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

20 May 2022 News
Bee engaged: Celebrating the diversity of bees and beekeeping systems

Each year, we mark 20 May as World Bee Day to raise awareness about the essential role bees play ...

24 Nov 2017 Himalica
Mobile App Launched to Promote Spice Garden Tourism in Kangchenjunga Landscape, Nepal

Large cardamom is a high-value export commodity contributing to enhanced income of farmers in Taplejung. However, overdependence of farmers on ...

Reflections on the Training Workshop on GIS/RS

Bhakta Bahadur Karki, an Advisor-Knowledge Management and Communication who works with the High Value Agriculture Project (HVAP) project took part ...

12 Jun 2017 News
Godavari Knowledge Park Virtual Tour Application Launched

The Godavari Knowledge Park virtual tour has been designed to share knowledge demonstrated at the park with a large mass ...

16 Aug 2017 News
Private Sector Engagement for Climate Action in Pakistan

A joint event titled “Working Together for Sustainable Mountain Development: Private Sector Engagement for Climate Action in Pakistan” was organized ...

24 Jan 2018 Cryosphere
Cryosphere Initiative field activities for the autumn 2017

Thana glacier, Bhutan In Bhutan, Sharad Joshi, Associate Glaciologist and two glaciologists from the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Germany, ...

30 Jul 2018 HUC
HUC Academy 2018: Building Mountain Research Capacity

The Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region, a global asset for food, energy and water resources, is ...

25 May 2015 News
Delegates visit community-based flood early warning prototype

A six-member delegation from UNICEF Nepal and Nepal Red Cross Society visited the prototype of Community-Based Flood Early Warning System (CB-FEWS) at ICIMOD Knowledge Park, ...