BirdLife International will launch its latest State of the World’s Birds Report in Nairobi on September 11, 2026, during the Global Flyways Summit.
Published every four years, the flagship report will focus on the state of migratory bird populations and is expected to guide international cooperation, policy discussions and conservation action across the world’s major flyways.
The report will draw on BirdLife International’s global scientific data and expertise to assess migratory bird population trends, extinction risks and the condition of the habitats that support the species throughout their annual journeys.
Migratory birds are considered important indicators of ecosystem health because they connect habitats, communities and economies across national borders. Their survival depends on a chain of wetlands, feeding areas and resting sites spread across several countries and continents.
The report will assess the state of Key Biodiversity Areas and other critical habitats along major migratory routes. It will also examine the increasing pressures facing migratory species, including threats to migratory shorebirds, which are among the most threatened bird groups globally.
The Global Flyways Summit, co-hosted by BirdLife International and Nature Kenya, is expected to culminate in the adoption of the Nairobi Flyways Declaration.
The declaration will use findings from the report to encourage governments, institutions, funders and conservation organisations to commit to specific policy, conservation and financial measures aimed at protecting migratory birds and the ecosystems on which they depend.
Together, the report and the declaration are expected to provide a direct pathway from scientific evidence to practical conservation action.
“Migratory birds connect countries, continents and cultures through some of the most remarkable journeys in the natural world,” said BirdLife International Chief Executive Officer Martin Harper.
“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. Just as importantly, it will highlight solutions that are already making a difference.”
Harper said the Nairobi summit would provide an opportunity to bring together scientific evidence and international leadership to strengthen commitments to protect migratory birds and their flyways.
The findings will form the basis of discussions involving governments, scientists, conservation organisations, Indigenous Peoples, local communities and international institutions.
Kenya was selected as the venue because of its location along the African-Eurasian Flyway, a major migratory route connecting Africa, Europe and Asia.
Nature Kenya Executive Director Dr Paul Matiku said the country’s position along the route demonstrated the importance of cooperation between nations in protecting migratory species.
“Nature Kenya is proud to co-host this important global gathering,” Matiku said.
“As a country situated along the African-Eurasian Flyway, we see first-hand the importance of international cooperation in conserving migratory species. The Global Flyways Summit provides an opportunity for Africa to help lead a global response, one that is informed by science and focused on delivering tangible commitments for birds, biodiversity and people.”
Senior representatives from the Government of Kenya, international institutions and the global conservation community are expected to attend the summit.
Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado of Japan, Global Ambassador and President of BirdLife International, is also expected to play a leading role alongside other international conservation leaders.
