Bangkok, 16 February 2016- The UNEP/CMS Secretariat is participating in the ASEAN Conference on Biodiversity 2016 taking place from 15 to 19 February 2016 in Bangkok, Thailand.

The conference, hosted by the Royal Thai Government, is being organised around the theme “Biodiversity for Sustainable Development” by the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) in cooperation with the ASEAN Member States (AMS), the ASEAN Secretariat and other partner organisations.

Around 500 representatives from ASEAN governments, international organizations, the scientific community, NGOs and academia are participating in this important meeting of biodiversity stakeholders in Southeast Asia.

The region of South-East Asia is a vast and contrasting region. Situated predominantly in the tropics, South-East Asia has an enormous diversity of fauna, including many migratory species.  Among the variety of terrestrial, aquatic and marine species are such charismatic animals as the Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus), the Dugong (Dugong dugon)and several species of marine turtles, dolphins, sharks and seabirds.

The conference will highlight the work of the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) and the ASEAN countries in biodiversity conservation and will provide additional impetus towards enhancing the ASEAN strategic agenda to ensure environmental sustainability.

Furthermore, the conference aims to initiate discussions and further steps towards promoting the ASEAN Biodiversity Agenda within the Aichi Targets and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and is an excellent opportunity to exchange experiences and perspectives related to biodiversity issues in the region.

Among the topics being covered at the meeting are:

·         Progress in achieving the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and its linkages to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;

·         Ecosystem-based approaches to manage critical ecosystems and biodiversity;

·         Access and benefit sharing;

·         Business and biodiversity.

Other priorities such as health and biodiversity, climate change and biodiversity, and sustainable financing for biodiversity are also on the agenda. 

Mr. Francisco Rilla, Capacity Building Officer, is attending the meeting on behalf of the CMS Secretariat and will be giving a number of presentations on the Convention on Migratory Species, providing an overview of its instruments and initiatives with a focus on the relevance of the Convention to safeguarding migratory species and the ecosystem services provided by them in the ASEAN region and on a global scale.

For more information please visit the ACB2016: www.aseanbiodiversity.org/acb2016