ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB)

Convenors

ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB)

Venue

TBC

Overview

In the ASEAN region, the conservation of marine areas is one of the big gaps seen in the previous global target for biodiversity. By the end of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets implementation period, only 4% (out of 10% target) of the region’s coastal and marine areas had been protected. This would pose a new challenge with the more ambitious targets pledged under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), which was adopted at the 15th Conference of Parties to the UN Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) in December 2022. A key target under the KM GBF, Target 3, is the conservation of at least 30% of the world’s lands and waters by 2030 (30×30). It could be a greater challenge for the ASEAN region because despite some areas of progress, the region was short in meeting the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. The KM GBF, with its 23 targets, is supposedly an effort to rectify the reasons for this failure and catch up on the lost progress. Among the actions highlighted in the KM GBF is the need for a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to meet the targets. More specifically, to meet the ambitious “30×30” of Target 3 and improve the health of coastal and marine ecosystems in the region, the ASEAN Member States (AMS) should work together at establishing larger areas of conserved and protected waters.

The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) has taken some steps to advance the efforts of the ASEAN Member States in building strong collaboration and cross-boundary partnerships to protect larger areas of coastal and marine biodiversity in the ASEAN region. These include development and implementation of projects designed to address coastal and marine ecosystem threats and challenges by facilitating transformative changes in the collaborative management of marine protected areas (MPAs), MPA networks and associated marine corridors through integrated coastal management, marine spatial planning, and the ecosystem-based management of fisheries.

To amplify the commitment of the ASEAN Member States to the KM GBF and to showcase experiences in achieving sustained efforts in the ASEAN, the ACB proposes an interactive discussion on “Achieving Sustainability through Connectivity for Resilient ASEAN Seas”.  This session will serve as a platform for sharing the experiences of the ASEAN Member States in achieving sustainability, knowledge acquisition, sharing, and networking, highlighting ACB’s contributions in scientific and data management, ongoing coastal and marine conservation projects, and youth engagement initiatives aimed at ensuring sustainable and resilient seas within ASEAN.

Objectives:

• Showcase ASEAN’s contributions to the 30 x 30 GBF target through successful case studies and initiatives.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing among ASEAN member states and East Asian counterparts on effective marine conservation strategies.
• Engage youth representatives in promoting sustainable marine practices and conservation efforts.

Program