ASEAN Conference on Biodiversity 2009 (ACB2009), 21-23 October 2009
Created on 13 Jun 2009 by Patinya Kanthatham
Southeast Asia occupies a meager three percent of the earth’s surface, but contains over 20 percent of all known plant, animal, and marine
Species. Three of the world’s mega-diverse countries are in the region – Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. This richness makes the region a crucial component of global environmental sustainability.What is the current status of biodiversity in the ASEAN region? What are the challenges facing Southeast Asia’s flora, fauna, and other natural resources and how do these affect the lives of over 500 million people? What can we do to conserve biodiversity for us and for future generations? These and more questions will be addressed at the ASEAN Conference on Biodiversity (ACB2009) on 21 to 23 October 2009 in Singapore.
To be hosted by the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) and the National Parks Board (NParks) of Singapore, ACB 2009 is envisioned to be one of the most important gatherings of key biodiversity stakeholders and players in the ASEAN region who will discuss emerging trends, issues, and concerns on biodiversity conservation and management.
About 250 of Southeast Asia’s key personalities from the academe, the research and scientific community, government, and high-level policymakers will come together for 2009’s most awaited event in the environment arena.
Why a conference on biodiversity?
The ASEAN region is home to seven of the world’s 34 biodiversity hotspots which are characterized both by exceptional levels of plant and animal endemism and by serious levels of
Habitat loss. Forest conversion, forest fires, shifting cultivation, large-scale mining, wildlife hunting and trading, population growth and poverty, Climate change, and lack of appropriate conservation management policies all contribute to habitat destruction and the consequent loss of biological diversity.Biodiversity loss could trigger enormous effects on health and wealth.
Biodiversity – Then, Now, and Beyond 2010
- 1992 Earth Summit – The Convention on Biological Diversity the first global agreement for the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of the genetic resources signed by 153 parties at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, including 10 ten ASEAN Member States
- 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development – The 2010 Biodiversity Target was set at the WSSD. The Parties to the CBD committed themselves to achieve by 2010 a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss at the global, regional, and national levels as a contribution to poverty alleviation, and to the benefit of all life on Earth. This target was subsequently endorsed by the WSSD and the United Nations General Assembly, and was incorporated as a new target under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
- Countdown to 2010 – As 2010 draws near, the target set at the 2002 WSSD needs to be assessed and progress made has to be reported to the global community. In preparation for the 10th Conference of Parties (CoP10) in Nagoya in 2010, the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) and the National Parks Board of Singapore (NParks) will co-host the ASEAN Biodiversity Conference (ABC 2009) on 21-23 October 2009.
ACB 2009 will provide a forum for exchanging perspectives on initiatives that address biodiversity issues in the region, and discussing steps forward in advancing the ASEAN biodiversity agenda with the context of meeting the 2010 Biodiversity Target.
Please visit http://www.aseanbiodiversity.org/ for more details.
