Eritrea

National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

Sub-Saharan AfricaApplies 2026–2030Source: National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2026–2030)

1. Overview

Eritrea's National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2026–2030) is prepared by the Government of the State of Eritrea, updating the country's second NBSAP (2015) and aligning national biodiversity policy with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework [§7]. Eritrea ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1996 [§7].

The NBSAP sets 13 national commitments*Eritrea's NBSAP calls these "national targets," each combining one or more GBF Targets and contextualised to national capacity. This page uses "national commitment" to avoid confusion with the 23 GBF Targets. mapped across the 23 GBF Targets, supported by 212 priority actions with a combined budget of USD 48.1 million [§7]. Eight strategic objectives frame the strategy's high-level policy aims, serving a comparable role to the GBF's four 2050 Goals but structured around implementation domains rather than outcome categories [§94].

The strategy is explicitly calibrated against its predecessor. The Government characterises NBSAP-2015 as "too ambitious" — with 20 global and 18 national targets — and notes that it was not widely shared with stakeholders; some key actors including regional and sub-regional administrations stated they were unfamiliar with the document [§7]. The current NBSAP adopts "whole-of-Government and whole-of-Society approaches" and balances proposed actions against existing human, scientific, and technical capacities [§7]. A companion Resource Mobilisation, Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (RMMEP) addresses gaps left by the previous strategy [§7].

Of the 13 national commitments, three set measurable quantitative thresholds: 15% of degraded ecosystems under restoration, at least four gazetted protected areas covering 10% of land and territorial waters, and at least one third of the population aware of biodiversity values. The remaining ten are directional aspirations specifying intent without quantitative benchmarks. Total implementation cost is USD 48.1 million, of which 67% is expected from external sources with no named donors or funding instruments identified [§107].

Eritrea's NBSAP is a deliberate recalibration — fewer targets, matched to documented capacity constraints, with self-correction of a predecessor the Government considers overambitious. It addresses a country with no formally gazetted protected areas, the world's only viable population of the African wild ass, and a 2023 marine crisis that caused mass coral mortality along the Red Sea coast.

Sources:

  • §7 — The Updated NBSAP
  • §94 — 8.3. Strategic Objectives
  • §107 — 9.2. Resource Mobilization

2. Ecological Context

Eritrea occupies 124,320 km² of land in northeastern Africa, with territorial waters exceeding 55,000 km² and 354 islands in the Red Sea [§12]. Altitudes range from approximately 100 metres below sea level in the Danakil Depression to 3,018 metres at Emba Soira, producing sharp ecological gradients across six agroecological zones [§13][§15]. The climate is dominantly hot and arid: approximately 70% of the country receives less than 400 mm of annual rainfall, and UNEP estimates that 42% of non-desert land is vulnerable to desertification [§14].

Climate trends are acute. Between 1961 and 2018, mean maximum and minimum temperatures in plateau areas increased by 1.85°C and 1.64°C respectively [§14]. Mean annual precipitation decreased 17–30% between 1900 and 2018, and the rainy season has contracted from approximately five months to about 2.5 months [§14]. Between 1999 and 2004, more than half of all households experienced at least one major drought shock [§14].

Forest cover has declined from an estimated 3.5 million hectares in 1912 to less than 117,000 hectares at present [§20]. The National Database of Flora and Fauna records 2,508 plant species, and faunal assessments record 84 terrestrial mammals, 516 terrestrial birds, 101 reptiles, 27 amphibians, and 569 fish species — though the NBSAP acknowledges "a critical paucity of information and knowledge on the country's biodiversity" [§19][§8][§17].

Among globally significant species, the critically endangered African wild ass (Equus africanus somaliensis) has an estimated global population of 600, of which 400 are found in Eritrea — the only country with a viable population, sustained by the conservation ethic of the Afar people [§23]. Multiple species presumed extirpated have been rediscovered: the Eritrean gazelle (Eudorcas tilonura) was sighted after approximately 90 years, the Eritrea side-neck turtle (Pelomedusa gehafie) was rediscovered in 2016 after nearly a century, and the Asmara Toad (Sclerophrys asmarae) has been observed after being believed extinct [§23][§25][§26].

