Moving the programme forward
The KBA Secretariat is responsible for key centralised coordination activities, such as:
- Supporting the KBA Committee, the KBA Community, National Coordination Groups and the various working groups of the KBA Programme
- Coordination of joint fundraising, training and communication activities
- Oversight of the KBA data, the World Database of KBAs (WDKBA) and KBA website
- Management of Regional Focal Points
- Coordination of the process to assess KBAs and confirm sites as KBAs
The Head of the KBA Secretariat is the senior leader responsible for setting up and managing the Secretariat's activities and resources. The KBA Committee Chair’s responsibility is to ensure the Secretariat fulfils its duties in line with the KBA Partnership's vision and mission, helping drive the programme forward. The Head of the Secretariat works closely with the KBA Committee Chair and KBA-focused staff from partner organisations, particularly BirdLife International which hosts the Secretariat. This collaboration ensures that the KBA Programme is well-coordinated and effective in its mission to protect biodiversity.
Members of the KBA Secretariat
Head of the KBA Secretariat
Contact: aplumptre@keybiodiversityareas.org
Andrew Plumptre, PhD, is Head of the KBA Secretariat, has worked in Africa for more than 30 years and helped Uganda assess its KBA network. He believes that KBAs will be key in guiding the next 10 years to identify where to conserve 30% of land, freshwater, and seas. He is British and based in the UK.
KBA Training Officer
Contact: SRijal@keybiodiversityareas.org
Samridhi Rijal is the KBA Training Officer and responsible for supporting countries to run training courses on the application of the KBA criteria. Originally form Nepal, she has worked in Canada and is now based in the UK.
KBA Secretariat Technical Officer
Contact: DBaisero@keybiodiversityareas.org
Daniele Baisero, Data Scientist for the KBA Secretariat, has extensive experience with spatial biodiversity analyses at a global scale. He is currently developing innovative tools to assist in identifying KBAs for all biodiversity across the world. He is from Italy but now based in the UK.