practical ways to integrate biodiversity considerations into their plans, strategies and daily activities.
ISO, or the International Organization for Standardization, develops international standards that provide agreed guidelines and requirements to help organisations operate in a consistent, reliable and internationally recognised manner.
The workshop focused on ISO 17298 and ISO 17620, with discussions centred on their importance and their application in organisational planning and business activities.
Why Biodiversity Standards Matter for Business
ISO 17298: Biodiversity for organizations: Guidelines and requirements provides a framework to help organisations understand their impacts and dependencies on biodiversity, as well as identify related risks and opportunities.
The standard also helps organisations integrate biodiversity considerations into their strategies, operations and decision-making processes. It was launched in Kigali in October 2025 during the ISO Annual Meeting hosted by Rwanda.
Meanwhile, ISO 17620 was also presented during the workshop, with discussions focusing on its relevance to biodiversity-related planning and business activities.
Together, the standards provide organisations with practical approaches to understanding their relationship with nature, managing biodiversity-related issues and strengthening their environmental practices.
The discussions further highlighted that biodiversity action can create business opportunities. By understanding and managing their dependence on nature, organisations can strengthen resilience, improve environmental performance and respond more effectively to changing market, regulatory and investor expectations.
In addition, credible biodiversity practices can help organisations build confidence among customers, regulators and investors while creating opportunities linked to green and nature-related finance.
Furthermore, the ISO standardisation process may involve developing standards at the national level or adopting and domesticating existing global standards, depending on their relevance and applicability to the local context.
Turning Biodiversity Commitments into Business Action
Theogene Ngaboyamahina, Biodiversity Sector Specialist at REMA, emphasised the importance of cooperation in integrating biodiversity standards into business activities.
“Integrating biodiversity standards into business requires collective efforts from different stakeholders,” Ngaboyamahina said.
He further noted that standardising business practices and meeting international standards can add value to organisations by improving their operations, strengthening credibility and increasing confidence among stakeholders.
Anaclet Iradukunda, a student and representative of the Environmental Club at the University of Lay Adventists of Kigali (UNILAK), said the workshop strengthened his understanding of biodiversity ISO standards and provided valuable practical knowledge.
He added that the experience has strengthened his skills and will enable him to share the knowledge gained with fellow students, while encouraging continued engagement between the organisers and universities to promote greater awareness of biodiversity standards among young people.
The workshop also provided an opportunity for stakeholders to explore how biodiversity standards can be applied in practice, including how organisations can assess their activities, identify biodiversity-related impacts and develop appropriate actions for planning and reporting.
For Rwanda, integrating biodiversity standards offers an opportunity to strengthen the link between environmental sustainability and economic development. By adopting internationally recognised standards, businesses and public institutions can demonstrate responsible practices while contributing to the protection and sustainable use of the country’s natural assets.
Rwanda is also preparing to host the ISO/TC 331 Plenary Meeting in May 2027, providing another opportunity for the country to showcase its progress in biodiversity-related standardisation.
As Rwanda continues to advance its sustainability agenda, the integration of ISO 17298 and ISO 17620 can open new opportunities for businesses and organisations to drive innovation, attract investment, strengthen resilience and promote sustainable economic growth, while contributing to the protection of Rwanda’s rich natural resources.
