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Cancun, Mexico
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is a global instrument to help develop national strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. One hundred and ninety-three countries are party to the Convention, including ICIMOD’s eight regional member countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan.
In recognition of the special vulnerability of biodiversity in mountain areas, the seventh Conference of Parties (CoP 7) in 2004 to the CBD agreed on the ‘Programme of Work on Mountain Biodiversity’ as decision VII/27. ICIMOD had been admitted as an observer to these discussions. Mountains are specifically mentioned in paragraph 7 of Article 20 of the Convention text, which states that, with regard to funding and transfer of technology, developed country Parties shall take into “consideration the special situation of developing countries, including those that are most environmentally vulnerable, such as those with arid and semi-arid zones, coastal and mountainous areas.”
ICIMOD’s framework on Transboundary Landscapes through regional and bilateral cooperation using an integrated ecosystem approach is being implemented in various landscapes around the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH), in areas such as the Kailash Sacred Landscape, the Hindu Kush Karakoram Pamir Landscape, the Kanchenjunga Landscape and the Far Eastern Himalaya Landscape. The transboundary and ecosystem approach adopts the Programme of Work on Mountain Biodiversity from the CBD: the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources.
In a review and analysis of the implementation of CBD in the HKH, conducted by ICIMOD in 2010, we found certain factors that have affected the rate at which capacity has been built and the relative importance that each government has assigned to implementing the CBD. These factors include inadequate scientific capacity, political instability in some countries (violent conflicts in others), lack of capacity development, inaccessible resources, and emerging challenges posed by climate change.
Building on this work, ICIMOD will attend the upcoming Thirteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP13) to the CBD, participating in side events with its numerous partners from around the HKH. As an intergovernmental organization, ICIMOD will also participate as an observer at meeting directly related to ICIMOD objectives.
Relevant Topics
Involved partners and speakers of this event include representatives from Slovakia, the Carpathian Convention, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), ICIMOD, CBD Secretariat, World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC), Alpine Convention and other mountain regions with the view of utilizing the event as a platform for further knowledge exchange and developing the concept of mainstreaming.
This event will be sponsored by the current Slovak Presidency of the Council of the European Union and focus on the concept of mainstreaming the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity for well-being in transboundary mountain regions. Discussion will draw upon the experiences and best practices of the Carpathians, and the Alps, among other mountain regions.
Event organizers to raise awareness amongst policymakers and the media about the value and benefits of integrated ecosystem management in development planning. Within mountain regions, the concept of integrated management of transboundary ecosystems (as mountains are considered to be) has the potential to improve the overall management of natural capital while contributing to improved human well-being and the achievement of adopted Sustainable Development Goals.
Integrated ecosystem management presents a radical shift in thinking holistically about the links between ecosystem service delivery and human needs. The Carpathian Convention, which will be discussed, is a well-established mechanism and its platform provides a useful example for how biodiversity can be mainstreamed into other sectors crucial for sustainable development of mountain regions.
Attendees at this side event may expect to hear about several case studies that illustrate how integrated ecosystem management may be incorporated seamlessly into sustainable development plans. A story maps tool developed by ESRI will be used to visualize these studies and their outcomes.
Topics: Ecosystem Approach and Restoration
Large landscapes with globally significant biodiversity also have potential for supporting enhanced economic growth, employment generation, and sustainable production. Integrated Landscape Approaches for Conservation (ILAC) aim to 1) balance resource extraction with resource conservation, 2) ensure livelihoods and food security for resource-dependent communities, and 3) allow for sustainable production. India has successfully piloted the implementation of ILAC approaches at several sites throughout the country.
One such Indian ILAC program is the Biodiversity Conservation and Livelihood Improvement Project (BCRLIP), initiated by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in the Government of Indian, and with financial support from the World Bank. The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) operates as a knowledge partner in this initiative.
Two examples of this program are located in the forest departments of Gujurat and Uttarakhand, respectively. In Gujurat, the Little Rann of Kutch (LRK) program encourages microplanning and institution-building at the grass roots level to foster integration with other development agencies. The project at Askot in Uttarakhand has generated important lessons for reviving traditional local-level institutions such as Van Panchayats to work in concert with local self-governments.
ICIMOD has undertaken similar transboundary initiatives, and plans to share at this side event a series of knowledge products, inclusive protocols, and best management practices. In addition, ICIMOD will launch its “Landscape Journey Process Tool Kit for the Hindu Kush Himalaya.” This tool is designed to improve multi-stakeholder planning at different levels of landscape.
Representatives from MoEFCC, WII, the World Bank, Gujurat, and Uttarakhand will share their experiences in capacity building with other agencies. It is hoped these discussions will generate a list of good practices that may be applied to landscape conservation initiatives throughout the HKH.
At this side event, ICIMOD and WII will present an exhibition of different knowledge products related to landscape conservation.
Dedicated presentations on above good practices from India and Hindukush will be followed by an open dialogue forum for participants from different countries to share their experiences. It is planned to take forward the forum discussions by developing a compendium of global good practices for landscape conservation initiatives. This side event will also include an exhibition of different knowledge products prepared by WII and ICIMOD for landscape conservation.
Rajan Kotru Brij Mohan Singh Rathore
