Capacity Building for Implementation of Regional Assessments
Supported by the JBF, and implemented by the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), the Capacity-Building Project for the Implementation of the IPBES Asia-Pacific Regional Assessment was initiated in April 2016 and concluded in June 2020.
The project was initiated after IPBES (Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services) stakeholders recognized the lack of capacities in implementation of the IPBES Work Programme 2014-2018 and urged capacity development to accomplish the work programme. The three main challenges for the implementation of the work programme were identified as follows: integration of indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) into the implementation of the regional assessment; application of scenario analysis and modelling to the regional assessments; and policy support for decision-making by policymakers and stakeholders.
Considering the three challenges, this project aimed to strengthen the science-policy interface by building capacity for the implementation of the Asia-Pacific regional assessment and by enhancing the use of outputs of IPBES deliverables in decision-making for national policies on conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the region.
In view of the first challenge, IGES organized 3 sub-regional level dialogue workshops among ILK holders and IPBES experts for the Asia-Pacific Regional Assessment. The workshops provided opportunities to exchange opinions and information and identified key ILK holders/organizations and experts. The workshops resulted in supporting the activities of ILK organizations and strengthening the ILK network for the Asia-Pacific Region.
For the second challenge, the second workshop on scenarios and modelling for IPBES assessments was organized for the authors of relevant chapters on scenario analysis and modelling for the IPBES Regional Assessments, the IPBES Land Degradation and Restoration Assessment, and the IPBES Global Assessment. The workshop provided the opportunity to enhance communication among the authors to discuss similarities and differences and how the different assessments can feed into one another.
At the sub-regional level, 3 science-policy dialogues were organized to address the third challenge, resulting in facilitating the understanding of how regional and national assessments on biodiversity and ecosystem services can contribute to policy and decision-making processes, while providing comprehensive information and capacity building opportunities with relevant cases and research outcomes. The summary of IPBES Asia-Pacific Regional assessments was provided for the national focal points of both IPBES and CBD countries from within the region, and their understanding of the IPBES assessment report in policy making was enhanced.
The meeting reports and policy briefs developed thereafter helped countries in Asia and the Pacific to use IPBES assessments effectively and appropriately in decision making for conservation and the sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystem services and will contribute to the implementation of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) in each country.
