wildasiapacific2015

Announcement

BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION CHALLENGES IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC: THE TRANS-BOUNDARY AND LIVELIHOOD DIMENSIONS 1 – 13 November, 2015 Chiang Mai, Thailand Workshop Programme (Provisional) Ms. Pan Yao || > on biodiversity conservation: An overview Dr. Balakrishna Pisupati || > implementation of National Biodiversity > Strategies and Action Plans > conservation: An overview > • Discussion || Dr. Rahimatsah Amat || > conclusions and recommendations || Workshop facilitator || > tourism and livelihood of rural communities > • Discussion || Dr. Rahimatsah Amat || • Discussion || Prof. Yongyut Trisurat ||
 * Day || Time || Agenda || Presenters/ facilitators ||
 * November 1 Sunday || AM/P M || Participant’s Arrival and Registration || APFNet - KTC ||
 * Day 1 November 2 Monday || AM || * Opening ceremony
 * Coffee break and group photo
 * Ice breaker
 * Introduction to the Workshop || APFNet –KTC
 * ^  ||^   || • Key-note Lecture 1: Biodiversity conservation: An over view of the issues || Dr. C T S Nair ||
 * ^  || PM || • Presentations by participants and discussion || Workshop Facilitator ||
 * ^  ||^   || • Preparation of policy briefs - Introduction || Workshop Facilitator ||
 * Day 2 November 3 Tuesday || AM || * Overview of the issues discussed on Day 1.
 * Key-note lecture 2: International agreements
 * Discussion of key issues || Participants
 * ^  ||^   || * Key-note lecture 3: The challenges in implementing the Nagoya Protocol
 * Discussion of key issues || Dr. Balakrishna Pisupati ||
 * ^  || PM || • Participants presentations and discussion ||   ||
 * ^  ||^   || * Participants presentation and discussion
 * Preparation of policy briefs- Drafting the introduction and defining the issues || Workshop facilitator ||
 * Day 3 November 4 Wednesday || AM || * Overview of the issues discussed on Day 2
 * Key-note lecture 4: Preparation and
 * Discussion of key issues || Dr. Lei Wei ||
 * ||  || * Key-note lecture 5: Integration of rural livelihood improvement in biodiversity conservation
 * Discussion of key issues || Dr. CTS Nair ||
 * ^  || PM || • Participants presentation and discussions ||   ||
 * ^  ||^   || • Preparation of policy briefs – Analysis of issues and options || Workshop facilitator ||
 * Day 4 November 5 Thursday || AM || * Recap of the issues discussed on Day 3
 * Key-note lecture 6: Transboundary
 * ^  ||^   || • Presentation by participants • Discussion ||   ||
 * ^  || PM || * Key-note lecture 7: Governance of transboundary conservation areas: Policy, legal and institutional challenges
 * Discussion
 * Presentation by participants
 * Discussion || Dr. Rahimatsah Amat ||
 * ^  ||^   || * Presentation by participants and discussion
 * Preparation of policy briefs – Drafting
 * Day 5 November 6 Friday || AM || * Recap of the issues discussed on Day 4.
 * Key-note lecture 8: Protected areas, sustainable
 * ^  ||^   || • Keynote lecture 9: Management of transboundary conservation areas: Lessons from the experience in Southeast Asia
 * ^  || PM || • Presentation by participants and discussion ||   ||
 * ^  ||^   || • Presentation of draft policy briefs • Discussion || Workshop Facilitator ||
 * Day 6 and Day 7