In the marine domain, an unprecedented heat wave in 2023 caused mass coral bleaching along the Eritrean coast, with monitoring at some sites recording up to 100% coral cover loss and a mass fish death event [§56]. Eritrea's Red Sea waters harbour 569 recorded fish species within a region where approximately 18% of species are endemic [§34]. Mangrove forests cover about 380 km², with a 13% increase recorded between 1997 and 2017 [§30].

Eritrea falls within Vavilov's Abyssinian Centre of crop diversity and is a primary or secondary centre of origin for 18 cultivated and wild crop species [§8][§37]. Over 60% of the population depends on subsistence agriculture [§12]. The Barka cattle breed is identified as unique to Eritrea but faces threats from uncontrolled crossbreeding [§47]. At least 29 invasive plant species are present, with mesquite (Prosopis juliflora) spreading rapidly, and a newly emerging weed (Ocimum spp.) is expanding at an "alarming speed" across southern regions [§52][§61].

Sources:

  • §8 — The Eritrean Biodiversity Context
  • §12 — 2. Country Context
  • §13 — 2.1. Geology and Physiography
  • §14 — 2.2. Climate
  • §15 — 2.3. Agroecological Zones
  • §17 — 3. State of Biodiversity in Eritrea
  • §19 — 3.1.1. Flora Biodiversity
  • §20 — 3.1.1.1. Vegetation types of Eritrea
  • §23 — 3.1.2.1. Mammals
  • §25 — 3.1.2.3. Reptiles
  • §26 — 3.1.2.4. Amphibians
  • §28 — 3.2. Marine Biodiversity
  • §30 — 3.2.2. Mangroves
  • §34 — 3.2.6. Pelagic ecosystems
  • §37 — 3.3.1.1. Major field crops genetic diversity
  • §47 — 3.3.3.1. Livestock biodiversity
  • §52 — Threats to flora biodiversity
  • §56 — 3.4.2.1. Threat to the marine biodiversity
  • §61 — Threats to crop biodiversity

3. National Commitments and GBF Alignment

Eritrea's 13 national commitments are grouped below by theme. Each combines one or more GBF Targets, contextualised to national conditions.

Conditions of Nature

National commitment 1 — Ecosystem restoration (GBF Target 2). By 2030, 15% of degraded terrestrial, coastal, and marine ecosystems are under restoration or rehabilitation, and loss of natural habitats is "at least halved and where feasible brought close to zero" [§97]. The strategy allocates USD 27.5 million — the largest single-target budget — across a National Ecosystem Restoration Plan, indigenous tree planting (USD 5 million), expansion of community-managed closures in degradation hotspots, and coral reef and mangrove restoration along the Red Sea coast (USD 300,000). Energy-sector interventions are positioned as ecosystem restoration tools: USD 12 million for rural renewable energy access, USD 1.5 million for energy-efficient stoves (Mogogo Adhanet), USD 4 million for LPG expansion, and USD 350,000 for household biogas targeting 1,000 households — all framed as reducing deforestation pressure [§102]. Measurability assessment: Measurable commitment — quantitative threshold (15%), defined scope, deadline (2030).

National commitment 2 — Protected areas (GBF Target 3). By 2030, at least four terrestrial, marine, coastal, and island areas accounting for 10% of Eritrea's land and territorial waters are gazetted as legally protected areas, with preparation under way for four others [§97]. Budget: USD 6.26 million. The 2023 Directive on the Establishment and Management of Protected Areas (No. MLWE/02/2023) is the enabling instrument [§90]. Measurability assessment: Measurable commitment — numeric floor (4 areas), percentage threshold (10%), deadline (2030).

National commitment 3 — Species recovery (GBF Target 4). By 2030, extinction of known threatened or near-threatened flora, fauna, crop landraces, and livestock breeds is prevented, with conservation status showing "significant recovery trends" [§97]. Budget: USD 3.93 million. Instruments include a National Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Orphanage (USD 1 million), a botanical garden for threatened native plants (USD 250,000), genetic characterisation programmes, and a sea cucumber management strategy with catch quotas and seasonal closures [§102][§103]. Measurability assessment: Directional aspiration — "prevented" is binary in principle but lacks defined monitoring thresholds.

Pressures

National commitment 4 — Sustainable harvest (GBF Target 5). Ensure sustainable, safe, and legal use, harvesting, and trade of wild species, "respecting and protecting customary sustainable use by local people" [§97]. Budget: USD 2.33 million. Instruments include satellite tracking systems (VMS) on trawling vessels (USD 100,000), bycatch reduction devices, and enforcement patrols with the Eritrean Naval Force [§103]. Measurability assessment: Directional aspiration.

