Back to news
30 Sep 2019 | HI-LIFE

Adopting a flagship species approach to conserve biodiversity and habitats in the Hindu Kush Himalaya

Adopting a flagship species approach to conserve biodiversity and habitats in the Hindu Kush Himalaya
Flagship species are effective ambassadors for conservation, drawing much needed attention to a habitat, campaign or environmental cause. Highlighting the conservation of such species in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) through a regional collaborative effort could support biodiversity conservation efforts across the region. In fact, the Convention on Biological Diversity’s (CBD) post-2020 global biodiversity framework will be following a comprehensive consultation process with provisions for global consultation meetings for the conservation of such iconic species.

1 min Read

70% Complete
Over 97 participants attended the workshop, which aimed to provide scientific information and action recommendations for the CBDs post-2020 global biodiversity framework (Photo: CIB–CAS)

An international workshop on the conservation of flagship species and their habitats in the HKH region was held from 28 to 31 August 2019 in Chengdu, China. ICIMOD; the Sichuan Provincial Department of Forestry and Grasslands, China; the Chengdu Institute of Biology (CIB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); and the Chinese Academy of Environmental Sciences jointly organized the event.

Over 97 participants from 50 institutions and governmental departments in nine countries attended the workshop. Forty-nine presentations were given by scholars, including young scientists, and protected area managers from within and outside the HKH region. With the workshop acting as a platform for knowledge sharing, the presentations aimed to enhance the conservation management of flagship wildlife species and their habitats in global biodiversity hotspot areas; share conservation strategies and measures, and promote regional synergy and dialogue in conservation research, practice, and policies. Specifically, the workshop aimed to provide scientific information and action recommendations for the CBD’s post-2020 global biodiversity framework.

Presenters from China highlighted the ongoing drive for ecological civilizations (for instance, the national park piloting for giant panda), institutional reforms, protected area system development, local legislation, biodiversity assessment, and database development. “Flagship species and habitat conservation is a good entry point for solving biodiversity problems,” remarked Quan Zhanjun, Deputy Director, Institute of Environmental and Ecological Science, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences (CRAES).

A common theme across presentations was the need for greater cross-border, regional, and international collaboration. Such regional platforms could help regional experts share their research across wide networks, bolstering collaboration and cooperation for biodiversity conservation.

Bao Jianhua, Deputy Director General of the Sichuan Forestry and Grassland Bureau; Zhuang Yan, Director of the Department for International Organizations, CAS; and Yang Yongping, representative of the ICIMOD–CAS partnership – presided over the opening session. In his opening remarks, Yan spoke highly of the ICIMOD–CAS collaboration and expressed hopes for the continuation and expansion of their conservation works. CIB–CAS and ICIMOD will be working on a special publication on “Flagship species and their habitats in the HKH” based on articles submitted by the presenters.

Stay current

Stay up to date on what’s happening around the HKH with our most recent publications and find out how you can help by subscribing to our mailing list.

Sign Up

RELATED CONTENTS

Continue exploring this topic

8 Sep 2015 News
Help 4 earthquake affected villages in Kavre, Nepal, secure €10,000

Vote for ICIMOD's entry for Best Climate Practices Award ICIMOD and CEAPRED’s Climate Smart Villages, a pilot across four villages in Kavrepalanchowk in ...

22 Sep 2017 Solar Pumps
Nepali Engineers Explore New Irrigation Systems

Thirty irrigation engineers—10 of them women—from DOI participated in the training. Titled Energy Efficient Irrigation Systems using Solar Pumps, the ...

12 Jun 2017 News
ICIMOD Celebrates the World Environment Day 2017

Articles written by ICIMOD staff members on the occasion of World Environment Day 2017 River basin management approach could increase agricultural ...

12 Jul 2016 Atmosphere Initiative
Dispelling Air Pollution Myths in Kathmandu

People in the region have taken a great interest in air pollution. The risks of air pollution affecting people may ...

9 Aug 2017 Himalica
Regional Conference on Mountain Agriculture Kicks Off in Kathmandu, Nepal

He said, "Some messages coming out of the Himalica experience are very clear. Improving farmers', especially women farmers', access to ...

10 Feb 2015 News
Inception workshop on Cryosphere Monitoring Programme – Bhutan held in Thimphu, Bhutan

The main focus of the programme is to build the capacity of national agencies including DHMS for long-term cryosphere monitoring ...

16 Aug 2017 News
Engaging the Private Sector in Nuwakot

The participants were given a brief background of the Dhungetar Reconstruction Project. This was followed by an interaction with the ...

29 Sep 2015 News
Farmers adopting Technology

This article about Climate Smart Villages was first written by Madhusudhan Guragain in Nepali. It appeared in Nagarik Daily on ...