Charting the Course to a Sustainable Future through a Voyage of Discovery and Collaboration
The BES Solution Fund Trialogue
In the bustling city of Hanoi, representatives from eight BES Solution Fund-supported countries (Cameroon, Colombia, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Nigeria, Trinidad and Tobago and Viet Nam) convened on 4–6 October 2023 for a BES-Net Trialogue.
Co-hosted by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in Viet Nam and UNDP Viet Nam, underpinned by the expertise of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and supported by the BES-Net consortium partners UNESCO and UNEP-WCMC, this gathering was more than just a meeting; it was a symbolic voyage, with the sailing boat metaphor guiding participants through a journey of discovery, collaboration and commitment towards a more sustainable future.
The Sailing Boat Metaphor: Embarking on a Shared Journey
On Day 1, a mega poster portraying each country as a sailing boat on a shared mission was unveiled, setting the tone for the days to come. The sailing boat metaphor served as the embodiment of the collective aspirations of the BES Solution Fund countries. Each nation is on a transformative journey towards a world where biodiversity, as reflected by the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), is cherished and conserved – a world where we live in harmony with nature. National biodiversity platforms, acting as the captain, are steering this voyage – their decisions informed by the latest BES evidence, such as IPBES assessment reports and national ecosystem assessments.
The boat metaphor is very simple but sends a very strong message. This is something we will take back and apply – a kind of multiplication of knowledge and methodologies.
Just like a sailing crew bound together on a voyage, during the Trialogue, the BES Solution Fund country teams were united by a shared purpose: translating evidence into concrete actions that protect biodiversity and ecosystem services. The mega poster and discussions drove home the realization that the journey ahead, while long, could be navigated through cooperation, open communication and collective action. The sailing boat metaphor was instrumental in outlining a path illuminated by global agendas, affirming that participants were not undertaking this journey in solitude.
Just like a sailing crew bound together on a voyage, during the Trialogue, the BES Solution Fund country teams were united by a shared purpose: translating evidence into concrete actions that protect biodiversity and ecosystem services. The mega poster and discussions drove home the realization that the journey ahead, while long, could be navigated through cooperation, open communication and collective action. The sailing boat metaphor was instrumental in outlining a path illuminated by global agendas, affirming that participants were not undertaking this journey in solitude.
The poster highlighted several key elements and tools crucial for the success of the voyage:
The sailing boat metaphor symbolically represents BES Solution Fund countries and their journey towards the vision described in the GBF, SDGs and other relevant frameworks.
Each country, represented by a boat, is on a sailing journey...
...towards a world where people live in harmony with nature and where biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored and wisely used, maintaining ecosystems services, sustaining a healthy planet and delivering benefits essential for all people.
This goal is outlined by the GBF and aligned with the 2030 Agenda and SDGs represented by the lighthouse.
National policies, strategies, plans and programmes function as the engine of the boat, propelling it in the right direction.
The national biodiversity platforms (the captain of the boat) guide and navigate the journey informed by the latest BES evidence (e.g., IPBES reports and national ecosystem assessments), represented by the map and compass.
A strong science-policy-practice interface represents a crew with diverse skill sets to support the captain in keeping the boat safe and on track.
The BES Solution Fund serves as one of the sources of energy that can be temporarily used to switch on the boat engine and align the sails with the wind and currents.
Dialogue (represented by the radio) is an enabling cross-cutting approach to ensure inclusive and gender-responsive participation. The Trialogue is a tool to bring voices, address obstacles and explore new opportunities.
One of the highlights of Day 1 was the exchange with special guests of the Trialogue, including resource persons from UNDP and IPBES. They provided valuable insights into various aspects of the sailing boat metaphor, occasionally offering unconventional personal reflections.
A Day in Van Long: Discovering Nature and Local Initiatives
The second day brought a change of scenery and perspective. Participants travelled to Van Long, where they embarked on a (real) boat trip for an immersive experience. As they sailed on the waters of the Wetland Nature Reserve – Viet Nam’s ninth Ramsar site – admiring the vast expanse of nature around them, participants were able to observe local species and discover conservation initiatives. They learned that the Reserve provides habitat to the giant Delacour's langur, a critically endangered species that can be observed in the wild only in Van Long, and appreciated how local communities play a pivotal role in safeguarding biodiversity. Interactions with the Van Long Wetland Reserve Managing Board and boat rowers, often from Indigenous groups, underscored the importance of inclusive decision-making.
Delacour's langur, a critically endangered species that can be observed in the wild only in Van Long | Photo by Olevy on Wikimedia Commons
Delacour's langur, a critically endangered species that can be observed in the wild only in Van Long | Photo by Olevy on Wikimedia Commons
We need more research in understanding the role of ecosystems so the fund can support not only the people living around or inside the ecosystem but also policymakers to have more discussions and engage with different stakeholders and researchers to carry out a study to better understand the value of ecosystems.