National commitment 5 — Invasive alien species (GBF Target 6). By 2030, develop and implement an integrated national IAS management programme to prevent introduction and "identify, prioritize and control, and where possible eradicate" existing species [§97]. Budget: USD 1.31 million. IAS Control Units are to be established within the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Marine Resources, and Forestry and Wildlife Authority [§103]. Measurability assessment: Directional aspiration.

National commitment 6 — Pollution (GBF Target 7). By 2030, pollution from all sources is assessed and pollution from excess nutrients, pesticides, and herbicides is controlled "to levels that are not harmful to ecosystem function" [§97]. Budget: USD 925,000. The NBSAP references progress including safe disposal of 363 tons of obsolete pesticides (shipped to the UK in 2016/2017) and promotion of organic fertilisers and biopesticides [§103]. Measurability assessment: Directional aspiration — "levels that are not harmful" defers threshold definition.

National commitment 7 — Climate and biodiversity (GBF Target 8). By 2030, develop mitigation, adaptation, and disaster risk management measures to reduce climate change and ocean acidification impacts on biodiversity [§98]. Budget: USD 1.04 million. Actions include a long-term climate monitoring and early warning system, identification of climate-resilient crops and domestic animals, and review of the National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) for biodiversity integration [§103][§104]. Measurability assessment: Directional aspiration.

Tools and Solutions

National commitment 8 — Access and benefit sharing (GBF Target 13). By 2030, fair and equitable ABS from genetic resources, traditional knowledge, and digital sequence information is "facilitated and increased" [§98]. Budget: USD 715,000. Eritrea acceded to the Nagoya Protocol in 2019 but has no ABS legislation. An ethnobotanical and indigenous knowledge survey (USD 75,000) and community-based seed banks (USD 70,000) are planned [§104]. The NBSAP describes the knowledge gap on traditional practices as "dire" [§98]. Measurability assessment: Directional aspiration.

National commitment 9 — Finance mobilisation (GBF Target 19). By 2026, financial resource mobilisation from local and international sources is reinforced [§99]. Budget for mobilisation activities: USD 715,000. This is the earliest deadline among the 13 commitments. A companion RMMEP document outlines the mobilisation strategy [§107]. Measurability assessment: Directional aspiration — deadline exists but no quantum is specified.

Implementation

National commitment 10 — Capacity and technology (GBF Target 20). By 2030, institutional capacity is strengthened and scientific and traditional knowledge is enhanced [§100]. Budget: USD 1.52 million. A field survey identified capacity gaps across all relevant institutions: the Forestry and Wildlife Authority has approximately 1,700 personnel but only 2 master's holders, about 10 BA/BSc holders, and about 15 diploma holders [§100]. Measurability assessment: Directional aspiration.

National commitment 11 — Public awareness (GBF Target 21). By 2030, at least one third of Eritrea's population is aware of biodiversity values and "the steps that they can take to conserve and/or sustainably use" ecological resources [§101]. Budget: USD 410,000. Actions include integration of biodiversity into national education and creation of Kebabi (village-level) Biodiversity/Environmental Committees [§104]. Measurability assessment: Measurable commitment — quantitative threshold (≥33% of population), deadline (2030).

National commitment 12 — Inclusive participation (GBF Target 22). By 2030, involvement of local communities, women, girls, and disabled persons in biodiversity management is promoted through "community-led, gender-inclusive approaches" [§101]. Budget: USD 490,000. The National Union of Eritrean Women (NUEW) and National Union of Eritrean Youth and Students (NUEYS) are named as implementing institutions across nearly every target [§86]. Measurability assessment: Directional aspiration.

National commitment 13 — Biosafety (GBF Target 17). By 2030, biosafety and biotechnology capacity is strengthened, LMO impacts minimised, and risk-handling measures implemented [§101]. Budget: USD 930,000. Actions include establishing a National Biosafety Database, upgrading national laboratories for digital sequencing and genotyping (USD 350,000), and creating a national management body for biosafety [§105]. Measurability assessment: Directional aspiration.