November 7 – 8 Saturday - Sunday ||  || Field Trip to Doi Inthanon National Park || Royal Forest Department || > wild animals and plants > • Discussion || Dr. Wang Weisheng || • Discussion || Dr. CTS Nair || > o Awardofcertificates > > o Statements by participants and > organizers ||   ||
 * Day 8 November 9 Monday || AM || * Recap of the field trip
 * Key-note lecture 10: Combating illegal trade of
 * ^  ||^   || • Key-note lecture 11: Economic aspects of biodiversity conservation
 * ^  || PM || • Presentation by participants • Discussion || Workshop facilitator ||
 * ^  ||^   || Free ||   ||
 * Day 9 November 10 Tuesday || AM || • Key-note lecture 12: Indigenous knowledge and biodiversity conservation || Dr. Prasit Wangpakapattanawong ||
 * ^  ||^   || • Group discussion ||   ||
 * ^  || PM || • Presentation of final policy briefs • Discussion ||   ||
 * Day 10 November 11 Wednesday ||  || • Key-note lecture 13: Managing human-wildlife conflicts || Dr. CTS Nair ||
 * ^  ||^   || • Presentation of policy briefs ||   ||
 * Day 11 November 12 Thursday || AM || * An overview of the workshop
 * Workshop evaluation
 * Closing session
 * Day 11 November 12 Thursday || AM || * An overview of the workshop
 * Workshop evaluation
 * Closing session
 * ^  || AN || Free ||   ||
 * November 13 Friday || AM/P M || Departure of Participants || APFNet -KTC ||

ANNOUNCEMENT Biodiversity Conservation Challenges in the Asia-Pacific: the Trans-Boundary and Livelihood Dimensions November 1-13, 2015 Chiang Mai, Thailand Sponsored and hosted by Asia-Pacific Network for Sustainable Forest Management and Rehabilitation (APFNet) Co-hosted by: Royal Forestry Department of Thailand (RFD,) Organized by: APFNet Kunming Training Center (APFNet-KTC) Co-organized by: South West Forestry University (SWFU) Background Despite the ongoing national and international efforts to implement sustainable forest management, deforestation and forest degradation remain major challenges in most developing economies. Deforestation and forest degradation have severely eroded the natural capital, including the loss of biodiversity, altering the flow of goods and services. Many of the environmental functions have been undermined, whose long term consequences on the livelihood of people could be significant. Expansion of agriculture through forest clearance, mono-cropping, urbanization, development of infrastructure, mining, etc. remain major drivers of biodiversity loss. Climate change has become a major 1 direct and indirect driver that could have important consequences on biodiversity conservation. Being a densely populated and rapidly growing region, biodiversity conservation faces enormous problems in the Asia-Pacific economies. Though extremely rich in biodiversity, the fact that 13 of the world’s 34 identified biodiversity hotspots are in the Asia-Pacific region (of which 8 are in Asia and 5 in the Pacific), gives an indication of the severity of the challenges facing biodiversity conservation. During the last few decades, and more particularly after the adoption of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 1992, the Asia-Pacific economies have stepped up their efforts to conserve biodiversity through CBD's National level Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan and many other international, regional and national initiatives. Establishment of protected areas and their improved management remain the main strategy for biodiversity conservation. Largely protected area management has been pursuing an “exclusion approach”, severely restricting or even totally prohibiting human interventions. However such an approach had significant negative impacts on the livelihood of local communities, resulting in conflicts and creating a negative perception about conservation, undermining the interest of local communities in supporting biodiversity conservation. The post 1990 period has witnessed a paradigm shift, favoring people’s participation in conservation efforts and the incorporation of livelihood concerns in protected area management. Yet many challenges persist in the pursuit of integrated approaches that simultaneously accomplish conservation and livelihood improvement objectives. Trans-boundary issues, especially relating to management of protected areas that straddle two or more economies and the growing illegal trade of plants and animals, are of particular concern in the effective management of conservation areas. As per an assessment in 2007 there are 227 trans-boundary conservation complexes in the world with 3043 protected areas straddling 112 economies extending over an area of 4.6 million km2. In Asia alone there are over 45 trans-boundary parks with an estimated area of over 570,500 km2. Notwithstanding their ecological contiguity across national boundaries, divergences in policies, laws and institutional arrangements undermine their management as an ecological unit. Another important trans-boundary dimension is the rapid growth in the trade of animals and plants (and animal/ plant parts). According an estimate made by the International Police Organization (Interpol)the annual value of illegal trade of animals and plants and parts are of USD 7 to 23 billion. Although efforts to counter this are being stepped up within the framework of CITES, illegal trade is also becoming more sophisticated undermining conservation efforts. 2 A wealth of information and experience is available based on the past and ongoing efforts relating to biodiversity conservation and livelihood improvement and in addressing trans-boundary issues, both management of trans-boundary protected areas and combating illegal trade. Synthesizing the enormous information already available provides a unique opportunity to identify what works and what may not and the reasons thereof as also what may be done to improve the situation. Objectives It is in this context that the APFNet is organizing this training workshop to assess the state of knowledge on forest biodiversity conservation particularly focusing on the rural livelihood and trans-boundary dimensions in the Asia-Pacific region. Specifically the workshop aims to: • Provide an overview of the on-going global and national level efforts to conserve biological diversity and how the diverse challenges are being addressed, especially in the context of the impact of the different drivers. • Review the policy, legal and institutional framework that helps to strengthen the linkages between biodiversity conservation and rural livelihood improvement. • Assess the current state of management of trans-boundary conservation areas and the efficacy of existing mechanisms in addressing the policy, legal and institutional challenges in accomplishing improved trans-border cooperation. • Discuss the challenges in combating illegal trade of animals and plants and the efficacy of implementing CITES. • Synthesizing available information develop policy briefs relevant to improving biodiversity conservation efforts focusing on the key topics discussed during the Workshop. Key issues Drawing upon the vast experience and knowledge from implementing biodiversity conservation within and outside the Asia-Pacific, the Workshop will attempt to address the following issues/ questions:

• Impact of international agreements and related initiatives on biodiversity conservation, at the national level, including through the formulation and implementation of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans;

• Challenges in mainstreaming biodiversity conservation in national development plans. How are the Asia-Pacific economies dealing with the different challenges?

• Policy, legal and institutional issues in the management of trans-boundary conservation areas; of local communities; 3 • Lessons learnt from community involvement in the management of protected areas and how such involvement can be improved; • Strategies and approaches in managing human-wildlife conflicts;
 * The challenges in combating illegal trade of wild animals and plants;
 * Improving the synergy between biodiversity conservation and fulfilling the livelihoods

• Enhancing economic viability of biodiversity conservation: To what extent PES (Payment for Environmental services) can help and what are the limitations?

• Asian cultural values and biodiversity conservation: What can be done to develop an integrated approach to biodiversity conservation? More issues and questions will emerge during the course of the workshop and the entire thrust will be to provide an opportunity for objective and critical thinking on how Asia-Pacific economies could pursue a balanced approach dealing with the multitude of complex issues in the use of forests and other allied natural resources ensuring that the needs of the present and future generations are fulfilled. Main topics/ issues proposed to be addressed The topics proposed to be addressed during the workshop primarily consist of the following three modules: • Global overview of biodiversity conservation – International agreements and their implementation Module 1: Biodiversity conservation: An overview of global and national efforts • National level efforts for biodiversity conservation – National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans – The process of preparation of NBSAP and their implementation – How the various economies are mainstreaming biodiversity conservation in their development plans. • The Asian philosophy of conservation - Cultural and religious beliefs and how local communities have mainstreamed biodiversity conservation in their lives. • Evolution of trans-boundary conservation area management – Examples of successes in trans-boundary conservation – Policy, legal and institutional dimensions of management of trans-boundary conservation areas. Module 2: The trans-boundary dimension • Trade of wild species – Policy, legal and institutional issues in combating illegal trade of wildlife – Implementation of CITES – Regional and sub-regional initiatives to combat illegal wildlife trade- Success stories in combating wildlife crimes. • Community management of protected areas: Its effectiveness in accomplishing environmental, social and economic objectives. Module 3: Biodiversity conservation and improvement of rural livelihoods • Human- animal conflicts: Options for dealing with conflicts and their social, economic and environmental implications. 4 • The economics of biodiversity conservation and livelihood improvement: The potentials and challenges in implementing PES. Workshop Structure and Training Approach The workshop is designed to provide the maximum learning opportunity to the participants and the entire thrust will be on dialogue, group work, discussions and debates. Keynote lectures will be delivered by invited resource persons and will cover the focal themes such as global, regional and national efforts for biodiversity conservation, biodiversity conservation and rural livelihood improvement and the trans-boundary aspects especially focusing on management of trans-boundary protected areas and combating illegal trade of plants and animals focusing on implementation of CITES. Thematic lectures: Preparation of papers relating to the workshop themes is a pre-requisite for participation in the workshop. These papers may address the ongoing national efforts to conserve biodiversity or deal with issues such as trans-boundary management of protected areas, combating illegal trade of wild animals and plants, local community involvement in biodiversity conservation, linkages between biodiversity conservation and livelihood improvement, managing human-wildlife conflicts, etc. drawing upon the experience/ knowledge of the participants. Presentation by participants: During the workshop the participants will be involved in group work, including debates, role playing, etc. These are intended to share knowledge and experience with other participants, helping to understand how problems are addressed in divergent conditions. During the Workshop participants will have to work in groups and prepare policy briefs on issues directly related to the theme of the workshop. A provisional list of the issues will be prepared (see Box 1 for a provisional list of the policy brief themes) and each group will be required to work on one of the issues drawing upon on their knowledge and experience and reviewing the available literature. Electronic copies of some of the relevant publications on the different topics will be provided to the participants and the Course Coordinator along with experts in different topics will provide necessary guidance to the group in drafting the policy brief. Group discussion: Preparation of policy briefs: 5 Depending on availability of funds a limited number of participants from other tropical regions will be accepted especially to facilitate sharing of experience. The total number of participants will be limited to 20. Workshop Venue Provisionally the workshop will be conducted in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The exact venue will be decided by the time the nomination process is completed and the details will be provided to the selected participants. Accommodation and meals will be provided at the workshop venue. Contact Information For further details about the course and the various arrangements please contact: Program Officer, APFNet Secretariat

Tel: (+86) 10 66007866 ext.8020 Fax: +86 10 8421 6958

Email: yuan_mei@apfnet.cn

Address: Baoneng Center Building A-6, 12 Futong East Street Wang Jing, Chaoyang District Ms. Yuan Mei Field visits will be arranged to sites that Field visits: > biodiversity conservation. > conservation: Opportunities and challenges. > current efforts to biodiversity conservation. > enhance society’s willingness to meet the costs of conservation?
 * 1) Policy, legal and institutional issues in improving the management of trans-boundary conservation areas.
 * 2) Combating illegal trade of wildlife.
 * 3) Management of human-wildlife conflicts
 * 4)  Strengthening community participation in
 * 1)  Improving rural livelihood through biodiversity
 * 1)  Integration of Asian conservation philosophies with
 * 1)  Financing biodiversity conservation: How do we

Box 1: Provisional list of policy brief themes showcase ongoing

conservation efforts including how rural livelihood issues are mainstreamed in the management of protected areas. biodiversity Targeted Participants The workshop is designed for land use policy makers, planners and managers, specifically dealing with biodiversity conservation and

management from

developing economies, especially in the East, South and South East Asia region. protected area the Asia-Pacific Beijing, P.R.China 100102 Director of International Convention and Commitment Division International Forestry Cooperation Office Mr. Preecha Ongprasert Royal Forest Department 6 Tel/Fax: +66 2561 4293 Ext. 5034

Email: preecha_ong@yahoo.com

Address: 61 Paholayothin Road, Chatuchak District Bangkok 10900 Thailand Program Officer, APFNet Kunming Training Center Tel: (+86) 13629635716 Ms. Pan Yao Email: apfnetktc@apfnet.cn

Address: No. 300 Bailongsi, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming Yunnan Province, P.R.China 650224 Annex 1: Participants Requirements and Application Process Annex 2: Proposed Outline of Participant Paper Annex 3: Program Schedule (Draft) Annex 4: Application Form 7 ANNEX 1

Participation Requirements and Application Process Eligibility and Requirements The Workshop is open to senior policy makers and planners working with government ministries and departments, universities, research institutions and civil society organizations involved in different aspects of biodiversity conservation, in particular policy, legal, institutional and economic aspects of protected area management. Being a highly interactive programme, the following aspects need to be given particular attention while selecting workshop participants: • Participants should have substantial experience in addressing issues relating to biodiversity conservation in particular management of protected areas, trade of wild plants and animals, biodiversity conservation and rural livelihood improvement; • Able to actively participate in the debates, discussions and field trips; and • Contribute a paper (between 3000 to 3500 words) sharing their knowledge/ experience relating to the workshop theme (Trans-boundary protected area management, trade of wild plants and animals, biodiversity conservation and improvement of rural livelihoods, managing human-wildlife conflicts, enhancing economic viability of biodiversity conservation, national and local initiatives in biodiversity conservation). An indicative structure of the paper is given in ANNEX I. • Prepare a PowerPoint presentation of 15 to 20 slides highlighting the key points, including conclusions and recommendations contained in the paper and present this for discussion during the Workshop. Application/recommendation channel Recommended application/nomination must be through APFNet members: http://apfnet.cn/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=911&Itemid=325 Deadlines • Nomination of participants and abstract of presentation (Title and a summary, not exceeding 250 words): September 15 ,2015 • Full paper and the power point presentation: October 31 ,2015 Costs of Participation 8 APFNet will cover all the costs associated with the participation in the Workshop including round-trip economy class airfare, full board accommodation, costs of field trips and a small amount of per diem to cover sundry expenses. Participants/sponsoring agencies will have to bear all other costs including costs of domestic transport, visa and other personal expenses. Administrative arrangements Detailed instructions on accommodation, venue of the Workshop and logistical arrangements will be sent to all the selected participants in due course. Royal Forest Department as the event host will also assist with the visa application of the successful participants. ANNEX 2 Proposed Outline of Participant Paper Preparation of a paper relating to any of the themes proposed to be discussed during the Workshop is a pre-requisite for attending the workshop. The objective of the participant’s papers is to synthesize their knowledge and experience enabling them to share this with other participants and thus to contribute to a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities as regards biodiversity conservation, management of trans-boundary conservation areas, combatting illegal trade of wildlife, improvement of rural livelihoods, etc. Presentation by the participants, the key-note lectures by experts, the presentation by participants, the group discussions and the preparation of policy briefs will collective provide a unique learning experience. To ensure that the issues are presented systematically, the following guidelines may be adopted in the preparation of the paper. Length: The paper including the abstract and references/ bibliography should be between 3000 to 3500 words. Structure of the paper: Table below provides a broad indication of the outline of the paper. OUTLINE OF THE PARTICIPANTS PAPER 9 (About 200 (800 Key problems analyzed/ studied Lessons learnt and important conclusions An introduction to the problem or issues; situation in the economy
 * Section and length || Issues to be addressed ||

In this section provide a detailed analysis of the different Important lessons from the study What can be learned from successes as well as failures? Based on the lessons learned what needs to be done to: would like to make to deal with the issue/ problem Summarize the most important issues emerging from the study Abstract || • Introduction || • exists in the area or the economy
 * words)
 * Approach adopted
 * Main outcomes • ||
 * words)
 * Review of literature and experience on the topic.
 * Importance of the issue in the context of the situation that

• Indicate clearly the precise nature of the problems as regards the topic being addressed in the context of the || The Way forward || • o Replicate the success; o Avoidfailures.
 * Analysis of the problems/ issues(About 1000 words) || aspects of the problems/ issues. Depending on the topic being addressed, one may examine the following:
 * The causes of the problems;
 * Social and economic issues
 * Environmental aspects
 * Policy, legal and institutional aspects
 * Technical aspects
 * Interventions to address the problems/ issues. ||
 * Lessons learnt || •
 * What has contributed to success
 * What are the causes of failures in addressing the problem • ||
 * words)

• Indicate the short term and long term strategies/ or actions to be taken

• What are the most important recommendations that you || (500) (300 (400 words) References (As required)  ANNEX 3
 * Summary || • ||

Program Schedule of the Workshop (Draft) 10 APFNet – KTC Opening ceremony APFNet Facilitator To be decided Presentations by participants and Workshop Participants presentations and discussion Workshop Discussion of key issues discussion || Facilitator ||
 * Day || Time || Agenda || Presenters/ ||
 * ||  ||   || Facilitators ||
 * November 1, || AM/P M || Participant’s Arrival and Registration || RFD Thailand ||
 * Day 1 November 2 || AM || •
 * Coffee break and group photo
 * Ice breaker
 * Introduction to the Workshop || APFNet-KTC RFD Thailand Workshop ||
 * ^  ||^   || • Keynote Lecture 1: Biodiversity conservation: An over view of the issues ||   ||
 * ^  || PM || •

• Preparation of policy briefs - Introduction || Facilitator || > • || Participants To be decided || • || To be decided ||
 * Day 2 November 3 || AM || * Overview of the issues discussed on Day 1.
 * Keynote lecture 2: International agreements on biodiversity conservation and their implications on rural livelihoods
 * ^  ||^   || • Keynote lecture 3: Preparation and implementation of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan
 * || PM || • ||  ||

• Preparation of policy briefs- Drafting the introduction and defining the issues || Workshop facilitator || • Keynote lecture 4: Challenges in the management of trans-boundary protected areas • Discussion of key issues || To be decided || Discussion of key issues
 * Day 3 November 4 || AM || • 2
 * ^  ||^   || • Keynote lecture 5: Combating illegal trade of wild animals and plants : Policy, ||   ||

Participants presentations and discussion Participants presentation and discussion Overview of the issues discussed on Day 11 To be decided Discussion of key issues issues and options facilitator Recap of the issues discussed on Day 3 Discussion

Presentation by participants • ||  ||
 * ||  || legal and institutional issues
 * ^  || PM || • Participants presentation and discussions ||   ||
 * ^  ||^   || • Preparation of policy briefs – Analysis of || Workshop ||
 * Day 4 November 5 || AM || •

• Keynote lecture 6: Integration of rural livelihood improvement in biodiversity conservation • || To be decided ||

• Discussion ||  || • Preparation of policy briefs – Drafting || Workshop facilitator || • Keynote lecture 8: Biodiversity conservation and rural livelihoods: The economic dimension • || To be decided || • Discussion • || To be decided || conclusions and recommendations Discussion Presentationby 12 participants and discussion
 * ^  || PM || • Keynote lecture 7: Experience of local community management of conservation areas: Theory and practice
 * Discussion
 * Presentation by participants
 * Discussion || To be decided ||
 * ^  ||^   || • Presentation by participants and discussion
 * Day5 November 6 || AM || • Recap of the issues discussed on Day 4.
 * ^  ||^   || • Presentation by participants • Discussion ||   ||
 * ^  || PM || • Keynote lecture 9: Managing human-wildlife conflicts

Presentation of draft policy briefs Workshop APFNet- KTC AM Recap of the field trip Presentation by participants Workshop PM Presentation by participants Workshop

• Discussion || Facilitator || 9 November 7-10 ||  || Field Trip || RFD Thailand ||
 * Day 6 to Day
 * Day 10 November 11 ||  || •

• Keynote lecture 10: Asian philosophy and biodiversity conservation: How traditional societies integrated conservation into their lives and the lessons thereof. • Discussion || To be decided ||

• Discussion || facilitator ||

• Discussion ||  || o Awardofcertificates
 * Day 11November 12 ||  || * An overview of the workshop
 * Workshop evaluation || Workshop facilitator ||

o Statements by participants and || APFNet-KTC || Discussion
 * ^  || PM || Free ||   ||
 * November 13 || AM/P M || • Departure of Participants || APFNet -KTC ||

Presentation of final draft of policy briefs facilitator AM Closing session organizers