News release
For immediate release
IUCN Asia Regional Conservation Forum starts today with strong multi-sectoral commitment to build solutions to Asia’s most urgent environment challenges
Bangkok, Thailand, 10 August 2013—The 6th IUCN Asia Regional Conservation Forum – one of Asia’s most important events to tackle biodiversity and ecosystem conservation – kicked off today with a strong focus on bringing together a wide diversity of sectors to forge solutions to the region’s pressing environment and development challenges.
The forum is co-hosted by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Government of Thailand (MONRE) and IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) through the National Committee of IUCN Members in Thailand.
More than 300 delegates from governments, NGOs, research and academic institutions and the private sector from 24 countries in South, East and Southeast Asia and beyond are participating in the event which happens once every four years.
“The Kingdom of Thailand is proud to host this event as an expression of our nation’s commitment to biodiversity conservation and environmental sustainability,” said Prime Minister/MONRE Minister ______________. “Economic growth and nature conservation must go hand in hand if we are to secure the future and build the resilience not just of Thailand, but of Asia as a whole,” he added.
Asia is one of the world’s most dynamic regions, accounting for 40% of global economic output and 2/3 of global growth. At the same time 60% of the world’s population call Asia home, but 800 million live below the poverty line. Meanwhile, urban populations are predicted to grow from 1.9 billion to 3.3 billion in 2050.(1)
The fast pace of development is taking a toll on the region’s species and ecosystems. Asia is known for its rich natural diversity, hosting five of the world’s 17 mega-diverse countries. But this biodiversity is in crisis. Loss of mangrove cover and the rate of loss of wetlands are the highest in the world, and 95% of Southeast Asia’s coral reefs are at risk. Ten countries in Asia are experiencing high or very high water stress and more than 1,400 plants and animals are listed as Critically Endangered.(2)
At the centre of the crisis are the hundreds of millions of people who rely, directly or indirectly, on nature for food and livelihood, and those who live in vulnerable areas that are predicted to be hardest hit by climate change and disasters.
“The challenges Asia faces today present an opportunity to build bridges between global and local action towards sustainable development,” said IUCN Director General Inger Andersen. “Human, social and economic well-being – the keys to resilience of societies – depend on the health of natural ecosystems. We need to act now to protect nature, we need to innovate to rediscover the solutions already provided by nature, and we need to work together across all sectors to make these solutions happen.”
The forum, ongoing at the Royal Orchid Sheraton until 12 August, provides a platform for leaders from all sectors of society to discuss nature-based solutions to environmental, economic, and social challenges in Asia. Under the theme of “Resilience in action: creating solutions for people and nature,” the forum will address themes such valuing and conserving nature, effective and equitable governance of nature’s use and deploying nature-based solutions to address societal challenges. A variety of side events on a broad range of topics will also be held from 10-11 August. Visit www.iucn.org/rcf2015 for more details.
For more information, photos, videos and interview requests:
Lea Guerrero, Regional Communications Manager, IUCN Asia Regional Office
lea.guerrero@iucn.org; m: +66 92 259 8035; t: +66 2 662 4029 (ext 157)
NOTES TO EDITORS:
(1)Sources: International Monetary Fund; United Nations (UN); Asian Development Bank; UN.
(2)Sources: Conservation International; World Resources Institute (WRI); IUCN; WRI; IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM.
The Asia Regional Conservation Forum
The Asia Regional Conservation Forum is IUCN’s meeting of Members in Asia. Held every four years, the Forum addresses biodiversity and ecosystem challenges and sets the region’s conservation agenda. Leaders and decision-makers from government, civil society, business and academia will assemble to share experiences, debate and decide how we manage our natural environment for social and economic development.
Thailand and IUCN
The Kingdom of Thailand has a long history of involvement with IUCN. In 1948, Thailand was one of the 14 countries which signed the treaty at Fontainebleau that brought IUCN into existence. In the 1950s and 1960s IUCN supported the Royal Forest Department in the design and establishment of Thailand’s protected areas system. Today, IUCN and its Member organizations in the country work in partnership with the government of Thailand in implementing projects that range from species conservation, protected area management, and building climate change resilience.
About IUCN
IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges.
IUCN’s work focuses on valuing and conserving nature, ensuring effective and equitable governance of its use, and deploying nature-based solutions to global challenges in climate, food and development. IUCN supports scientific research, manages field projects all over the world, and brings governments, NGOs, the UN and companies together to develop policy, laws and best practice.
IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental organization, with more than 1,200 government and NGO Members and almost 15,000 volunteer experts in some 160 countries. IUCN’s work is supported by over 1,000 staff in 45 offices and hundreds of partners in public, NGO and private sectors around the world.
IUCN’s Asia Regional Office is in Bangkok Thailand. The IUCN Asia Regional Secretariat has over 200 staff located in country and liaison offices in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Lao PDR, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam.
Website: www.iucn.org/asia | Facebook: iucn.asia | Twitter: IUCNAsia