CANCUN, Mexico (Courtesy ASEAN Secretariat) – An event that showcased ASEAN’s efforts in biodiversity conservation was held at the sidelines of the 13th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity on 16 December in Cancun, Mexico. Called the “ASEAN’s Response to the Challenge of Biodiversity Loss,” it highlighted the achievement of the Aichi Biodiversity Target 11 and the Convention on Biological Diversity Programme of Work on Protected Areas. It also brought together key partners and stakeholders to share progress and experiences on the ASEAN Heritage Parks Programme.
“In 2005, ASEAN leaders made a decision to promote biodiversity protection cross Southeast Asia to promote regional cooperation for the conservation and sustainable use and equitable sharing of benefits from the use of biodiversity,” said Roberto V. Oliva, Executive Director of ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB).
The second edition of the ASEAN Biodiversity Outlook (ABO2), showcasing developments for biodiversity conservation in the region, was also launched at the event. Sheila Vergara, Director of ACB’s Biodiversity Information Management, noted that while the first edition presented baselines, ABO2 assessed progress based on drivers of biodiversity loss, including climate change, over-exploitation and pollution.
ASEAN also conveyed the ASEAN Joint Statement to the 13th Meeting of the Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. The statement was adopted by the ASEAN Leaders at the 28th and 29th ASEAN Summits on 6 September 2016 in Vientiane, Lao PDR. It was updated on the progress of the renewed partnership on biodiversity conservation between ASEAN and the European Union through a support programme to ACB, the Biodiversity Conservation and Management of Protected Areas expected to be implemented from 2017-2021.
The event was hosted by ACB, the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit.