NAVIGATING TOWARDS A NATURE-POSITIVE FUTURE

Colombia
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Translating the key messages of Colombia’s NEA stands at the core of integrated conservation, bridging the realms of policy, community and ecosystem preservation. At the heart of this transformative journey, powered by the BES Solution Fund, is the uptake of the assessment findings into Colombia’s strategic planning. The crowning achievement in this regard is the integration of 15 pivotal strategic messages from the NEA into the National Development Plan 2022–2026. This policy alignment underscores the nation’s commitment to harmonizing development with ecological sustainability.

The focus of this effort extends beyond top-tier policy formulation. Platforms like the Regional Trialogues in Nariño and Amazonía and advocacy at the Ecological Restoration Congress have been instrumental in translating national findings into actionable strategies. These engagements have informed regional actions and guided potential governors in their biodiversity commitments.

On the grassroots front, the project reaches its zenith with the reinforcing engagement of Indigenous Peoples. The launch of “Comunidades Indígenas por los Bosques” in partnership with the Climate Promise Initiative is a testament to this dedication. This initiative has culminated in the strategic engagement and support of 11 prominent Indigenous organizations, with three undertaking activities funded by BES-Net that are specifically focused on biodiversity.

By emphasizing the participation of key stakeholders such as Indigenous communities, Colombia is not just championing conservation but also echoing its unwavering commitment to inclusivity and holistic, community-driven biodiversity endeavours. In essence, through the NEA and its subsequent initiatives, Colombia is shaping a future that balances policy, community engagement and unyielding conservation efforts.

Kazakhstan
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The Aral Sea, formerly the world’s fourth-largest lake, stands as a haunting testament to one of the most severe environmental disasters inflicted by human hands. Once a vibrant ecosystem supporting fisheries, agriculture and animal husbandry, its rapid deterioration has not only razed its rich biodiversity but also uprooted countless communities, entangling them in a maze of socioeconomic and ecological hardships. Responding to this challenge and taking cues from the Central Asia Regional Trialogue, Kazakhstan, in collaboration with BES-Net, crafted an action plan focused on reversing desertification and land degradation, especially in the areas around the Aral Sea.

The BES Solution Fund championed an exhaustive study, diving deep into the intertwined dynamics of climate change, land degradation and water-related issues in the region. This investigation laid bare significant gaps in water resource management and pinpointed areas of agricultural inefficiency. Forming the backbone of this revival effort is the collaboration between an array of stakeholders. From the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan to local administrative bodies, non-governmental organizations and the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, all hands are on deck to restore the Aral Sea region and uplift its struggling communities.

A beacon of this rehabilitation initiative is sustainable agriculture. This approach not only restores nature’s balance but also holds the promise of revitalized livelihoods for local communities to which the BES Solution Fund has contributed, alongside other UNDP-led projects. Through the introduction of irrigation systems and the cultivation of high-value and pollinator-friendly crops, 101 hectares of the Aral Sea region have been restored. Central to this endeavour is the strategic integration of pollinators, which not only aids in agricultural productivity but also furthers the broader climate objectives. At the heart of the transformation ongoing in Kazakhstan lie the demonstration plots in the Kostanay region, which showcase sustainable agriculture in action and spotlight the growth of honey plants and the implementation of the “green grass conveyor” technique across 22 hectares.

The ripple effects of these interventions on the community are profound: over 700 residents have seen a boost in their incomes ranging from 30–79 per cent owing to enhanced land productivity. In the Kostanay and Almaty regions, 19 farming families have been the catalysts for creating over 300 job opportunities in forest nurseries and land restoration, specifically targeting vulnerable community segments. This holistic approach encapsulates the mission to restore the ecological balance of the Aral Sea region while mending and enhancing the socioeconomic fabric of its communities.

Nigeria
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The Nigeria team has been actively working towards the uptake of the IPBES assessment on pollinators, pollination and food production, as well as the assessment on land degradation and restoration, by implementing priority activities in the action plan developed during the Anglophone Africa Regional Trialogue held in 2019. In an effort to promote policy commitment towards pollinator conservation and sustainable land management, an integral part of the country’s IPBES assessments uptake process has been the development of a national pollinator strategy and an integrated pest management strategy through the BES Solution Fund support.

In 2020, Nigeria joined Promote Pollinators, the Coalition of the Willing on Pollinators (or “Promote Pollinators,” an international alliance among countries to work together and share knowledge for the protection of pollinators and their habitats) as part of the country’s political commitment to promoting pollinator conservation and sustainable pollinator management. Building on this, the Nigeria Trialogue Working Group, in collaboration with UNDP Nigeria, worked to develop a theory of change model for the national pollinator strategy in line with national plans and priorities. Promote Pollinators and the Naturalis Biodiversity Center provided technical backstopping support for this initiative during a workshop held in September 2022. The theory of change developed will reinforce the main purposes of the national pollinator strategy: (a) awareness creation at the highest level of government decision-making on the issues facing pollinator species; (b) improvement in public awareness on the importance of pollinators for ecosystem and environmental health, biodiversity and food security; (c) development of a national strategy on pollinators that would catalyze the development of a “National Bill on Pollinators” to enable them to thrive; and (d) mitigation and reduction in the use of hazardous pesticides and agro-chemicals in general. These efforts also link to the development of an integrated pest management strategy, which seeks to promote the application of sustainable tools for pest control to solve pest problems while minimizing risks to human health, the environment and ecosystem integrity.

Viet Nam
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Viet Nam’s 2021 NEA cast light on the biologically enriched landscapes of the country and their great socioeconomic importance while also emphasizing the need to address development challenges that exacerbate biodiversity loss. The quality of the most important ecosystems and their services is on a rapid decline due to unsustainable land and water conversion, overexploitation of natural resources, urban development, poaching, invasive species and climate change. Although clear legal stipulations around ecosystem services in national laws are not yet sufficient, the initial recognition of payments for (natural) ecosystem services has recently been stipulated in the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 and its implementation guidance, Decree 08/2022/ND-CP. The BES Solution Fund aims to support the operationalization of payments for ecosystem services (PES), in particular for marine and wetland ecosystems. The goal is to tap into these potential financial sources for ecosystem protection in Viet Nam, thus rectifying the existing gaps between policies and actions on the ground for leveraging PES.

One of the findings of Viet Nam’s NEA is the country’s yet-to-be-fully tapped potential of payments for marine and wetland ecosystem services (PMES/PWES). About 20 million Vietnamese people totally or partially depend on aquatic resources for their income, while the seagrass habitats (being one of the most important coastal ecosystem service providers) have declined by 40–50 per cent in the past decade due to unsustainable practices. The Vietnamese Government recognizes the need to better preserve the country’s water-based ecosystems and is taking advantage of the successful collection of US$728.09 million (2011–2020) from registered users of forest services to commit to further upscaling of nature-positive initiatives from the ground up. In particular, it is developing national guidelines for the creation of provincial and site-based PMES and PWES schemes. Prior to finalization and nationwide issuance, a site-specific plan for the piloting of PWES will be implemented in Tram Chim National Park in the Mekong River Delta, allowing spaces for lessons learned and opportunities going forward.

In the future, similar discussions regarding evidence-informed national policymaking and action plans will be heralded in the operationalization of the Viet Nam Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Partnership Forum. This forum is a permanent platform for regular interactions among policymakers, scientific researchers and practitioners operating in the field of biodiversity conservation.

Stakeholder Engagement and Inclusivity

The holistic engagement of stakeholders and promotion of meaningful interaction among science, policy and practice communities, as well as the inclusion of the private sector through knowledge exchange biodiversity platforms, are essential to combating biodiversity loss and integrating nature into development objectives with tangible outcomes. The efforts in Ethiopia and Kazakhstan highlight the significance of including diverse groups such as scientists, policymakers, practitioners, the private sector and the media.

Intergenerational knowledge transfer through the engagement of children and youth as an integral part of biodiversity conservation interventions goes a long way to instill values that secure the future of sustainability of nature across generations. Kenya’s focus on engaging youth and facilitating intergenerational learning experiences demonstrates the long-term benefits of involving younger generations in conservation efforts.
Collaborative and cross-sectoral approaches

Collaborative and Cross-Sectoral Approaches

The importance of collaboration across various sectors, including different ministries and policy communities, is highlighted by Nigeria’s efforts in developing a national pollinator strategy and integrated pest management strategy. This approach ensures a broader engagement under GBF and a more comprehensive response to biodiversity challenges.

Evidence-based Decision-Making and Strategic Policy Integration

Filling in data and knowledge gaps in biodiversity thematic areas that lack sufficient information, in addition to understanding the intersections with development objectives, is key to ensuring evidence-based decision-making for a more nature-focused development approach across different sectors. Colombia shows the importance of integrating recommendations from NEAs into national development plans and aligning them with the GBF. This integration ensures that biodiversity conservation is embedded in national policy and strategic planning.

The support provided to enhance the capacity of national biodiversity platforms in Cameroon and Ethiopia is crucial for enabling effective conservation efforts, stakeholder engagement, and policy implementation.

Public Engagement and Citizen Science

Citizen science greatly enriches the quality and availability of data on pollinators and can be effectively done by raising awareness. Trinidad and Tobago’s efforts to engage the public and mobilize citizen scientists in pollinator conservation activities illustrate the power of awareness-raising and community involvement in achieving conservation goals.

Innovative Conservation Efforts

Innovation, such as the implementation of PES schemes, boosts conservation efforts. Viet Nam’s development of national guidelines for PES schemes highlights the potential of financial incentives to support conservation efforts and sustainable resource management, promoting a nature-positive economy.