Sources:

  • §86 — 7.1.2. Community based organizations
  • §90 — 7.2. Relevant Environmental Policy and Legislation
  • §97 — 8.5.1. Justification for the targets
  • §98 — Target 7 and Target 8
  • §99 — Target 9
  • §100 — Target 10
  • §101 — Targets 11, 12, 13
  • §102 — 8.6. Action Plans (part 1/4)
  • §103 — 8.6. Action Plans (part 2/4)
  • §104 — 8.6. Action Plans (part 3/4)
  • §105 — 8.6. Action Plans (part 4/4)
  • §107 — 9.2. Resource Mobilization

4. Delivery Architecture

Legislative Framework

The overarching environmental instrument is the Environmental Protection, Management and Rehabilitation Framework Proclamation (No. 179/2017), which requires every line ministry to establish an Environment Unit and report contraventions to the Department of Environment [§90]. The Forestry and Wildlife Conservation and Development Proclamation (No. 155/2006) provides the legal framework for protected areas, species conservation, and afforestation, supported by subsidiary regulations governing forestry permits (L.N. No. 111/2006) and wildlife permits (L.N. No. 112/2006) [§90]. The Fisheries Proclamation (1998/2003/2014) includes provisions for marine protected areas, closed seasons, and prohibition of specific fishing methods [§90].

A Ban on Importation of Thin Plastic Bags (L.N. No. 99/2004) outlaws the import, production, sale, and distribution of plastic bags throughout the country. Regulations on pesticide importation (L.N. No. 114/2006) restrict allowed substances to an annexed list [§90].

Institutional Architecture

The Ministry of Land, Water and Environment (MoLWE) holds primary responsibility for environmental policy. The Forestry and Wildlife Authority (FWA) oversees terrestrial protected areas, while the Ministry of Marine Resources (MoMR) holds mandate over marine, coastal, and island ecosystems [§85]. A National Environmental Council composed of Director Generals from nine ministries coordinates cross-sectoral environmental management [§90].

At the regional level, six Zoba Administrations implement development programmes locally; at the sub-regional level, Sub-Zoba Administrations lead community mobilisation for conservation. At the community level, Kebabi (village) Planning and Implementation Committees formulate local development plans [§87][§88][§89].

Mass Organisations as Delivery Infrastructure

The National Union of Eritrean Women (NUEW) and National Union of Eritrean Youth and Students (NUEYS) appear as implementing agencies across nearly every national commitment — not as consultees but as delivery partners with grassroots structures extending to the village level [§86]. The NUEW distributes organic fertilisers to vulnerable women farmers and has been active in disseminating improved stoves. Through NUEYS and the Ministry of Education, tens of thousands of youths are mobilised annually for tree planting, terracing, and conservation activities [§86].

Sources:

  • §85 — 7.1.1. National level institutional context
  • §86 — 7.1.2. Community based organizations
  • §87 — 7.1.3. Regional/Zonal level institutional context
  • §88 — 7.1.4. Sub-Regional level institutional context
  • §89 — 7.1.5. Community level institutional context
  • §90 — 7.2. Relevant Environmental Policy and Legislation

From De Facto to De Jure: Building a Protected Area System from Zero

Eritrea has no formally gazetted protected areas. Three sites function as de facto protected areas: Semienawi-Debubawi Bahri (110,000 ha), Gash-Setit Elephant Sanctuary (44,270 ha), and Buri-Irrori-Hawakil Islands (154,000 ha) [§97]. Eight additional proposed areas would cover 391,972 ha, and approximately 244,000 ha are under community-managed closures that operate outside any formal legal framework [§97].

The Directive on the Establishment and Management of Protected Areas (No. MLWE/02/2023) provides the first legal mechanism for formal gazetting, defining establishment procedures for terrestrial, marine, and community protected areas [§90][§97]. Under this directive, the Forestry and Wildlife Authority manages terrestrial protected areas and the Ministry of Marine Resources manages marine, island, and coastal protected areas [§85].

The NBSAP sets a 10% coverage target rather than the GBF's 30%, framing it as establishing a legal system from scratch. The action plan allocates USD 5 million — the single largest action item across all 13 national commitments — for compensation and alternative livelihoods for communities whose land enters the protected area system [§102]. Over 400,000 ha of community-managed closures could potentially qualify as other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs); the NBSAP explicitly includes identification of OECMs in its 2029–2030 planning horizon [§102]. The Land Proclamation No. 58/1994 declares all land state-owned with citizen usufruct rights [§98], creating a distinct legal context for communities whose customary land management areas are formalised as protected areas.

