This Sectoral Plan for Integrating Biodiversity into Decision-Making Bodies was developed as part of the draft Revision of the National Strategy and Action Plan on Biodiversity and Development of the 5th Country Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity under the funding of GEF/UNEP. It provides decision-making bodies with the elements of framework and activities to integrate biodiversity into decision-making measures for development.

This Sectoral Biodiversity Integration Plan operationalizes the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (SNPAB 2013-2020) that Burundi has just adopted. This policy document highlights significant gaps in the decision-making sector that are responsible for the degradation of biodiversity. With this in mind, the SNPAB's first strategic axis is “Encouraging the involvement and commitment of all stakeholders, including decision-makers, to action for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity”.

Several departments must participate in the implementation of this strategy and the commitment of some must be paramount, taking into account their mandates and their control over the environment and natural resources. Sectoral integration plans should be adopted and integrated into well-targeted sectoral policies in the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, the Ministry of Energy and Mines, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Posts and Tourism, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Equipment, etc.

This act of integration requires the involvement of decision-makers at the highest level in order to establish a favourable framework and solid foundations for the conservation of biodiversity.

This Sectoral Integration Plan is the result of a sectoral consultation workshop that took place from 28 February to 1 March 2013 which brought together representatives of ministerial departments to give their contributions for the development of this document. It is built around the following main points:

• Biodiversity in Burundi;
• root causes of biodiversity degradation;
• Strategic plan on biodiversity.