Bright Spots Posters Exhibition – BES Solution Fund Trialogue 2023
Bright Spots Posters Exhibition – BES Solution Fund Trialogue 2023
Day 2 closed with the unveiling of the “bright spots posters”. Each of the eight BES Solution Fund countries displayed a poster showcasing their unique initiatives and accomplishments in translating BES evidence into action. Representatives from each country used the poster to give others a glimpse into the practical steps taken towards the uptake of BES evidence in policy and practice and the challenges faced in their home countries.
It was an opportunity to learn from one another, discover successful strategies from different regions and consider the applicability of similar approaches. The posters emphasized that while each country has its unique path, they all share common goals and can benefit from each other's experiences.
Day 2 closed with the unveiling of the “bright spots posters”. Each of the eight BES Solution Fund countries displayed a poster showcasing their unique initiatives and accomplishments in translating BES evidence into action. Representatives from each country used the poster to give others a glimpse into the practical steps taken towards the uptake of BES evidence in policy and practice and the challenges faced in their home countries.
It was an opportunity to learn from one another, discover successful strategies from different regions and consider the applicability of similar approaches. The posters emphasized that while each country has its unique path, they all share common goals and can benefit from each other's experiences.
Bright Spots Posters Exhibition – BES Solution Fund Trialogue 2023
Bright Spots Posters Exhibition – BES Solution Fund Trialogue 2023
The Trialogue brought together experts from eight different countries with their own problems, sharing their experience. I loved the pilot projects of those countries, especially in addressing the challenges to bring together scientists, policymakers and practioners.
Dialogue and Reflection: Charting the Path Forward
Back in Hanoi on Day 3, the final day of the Trialogue was a culmination of the insights and reflections from the previous days, deep-diving into the role of national biodiversity platforms and partnerships. Participants worked in groups and gathered around the golden thread of the Trialogue – the mega poster – to add their thoughts, insights and reflections, applying the elements of the sailing boat metaphor to their own country contexts. Exchanging project experiences, the participants identified new possibilities for collaboration, such as developing joint proposals for future funding.
There was also a deeper appreciation of the policy-science-practice interface and institutional coordination, both formally and informally, to maintain and augment concerted momentum to put nature at the centre of development beyond the Fund's lifespan. The Trialogue participants recognized that translating evidence into action requires continuous nurturing of partnerships, and overall, the Trialogue sparked ideas and enthusiasm for collective action towards shared goals.
One of the nice things about the BES-Net local activities in Trinidad and Tobago has been identifying various stakeholders, how they impact each other and how to make policies sustainable by making them part of our daily actions and part of educational activities, so that people understand the role ecosystems play and the role of biodiversity in general.
One of the nice things about the BES-Net local activities in Trinidad and Tobago has been identifying various stakeholders, how they impact each other and how to make policies sustainable by making them part of our daily actions and part of educational activities, so that people understand the role ecosystems play and the role of biodiversity in general.
Back in Hanoi on Day 3, the final day of the Trialogue was a culmination of the insights and reflections from the previous days, deep-diving into the role of national biodiversity platforms and partnerships. Participants worked in groups and gathered around the golden thread of the Trialogue – the mega poster – to add their thoughts, insights and reflections, applying the elements of the sailing boat metaphor to their own country contexts. Exchanging project experiences, the participants identified new possibilities for collaboration, such as developing joint proposals for future funding.
There was also a deeper appreciation of the policy-science-practice interface and institutional coordination, both formally and informally, to maintain and augment concerted momentum to put nature at the centre of development beyond the Fund's lifespan. The Trialogue participants recognized that translating evidence into action requires continuous nurturing of partnerships, and overall, the Trialogue sparked ideas and enthusiasm for collective action towards shared goals.
A Voyage of Unity and Purpose
The Trialogue's main goal is partnership among all stakeholders. I'm happy that BES-Net was created to foster this collaboration.
The BES Solution Fund Trialogue was a journey for the participants to navigate the metaphorical waters of collaboration. Guided by the sailing boat metaphor, the Trialogue proved to be a testament to the power of unity, dialogue and purpose.
As representatives from various countries departed, they left with a renewed sense of commitment, a deeper understanding of their roles and a shared vision for a sustainable future.
The Trialogue voyage reinforced that transforming the biodiversity crisis requires all hands on deck and collective action. Through cooperation, open communication and evidence-based action, a strong crew can navigate the rough seas ahead. Most importantly, the journey itself imbued participants with hope for a world where humanity lives in harmony with nature, offering one more piece of the puzzle toward making this destination a reality.
Participants' feedback after the BES Solution Fund Trialogue 2023
Bright Spots Posters Exhibition – BES Solution Fund Trialogue 2023
Built with Shorthand