Sources:

  • §85 — 7.1.1. National level institutional context
  • §90 — 7.2. Relevant Environmental Policy and Legislation
  • §97 — 8.5.1. Justification for the targets
  • §98 — Target 8 (ABS) — Land Proclamation reference
  • §102 — 8.6. Action Plans (part 1/4)

5. Monitoring and Accountability

A National Steering Committee under the Ministry of Land, Water and Environment oversees NBSAP implementation, with members drawn from relevant ministries, authorities, and community-based organisations [§106]. Three support structures operate beneath the Steering Committee: a National Biodiversity Coordinator for day-to-day implementation, a Scientific and Research Team conducting ongoing research to update biodiversity data, and a Resource Mobilisation Task Team engaging funding agencies [§106].

Stakeholders submit bi-annual reports to MoLWE, which compiles the reports and organises annual meetings to assess progress [§106]. Mid-term verification includes field visits to Zobas and biodiversity hotspots [§108]. The monitoring framework addresses alignment of the NBSAP with line ministry plans, suitability of management structures, capacity constraints at national, Zoba, and local levels, and partner commitment to work plans [§108].

Each action plan includes performance indicators and implementing institutions [§102][§103]. Indicator types include area under restoration, number of protected areas gazetted, training sessions conducted, and equipment supplied — though the source material does not provide indicator baselines, methodologies, or reporting frequencies beyond the bi-annual reporting cycle [§102][§103]. The NBSAP acknowledges "a critical paucity of information and knowledge" as a systemic constraint on monitoring across most targets [§17].

Sources:

  • §17 — 3. State of Biodiversity in Eritrea
  • §102 — 8.6. Action Plans (part 1/4)
  • §103 — 8.6. Action Plans (part 2/4)
  • §106 — 9.1. Implementation Arrangements
  • §108 — 9.3. Monitoring and Evaluation

6. Finance and Resource Mobilisation

Total implementation cost is USD 48.1 million for 2026–2030, of which 67% is to be mobilised from external sources [§107]. The plan identifies no specific funding instruments, named donors, or domestic budget lines.

Per-target budgets from the action plan tables are: ecosystem restoration USD 27.54 million, protected areas USD 6.26 million, species recovery USD 3.93 million, sustainable harvest USD 2.33 million, capacity and technology USD 1.52 million, invasive species USD 1.31 million, climate USD 1.04 million, biosafety USD 930,000, pollution USD 925,000, finance mobilisation USD 715,000, ABS USD 715,000, awareness and participation USD 900,000 combined [§102][§103][§104][§105].

A companion Resource Mobilisation, Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (RMMEP) outlines mobilisation strategies as a separate document [§107]. National commitment 9 sets a 2026 deadline — the earliest among the 13 commitments — for reinforcing financial resource mobilisation, with USD 715,000 allocated to establishing a Resource Mobilisation Committee and preparing proposals for funding partners [§99][§104]. The NBSAP contains no references to innovative financing mechanisms, subsidy reform, or private-sector financing.

Sources:

  • §99 — Target 9 (financial resource mobilisation)
  • §102 — 8.6. Action Plans (part 1/4)
  • §103 — 8.6. Action Plans (part 2/4)
  • §104 — 8.6. Action Plans (part 3/4)
  • §105 — 8.6. Action Plans (part 4/4)
  • §107 — 9.2. Resource Mobilization

7. GBF Target Coverage

Target 1: Spatial planning — Mentioned

The NBSAP does not contain a standalone spatial planning target. Spatial planning elements appear within national commitment 1 on ecosystem restoration, including survey and mapping of terrestrial ecosystems to identify priority habitats (USD 500,000) and integration of habitat mapping with land use/land cover mapping. Twenty-three major land degradation hotspot areas covering approximately 1,190,553 hectares have been identified through the Land Degradation Neutrality target setting programme.

Target 2: Ecosystem restoration — Addressed

National commitment 1 commits to restoring 15% of degraded terrestrial, coastal, and marine ecosystems by 2030, with USD 27.5 million allocated. The strategy combines direct restoration (indigenous tree planting, community-managed closures, coral and mangrove rehabilitation) with indirect pressure reduction through energy-sector interventions. Rural renewable energy access (USD 12 million), Mogogo Adhanet energy-efficient stoves (152,165 distributed by 2017, with USD 1.5 million for further dissemination), LPG expansion (USD 4 million), and household biogas (1,000 households) are all positioned as reducing deforestation pressure. A National Ecosystem Restoration Plan is budgeted for 2026. Indicators include area under restoration and hectares of community closures.

