Situation Analysis 10 August 2015 Bangkok, Thailand
Agenda 1. Economic and Social Context 2. Environmental Context 3. IUCN Presence in Asia 4. IUCN Programme 2013-2016: Programmatic Focus in Asia 5. IUCN Programme 2017-2020: Draft Strategic Priorities and Process for Developing Regional Plan
Economic and Social Context in Asia
Dynamic growth Asia accounts for 60% of the world s population and 40% of global GDP Led by China and India, Asia will be the key driver of the global economy with most countries likely to reach middle income status by 2020 and Asia emerging as the centre of global economic gravity by 2050 The World s Economic Centre of Gravity (Danny Quah, LSE) Major growth in natural resource-based sectors and investments in physical infrastructure will increase pressure on biodiversity and eco systems Photo courtesy of freeimages.com/ilyntno
Rapid change 0.8 billion people still live below the poverty line Urban populations to grow from 1.9 to 3.3 billion in 2050 7 of top 10 disaster-prone countries are in Asia-Pacific region ASEAN and SAARC bring opportunities for transboundary collaboration (c) Jashim Salam
Environmental Context in Asia
Drivers of biodiversity loss in Asia Deforestation: Conversion of forest lands to agro-industrial areas from 1990-2010 led to loss of 20% of forests in Indonesia and 19% in Myanmar Invasive Alien Species: Recent study shows invasive species cause total annual loss of USD 33.5 bn to agricultural sector in Asia and significant losses to health and environment sectors Illegal Wildlife Trade: Demand from East Asia driving illegal wildlife trade across globe. Global value of trade estimated at USD 50-150bn annually Impacts of climate change: Observed impacts includes change in plant phenology in Himalayas including species distribution
Asia at a glance 5 countries considered among the world s mega-diverse 8 areas among the world s 35 biodiversity hotspots 95% of SEA coral reefs at risk 10 countries experiencing high or very high water stress 6 countries among the most affected by climate change in 2013 1,413 plants and animals considered Critically Endangered
Growing focus on sustainability Eco-Civilization model in China, Sufficiency Economy in Thailand, Low Carbon Growth in Japan, Inclusive Growth in India, Gross Nat l Happiness in Bhutan Leading global efforts on renewable energy generation; China as top investor Recognition of importance of conserving large natural ecosystems: Coral Triangle, Greater Mekong Sub-region, Greater Himalayan Ecosystem (c) Josephine Langley
IUCN s Presence in Asia
IUCN in Asia North Asia South Asia Southeast Asia
Members 250 259 226 200 172 156 2009 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 Grew from156 in 2009 Capacity to 259 Total today 259 enhancement Bangladesh 21 21 of 23 countries represented Bhutan 3 Project Cambodia 2 National China Committee 28 or equivalent in 10 countries and joint India 40 Indonesia 5 Regional vulture Japan Committee work; 20 Chair Korea (South Korea) (DPRK) 1 implementation proposals (e.g. MWD, NIAP, MFF, E4L, etc) Korea (RoK) 33 Lao 2 Malaysia 7 Regional Maldives and 1 National Mongolia 2 Committees Myanmar 2 Nepal 18 Pakistan 41 Active Philippines 4 information Singapore 3 sharing through Sri Lanka 12 Union Portal Thailand 8 Vietnam 6
IUCN offices Bangladesh Cambodia China India Indonesia Lao PDR Myanmar Nepal Pakistan Sri Lanka Thailand Vietnam
Large trans-boundary ecosystems North-East Asia Protected Area Corridor Lower Mekong Basin Himalayas Ganges-Brahmaputra - Meghna Basin Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem Coral Triangle
Commissions Commission Members 1446 253 233 218 210 185 Critical in providing scientific expertise and knowledge to programme and project implementation Directories of Commission Members being developed by Secretariat Offices
IUCN Programme 2013-2016: Programmatic Focus in Asia
Valuing and conserving nature Creating national strategies and standards Support for several countries to update their NBSAPs and to develop pilot provincial biodiversity strategies and action plans Development of national Red Lists (Bhutan, Bangladesh) (c) IUCN
Valuing and conserving nature Protected area management First Asia Parks Congress 2013 leading up to WPC in Sydney Piloting Green List of Protected Areas: 6 of current list from China Asia Protected Areas Partnership provides regional platform for promoting and sharing best practice in protected area management; growing membership & expressions of interest from many others c) IUCN
aluing and conserving nature Focus on species IUCN leads implementation of Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund - Indo-Burma; grants build capacity of civil society to protect region s rich biodiversity Addressing decline in vulture populations by working with State and NGO Members to implement Regional Declaration to protect vultures (Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan), including vulture safe zones c) IUCN
