The validation workshop of the Regional Observatory of Biodiversity and Protected Areas in West Africa was held in Dakar on 14-17 March. The West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) organised this event in collaboration with the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), with the aim of discussing the results of the first 2 years of implementation of the West African Observatory for Protected Areas and biodiversity (OBAPAO) and its way forward. OBAPAO is a decision-making tool for biodiversity and protected areas, whose main repository is the Regional Reference Information System (RRIS). The workshop provided an opportunity to formulate expectations and recommendations for all stakeholders, particularly the states, the Consortium in charge of the OBAPAO, WAEMU and ECOWAS Commissions, and the EU. It also presented AKP to many potential recipients of its contents in the West African region.