- Biodiversity is key to human survival and livelihood, especially in developing countries
such as Rwanda, where a large proportion of the population depend on natural resources for their livelihood. 
- The present National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) reflects a framework for conservation, sustainable use and equitable sharing of benefits from biodiversity use and ecosystem services of the country. It also provides a framework for maintaining the necessary environmental conditions to reduce poverty, ensure sustainable development and food security in the country.  
- In Rwanda, root causes of biodiversity loss range from natural processes to anthropogenic actions. Results from recent research have shown that threats to biodiversity arise from loss of habitat due to encroachment for agricultural activities, over-harvesting of resources through poaching and deforestation, as well as increasing socio-economic activities such as mining, urban development, etc. 
- Underlying causes are predominantly related to issues of land tenure and poor management of natural resources. In addition, a long-standing focus on increasing crop production at the expense of natural resources conservation also constitutes a key factor leading to intensive biodiversity loss.  
- Nowadays, partnership between different stakeholders including government institutions,
development partners, private sector, civil society (NGOs) and local communities‟ organizations, is playing vital role in sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity.  
- The NBSAP preparatory process was highly participatory, involving broad stakeholders‟ consultations. Three national workshops were organized which provided the basis for the national priorities for conservation, targets and strategic actions that collectively constitute the NBSAP substance. 
- More emphasis has been oriented towards awareness building among stakeholders, in order to ensure that ownership of the NBSAP is widespread among them, and that responsibility for its implementation is widely shared. Furthermore, modalities for improving biodiversity policy and legal framework have been emphasized as well as capacity building for a better management of natural resources.  
- The overall objective of the NBSAP development has been worked out as to preserve the national biodiversity in order to ensure that its various components are utilized in a sustainable manner for reaching socio-economic development of the nation and ensuring better livelihood of Rwandans.  
The major objectives of the NBSAP are: 
 to improve environmental stability for natural ecosystems and their biodiversity;
 to restore degraded ecosystems and maintain equilibrium among biological 
communities; 
 to establish an appropriate framework for access to genetic resources and equitable 
sharing of benefits arising from biodiversity use and ecosystems services; and
 to improve policy, legal and institutional framework for a better management and 
conservation of national biodiversity.