Target 3: Protected areas (30x30) — Addressed

National commitment 2 commits to gazetting at least four protected areas covering 10% of land and territorial waters by 2030, with USD 6.26 million allocated. Eritrea currently has no formally gazetted protected areas; three sites function as de facto protected areas. The 2023 Directive (No. MLWE/02/2023) provides the legal basis for formal gazetting. The action plan includes USD 5 million for community compensation and alternative livelihoods. OECMs are included in the 2029–2030 planning horizon. Indicators include number of gazetted areas and percentage of territory under protection.

Target 4: Species recovery — Addressed

National commitment 3 commits to preventing extinction of known threatened species and showing recovery trends by 2030, with USD 3.93 million allocated. The NBSAP integrates wild species, crop landraces, and livestock breeds within a single target. Instruments include a National Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Orphanage (USD 1 million), a botanical garden for threatened native plants, genetic characterisation programmes, and a sea cucumber management strategy with catch quotas and seasonal closures. The Gene Bank at NARI holds 2,800+ crop accessions. Indicators include national Red List completion and species-specific conservation plans.

Target 5: Sustainable harvest — Addressed

National commitment 4 addresses sustainable use, harvesting, and trade of wild species, with USD 2.33 million allocated. The NBSAP documents a 56.12% discard rate in trawl catches and biomass fuel harvesting rates exceeding the critical threshold for sub-Saharan Africa. Instruments include satellite tracking systems (VMS) on trawling vessels, bycatch reduction devices, Eritrean Naval Force enforcement patrols, and regional cooperation with Red Sea coastal states. Draft national CITES legislation is awaiting promulgation.

Target 6: Invasive alien species — Addressed

National commitment 5 commits to developing an integrated national IAS management programme by 2030, with USD 1.31 million allocated. Prosopis juliflora is the species of primary concern, with previous control efforts acknowledged as ineffective. IAS Control Units are to be established within three agencies. A rapidly expanding Ocimum species is flagged as an emerging threat in southern regions. Indicators include IAS survey completion, hectares of eradication in protected areas, and surveillance measures at entry points.

Target 7: Pollution reduction — Addressed

National commitment 6 addresses pollution from agrochemicals, heavy metals, oil spills, and plastics, with USD 925,000 allocated. The NBSAP reports 363 tons of obsolete pesticides safely disposed (shipped to the UK). Instruments include promotion of organic fertilisers and biopesticides, production of organic inputs at scale (USD 300,000), single-use plastic controls, and agrochemical import regulation under L.N. No. 114/2006. The existing ban on thin plastic bags (L.N. No. 99/2004) is referenced. Indicators include pollution assessment completion and organic input production levels.

Target 8: Climate and biodiversity — Addressed

National commitment 7 addresses climate change mitigation, adaptation, and disaster risk management for biodiversity, with USD 1.04 million allocated. The NBSAP documents the 2023 heat wave causing mass coral bleaching — with up to 100% coral cover loss at some monitoring sites — and a mass fish death event. A coral monitoring programme operates at four permanent sites using 3D mapping and eDNA techniques. Instruments include a long-term climate monitoring and early warning system (USD 150,000), identification of climate-resilient crop varieties, and NAPA review for biodiversity integration.

Target 9: Wild species use — Mentioned

GBF Target 9's focus on managing wild species for the benefit of vulnerable populations is not framed as a standalone objective. National commitment 4 on sustainable harvest includes actions on compiling traditional knowledge of coastal communities (Action 4.7.1), training artisanal fishers, and domesticating wild vegetables to enhance food security.

Target 10: Agriculture / forestry — Mentioned

No standalone target addresses sustainable agriculture, aquaculture, and forestry management. Sustainable practices are distributed across national commitments 1 (forest management, agroforestry), 4 (rangeland management, fisheries data collection), and 6 (climate-smart agriculture training). The "Geshinashim Climate Smart Community" project promotes climate-smart agriculture in the Eritrean Highlands.

Target 11: Ecosystem services (NbS) — Mentioned

Nature-based solutions are not identified as a distinct approach. Ecosystem restoration under national commitment 1 functions as NbS, particularly through community-managed closures covering over 400,000 hectares and soil and water conservation programmes including watershed treatment and hillside terraces.

Target 12: Urban biodiversity — Mentioned

Urban biodiversity planning is essentially absent. A single action under national commitment 11 calls for ensuring urban sanitation programmes include biodiversity considerations (USD 50,000).

Target 13: Genetic resources / ABS — Addressed

National commitment 8 commits to facilitating and increasing ABS from genetic resources, traditional knowledge, and digital sequence information by 2030, with USD 715,000 allocated. Eritrea acceded to the Nagoya Protocol in 2019 but has no ABS legislation. The NBSAP describes the traditional knowledge gap as "dire." Instruments include an ethnobotanical survey (USD 75,000), community-based seed banks (USD 70,000), and development of a national ABS framework by 2027. DSI and genotyping are identified as completely undeveloped areas.

Target 14: Mainstreaming — Mentioned

Mainstreaming is a cross-cutting theme rather than a dedicated target. Proclamation No. 179/2017 requires Environment Units in relevant ministries, though these are not yet established. The NBSAP identifies the failure to mainstream NBSAP-2015 into line ministry programmes as a key lesson learned.

Target 15: Business disclosure — Mentioned

Business engagement is limited to a single awareness-training action under national commitment 11: training small and large businesses to reduce their impacts on biodiversity (USD 70,000). No disclosure, reporting, or supply-chain framework exists.

Target 16: Sustainable consumption — Not identified

Content addressing GBF Target 16 was not identified in this NBSAP.

Target 17: Biosafety — Addressed

National commitment 13 commits to strengthening biosafety and biotechnology capacity by 2030, with USD 930,000 allocated. Laboratory upgrading for modern biotechnology, digital sequencing, and genotyping is the largest action item (USD 350,000). A national management body for biosafety is to be established in 2027, alongside a National Biosafety Database. Indicators include laboratory capacity assessments and biosafety framework status.

Target 18: Harmful subsidies — Mentioned

The NBSAP updating process included a review of biodiversity expenditure and an instruction to identify biodiversity-harmful subsidies. The review concluded that no such subsidies were identified, though neither methodology nor evidence is presented.

Target 19: Finance mobilisation — Addressed

National commitment 9 sets a 2026 deadline for reinforcing financial resource mobilisation, with USD 715,000 allocated to mobilisation activities. Total NBSAP cost is USD 48.1 million, with 67% from external sources. A companion RMMEP document outlines the mobilisation strategy. No specific funding instruments, named donors, or innovative financing mechanisms are identified. The absence of a resource mobilisation plan is identified as a key failure of NBSAP-2015.

Target 20: Capacity and technology — Addressed

National commitment 10 commits to strengthening institutional capacity by 2030, with USD 1.52 million allocated. The NBSAP provides a detailed inventory of expertise gaps: the FWA has approximately 1,700 personnel but only about 27 with diploma-level education or higher. Identified needs span taxonomists, population biologists, GIS specialists, molecular biologists, and wildlife veterinarians. Instruments include human capacity-building programmes (USD 500,000), national infrastructural strengthening (USD 200,000), and partnerships with regional research institutions.

Target 21: Data and information — Mentioned

Data and information management is a recurring theme but not a dedicated target. The National Database of Flora and Fauna exists but access and updating require improvement. Data standardisation is identified as an ongoing challenge. The coral monitoring programme uses modern methods including 3D mapping and environmental DNA.

Target 22: Inclusive participation — Addressed

National commitment 12 commits to promoting involvement of local communities, women, girls, and disabled persons through community-led, gender-inclusive approaches, with USD 490,000 allocated. Persons with disabilities are explicitly named in the target text. NUEW and NUEYS serve as implementing institutions across multiple commitments. Instruments include Kebabi Biodiversity/Environmental Committees (USD 130,000), Community Social Forums, and empowerment of Watershed Committees. The NBSAP states that women's inclusion "must go beyond their mere participation in soil/water conservation and tree planting."

Target 23: Gender equality — Mentioned

Gender considerations are integrated within national commitment 12 rather than treated as a standalone target. The NUEW's Gender Action Plan includes environmental sustainability. Specific actions include ensuring women's participation in biodiversity decision-making and creating Women Biodiversity Forums. Gender is mainstreamed within the participation framework rather than addressed as a separate structural objective.