Equitable & effective governance of nature s use Co-management plan for Tanguar Haor Ramsar site in Bangladesh allows communities to manage and use natural resources; concept of co-management in wetland governance introduced into national policy Ecosystems for Life multistakeholder dialogue process promotes better understanding of the management of natural resources in BD & IN; Hilsa Conservation Research Centre established; hydro-diplomacy integrated into gov t training in both countries (c) IUCN
Equitable & effective governance of nature s use Mekong Water Dialogues & BRIDGE promote transboundary water resource management & hydrodiplomacy Key role in ratification of Ramsar Convention by Lao PDR & UN Watercourses Convention by VN (1st in SEAsia); assisted revision of nat l water laws in TH & Lao PDR; building a Ramsar Regional Initiative National Impact Assessment Programme (NIAP) in PK promoted use of EIA and SEA; organized first South Asian Environmental Assessment Conference in 2013 c) IUCN
Deploying Nature-based solutions Mangroves for the Future IUCN s flagship programme for investment in coastal ecosystems Aims to build resilience in ecosystemdependent coastal communities Now active in 11 countries across the region Over 260 grants for coastal restoration, management and livelihood development worth more than 6.1M USD Unique partnership model brings governments, NGOs & private sector together overseeing programme at country level (c) Matthew Oldfield
Deploying Nature-based solutions Megacities and Watersheds Initiative Focusing on securing drinking water for 30-50 Chinese megacities China one of 13 countries with the poorest per capita quantity of water resource; more than 400 Chinese cities face water shortage. Implementation of specific nature-based ecological restoration and non-pollution control measures in priority sub-basins c) Matthew Oldfield
Business and Biodiversity Tata Steel: reducing impact of mining operations on biodiversity and local livelihoods Danone Waters (China): Protecting major watersheds critical to business success Shrimp exporters (Viet Nam) promoting mangrove-shrimp polyculture models through certification Leaders for Nature (India) raising awareness of companies on biodiversity and ecosystems. Mangroves for the Future developing new models of sustainable community enterprise (c) MFF
IUCN Programme 2017-2020: Draft Strategic Priorities and Process of Developing Regional Plan
Suggested Draft Strategic Priorities for 2017-2020 Programme Area: Valuing and Conserving Nature 1. Improving management effectiveness of protected areas in the region 2. Reducing unchecked and unregulated trade in wildlife species including timber species both within region and on global basis 3. Enhancing contribution of private sector to biodiversity conservation objectives (c) IUCN
Suggested Draft Strategic Priorities for 2017-2020 Programme Area: Effective and Equitable Governance of Nature s Use 1. Improving water governance and access, including wetland management 2. Empowering local communities to play more central role in managing and stewarding natural resources, with specific focus on ethnic and religious minorities and women c) IUCN
Suggested Draft Strategic Priorities for 2017-2020 Programme Area: Deploying Nature Based Solutions to Address Societal Challenges Enhancing the resilience of communities and related ecosystems to the impact of natural disasters, including climate change impacts, through restoration of key ecosystems such as coastal ecosystems, wetlands and forest landscapes (c) IUCN
Trans-boundary Approach Asian model focuses on large ecosystems to provide unifying rationale for IUCN s work. Addresses the national interests of countries and synergy between them through trans-boundary collaboration. Approach reflected in design of secretariat at regional and country levels and in funding approaches. (c) IUCN
Next Steps for Developing Asia Regional Plan Country specific plans including situational analysis being developed and consulted through national committees and members Asia Regional Situational Analysis to be finalised by September 30, 2015 Country specific plans with Member endorsement to be consolidated into Regional Plan Regional Plan logframe to adopt country results as targets and develop framework results within overall framework of global programme results hierarchy Regional Plan draft to be circulated to Members by end October 2015 for feedback and comments Feedback and comments to be incorporated and Regional Plan submitted to IUCN Secretariat HQ by year-end The Global Programme to be presented to WCC Hawai i for approval (c) IUCN/Roengchai Kongmuang