Nature for sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific: Integrating biodiversity in Voluntary National Reviews

When: Wednesday, 21 April 2021 at 2:00 - 3:30 pm (Bangkok time)

Where: Online, please register here

What: The COVID-19 outbreak has exposed our complex relationship with nature. As countries prepare their Voluntary National Reviews (VNR) to be presented at the High-Level Political Forum 2021, there is growing momentum to put biodiversity at the heart of sustainable development.

This event will provide a platform for Asia and Pacific VNR community of practice to identify challenges, exchange best practices and share insights for mainstreaming biodiversity for sustainable development. 

The event will be opened by Dr. Dechen Tsering, Regional Director and Representative for Asia and the Pacific, UN Environment Programme (UNEP), Dr. Stefanos Fotiou, Director - Environment and Development Division, UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP) and will be moderated by Ms. Corli Pretorius, Deputy Director UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC). Representatives from Asia and Pacific countries will then share their experience with VNRs and several break-out rooms will be organised on key issues such as biodiversity data, ecosystems accounting, biodiversity mainstreaming and national ecosystems assessment. A final statement will be delivered by Ms. Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

The event is co-organised by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP), UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (UNEP/ROAC), UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). It is open for everyone to attend. Government officials and stakeholders who have been involved in the VNR process are most welcome.